U.S.-Japan Connection Travel 2016-17: Blog Reflection: Benjamin Akio Kimitch

Blog Reflection: Benjamin Akio Kimitch

This is the first of many travels to Japan to come. Already, it has been a humbling and stimulating adventure, where even as a fourth-generation Japanese-American, my own cultural assumptions are challenged and my understanding is expanded. As we engage with Japanese artists and cultural workers, I am so grateful for their trust to share so openly and honestly. I’m learning that there are a lot of parallels to the political climate that Japanese artists are facing, and that us in the U.S. fear is just on the horizon. There is so much we can learn from one another as we build our networks and fight together to uphold our values and through art share these across our diverse communities.