Film: “Most Honorable Son” by Bill Kubota

Check your local listings for next Monday, Sept. 17, at 9:00 p.m., for the national PBS broadcast of “Most Honorable Son,” a beautifully shot and edited documentary that tells the full story of Nisei war hero Sgt. Ben Kuroki, whose story intersects with that of the Heart Mounta draft resisters as seen in Conscience. Producer/director Bill Kubota of Detroit was working on this project at the same time we were working on our film, and he’s succeeded in bringing a fully-realized project to the screen:

“During World War II, U.S. Army aerial gunner Ben Kuroki not only fought the Axis powers in Europe and the Pacific, but he also battled discrimination and prejudice in America. Told through rare and seldom-seen footage, MOST HONORABLE SON tells the story of this Japanese American who volunteered to fight against Japan to prove his loyalty to America.”

The new film includes the story of Kuroki witnessing Mike Masoka’s arrrest at a church in North Platte, Nebraska, on the morning of Pearl Harbor, and the military’s use by Kuroki the war hero to try to drum up recruitment at Heart Mountain. There is a great interview with Heart Mountain resister Jack Tono that echoes the reaction of Frank Emi in our film, the disbelief with which some greeted Kuroki’s message of proving one’s loyalty through service. Also seen is Prof. Roger Daniels sharing his insights. Kubota tells a great story and the film is a great success.

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