Home > Events > "Tokyo Boogie Woogie" in California: The 1950 Sacramento Recordings in Japanese and Japanese-American Cultural History

"Tokyo Boogie Woogie" in California: The 1950 Sacramento Recordings in Japanese and Japanese-American Cultural History

UCLA Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies invites Professor Michael K. Bourdaghs from the University of Chicago.

Friday, November 16, 2012
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Young Research Library, Room 11360
Los Angeles, CA 

Professor Michael K. Bourdaghs from the University of Chicago will present sound recordings and video clips on the 1950 Sacramento Recordings.  

When the postwar ban on foreign travel for Japanese performers was lifted in 1950, popular musicians immediately launched into overseas activities. The list of musicians who conducted U.S. tours in 1950-1951 reads like a “Who’s Who” of mid-century Japanese pop. Appearing primarily before Japanese-American audiences, these U.S. appearances represented a breakthrough not only for the Japanese music industry, but also for local audiences. Barely five years removed from wartime internment camps, Japanese-Americans found the concerts a rare opportunity to celebrate publicly their connections to Japanese culture. While many performers used these tours as the basis for new films, stage revues, and songs after returning to Japan, the concerts themselves faded into historical oblivion—until 2008. A collection of audio wire recordings made at the Sacramento Nichibei Theater was discovered and restored, leaving us an astonishing archival treasure. The collection was recently donated to the UCLA Library. This presentation will explore the cultural and historical significance of the 1950 tours and will include sound clips and images from the concerts.

Cost: Free and open to UCLA students, faculty, staff, and invited guests

Special Instructions

Parking Lot 3 Pay by Space parking is available for $11 all day or hourly rates. Please see the following link for a campus map: http://www.ucla.edu/map/ucla-campus-map.pdf.

For more information please contact

Stephanie Kawahara
Tel: 310-825-4500
kawahara@international.ucla.edu
www.international.ucla.edu/japan/

Sponsor(s): Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies