STORIES OF OUR HISTORY
The Mother Lode Storytelling Guild welcomes all to an evening of historic stories on Wednesday evening, April 21, 2021, 7pm to 8:30pm. Presented online by the Storytelling Association of California, seven California storytellers are featured. First to tell will be Columbia-local Richard Haratani. Register to attend at www.storysaac.org. Click “Genre Storytelling Series.” Then click “April 21: Historical Stories,” leading to “Eventbrite” registration. Donations are appreciated.
Haratani's story is about a 14 year-old Japanese fisherman, Nakahama Manjiro, who was lost at sea in 1841, then rescued by an American whaling ship. “Richard told this story at an event in 2019,” recalls storyteller BZ Smith. “It's a thrilling adventure, and a powerful exploration of deeper history shared between America and Japan.” That ship ultimately brought Manjiro to America. Once here, he traveled to California's Gold Rush, and found enough gold to return home. “He had been young when swept away. A decade later and grateful to survive, he yearned to see his mother again,” states Haratani.
For his research Richard visited Manjiro's Japanese fishing village in 2011. He attended the “Manjiro Festival,” hosted annually by the Manjiro-Whitfield Society, which also honors the American sea Captain William Whitfield, who rescued Manjiro in 1841. The Society coordinates “Sister City” exchanges between Manjiro's village in Japan and Whitfield's hometown near Boston. “Manjiro and Whitfield's story shines light on the history between their two countries,” Haratani explains. “Manjiro became an important translator who helped to open Japan, an isolationist nation at that time, to the whole world.”
Manjiro's story is very personal for Haratani. “We need to understand the nuance of Japan's role in American History,” Haratani notes. “Most people only think of World War II struggles, but really there's much more to study.” His own family provides rich examples of this. Haratani's grandparents immigrated to America much before WWII. Richard's parents, Joe and Amy-Ada are “Nisei,” both born in California, as first-generation American citizens. His parents were both sent to an interment camp in Colorado at the onset WWII. In 1942 while his own parents were imprisoned, Joe joined the 442nd Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army, a combat unit, primarily fighting in Italy and France, made almost entirely of Japanese-Americans. Joe met Amy-Ada after the war at Modesto Junior College. Soon after they married, and had three sons. Joe had a prestigious career with the United States Foreign Service, which took their family all over the world.
Tuolumne County became the Haratanis' home in 1972 when they semi-retired to Columbia. Both became very active in local activities. Amy-Ada became a well-recognized regional fine artist while Joe worked for the Stanislaus National Forest. Both volunteered for the Beyond War chapter. Richard, a Sonora High alumnus, still lives on their family land, and is active in Columbia's community. “The Haratanis were one of Tuolumne County's first Japanese-American families,” remembers Smith, who met them in 1973. “Their legacy of generosity and civic engagement in this community carries on today.”
When Japanese-Americans, who had been interned during WWII, were granted reparation payments under The Civil Liberties Act of 1988, the Haratanis chose to donate over $10,000 to help local schools teach deeper understanding on the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the importance of protecting everyone's civil rights. “Manjiro, my parents, and many others give all of us a chance to understand the diverse history of Asian Americans in our culture today,” Haratani adds.
The Mother Lode Storytelling Guild helps strengthen storytellers' skills, encourages new tellers, and builds appreciation for all tales. MLSG is an official ART-Partner of Tuolumne County Arts, and has also worked with Calaveras County's arts council. The Guild is affiliated with the Storytelling Association of California and the National Storytelling Network. Visit their website at www.motherlodestorytelling.com, or email motherlodestorytellers@gmail.com.