JUNE 26th 2006

Guess what friends! I am now shooting an American Film in Salt Lake City ,Utah, USA.
Now, I am in the middle of the Salt Lake Skull Valley Desert baked everyday under the sun. This kind of heat and wind is something you will never experience in Japan. The sun will not set until 10:30 p.m .and the soil is so salty white so that the reflection from the sun from the ground is very strong. But I am having a wonderful experience. To work with an American production was totally a new thing for me. I find it very creative and I am happy even though I am in this terrible heat and wind. Please don't worry my friends! With great hospitality, I am always kept under a huge UV proof umbrella and UV proof tents. When I have some time to rest, I get to rest in my cool trailer.

In 1881,when the first group of immigrants from Japan came to Hawaii as labors, they did not speak the language. Hard labor was there waiting for them 5 days a week. But as they get accustom to the new environment, through American Culture they learned the wonderful sports called "Baseball". Sports were always fair. If you are good at it, language was not the issue. Gradually baseball has become their joy. After the whole week of hard labor, there was baseball that they can look forward to . They called it the American Pastime. They loved their new country.

After the attack of Pearl Harbor by Empire of Japan, all Japanese-American, Isseis and Niseis, in the west coast were forced to the Interment Camps in the deserts, They had to leave their loving homes within 2 weeks.
They lost all their properties and was practically stripped to nothing. Their whole life was taken away .Life in the interment camps was disastrous. But even in such severe conditions, no one complained. They self-supplied everything from nothing and they stood tall with dignity as Japanese-American. Many young Japanese- Americans joined the 442nd Combat team to fight for their loving country were from Camp Topaz in Utah.

The title of the movie is "The American Pastime". It is a story about 2 families on both ends. One American Burrell family who's son was killed in Okinawa and the other is the Japanese- American Nomura family who were forced to the Interment Camp Topaz in Utah. I play the role of Japanese-American wife, Emi Nomura, who is married to a semi-pro baseball player and is a mother to 2 boys. The younger son is a promising baseball player to be, who is discouraged about life in the camp and the older son is the composed one, who decides to join the 442nd Combat Team. Despite the tragedy, with her warm, fun, joyful and yet very strong character, Emi Nomura is the mother who pulls the family together.

Baseball was the thing that kept people in the Camp going. It was reflection of the strength that they inherited from their ancestors. Baseball was there outside the camp and inside the camp. Baseball was what everybody loved in America..... then....sports were fair. They didn't judge you by the color of your race but by how well you play.....

Well,there are much more to tell, but I will stop here. What I can say this that I have learned a lot from this movie.

Pictures are of the casts of Nomura family first day we met at the rehearsal. From the left Aaron Yoo as the young son Lyle, Leonard Nam as Lane, as the older son ,I as Emi Nomura. Masatoshi Nakamura will play as Kaz Nomura, the father. And pictures of Emi in the camp Topaz barrack.

Judy in Salt Lake City 2006 June 26th