NAMBA: A Japanese American’s Incarceration and Life of Resilience
Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2026
Time: 7pm ET (45 minute film, followed by Q&A)
Location: SNF Parkway, 5 West North Ave, Baltimore, MD 21201
Admission: Free
More information: Event webpage
NAMBA tells the American story of May, born in Seattle, Washington in 1922 to an immigrant couple from Japan. In 1942, she and her family were forced to relocate, along with more than 125,000 Japanese Americans, to one of 10 dusty incarceration camps. 20-year-old May was incarcerated in the Minidoka Relocation Center, where guards with machine guns loomed in towers overhead. While these were devastating losses, the most impactful loss was that of their freedom.
Throughout the film, May and her granddaughter, Miyako, share this complex history—the injustice and love of country—that’s rarely discussed in history books.
A Q&A with filmmaker, Emily Hanako Momohara follows the screening.
“The life and wisdom of a humble but storied local educator and activist is displayed in this touching and thoughtful short documentary. Artfully crafted as a conversation between the generations, this film shines a light on the heart, grace, and no-frills attitude of May Namba, while providing an honest and frank discussion on the impacts of Japanese American incarceration.” — Seattle Asian American Film Festival
Sponsored by Maryland Institute College of Art, DC Chapter Japanese American Citizens League, and Asian Arts & Culture Center of Towson University.
Image is from SNF Parkway website.
