HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER
HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER
A landmark project directed by Robert A. Nakamura and Duane Kubo, HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER (1980) is the first feature-length film made by and about Asian Pacific Americans. Capturing the contributions and hardships of Japanese Americans from the turn-of-the-20th century, the film centers on Oda (the late veteran actor/director Mako), a feisty issei (first generation Japanese American) and elderly single laborer living in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo. Through a series of flashbacks, the story traces Oda’s life as a laborer on the transcontinental railroad to his struggle to save the home of Little Tokyo’s residents when the community is threatened with redevelopment.
An epic Japanese American drama, HITO HATA draws on the talents and support of Asian American filmmakers, writers, theater professionals and literally hundreds of people from the Asian Pacific American community who served as extras, provided locations, props, and moral as well as financial support.
The 4k Restoration is funded by the National Film Preservation Foundation, with additional support from funders of the VC Archives (Aratani Foundation, California Civil Liberties Public Education Program, California Humanities, Haynes Foundation, and Mellon Foundation). Visual Communications will be presenting the remastered version of HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER to our communities. Please see below for future presentations and engagements.
UPCOMING SCREENINGS
PAST SCREENINGS
November 6, 2023 — 24th San Diego Asian Film Festival
HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER finishes its 2023 California Tour with a screening at the 24th San Diego Asian Film Festival on November 6, 2023.
October 23 - 28, 2023 — Tadaima: A Community Virtual Pilgrimage 2023
VC is proud to be a part of the 2023 Tadaima: A Community Virtual Pilgrimage by showcasing a collection of films from our VC Archives and Digital Histories class. HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER will be one film of four that will be screening virtually during the pilgrimage.
October 22, 2023 — 9th Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest
HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER continues its Northern California tour at the 9th Silicon Valley Asian Pacific FilmFest in San Jose.
October 19, 2023 — Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER starts its California tour with a screening at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California in San Francisco.
July 30, 2023 — 46th Asian American International Film Festival, New York
HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER will be making its East Coast Premiere at the 46th Asian American International Film Festival in New York on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
July 22, 2023 — 2023 JACL National Convention, Los Angeles
VC is proud to be a part of the 2023 JACL National Convention “Rooted in Community” by showcasing a collection of feature films from our VC Archives. HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER will be one film of many that will be screening during the convention.
December 10, 2022 — The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, Los Angeles
Join us for the second screening of the 4K restoration of HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER at The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Saturday, December 10 at 3PM.
October 22, 2022 — Japanese American National Museum, Los Angeles
Join us for the premiere of a remastered version of HITO HATA: RAISE THE BANNER (4k Restoration), a groundbreaking film by Robert A. Nakamura and Duane Kubo that had its World Premiere more than 40 years ago. A talkback with the filmmaking team will follow the screening.
