Issei Gerontology Project Films
Title
Issei Gerontology Project Films
Description
Four films were produced by JASC in 1975 as part of the Issei Gerontology Project, which focused on the needs of Chicago’s aging population of Issei, or first generation Japanese immigrants. The original 16mm films were preserved for decades in the JASC archives and digitized with grant funding and community support in 2019. They offer a rare opportunity to see and hear Issei speaking about their experiences, and also offer a glimpse into the programs and services of JASC in the mid-1970s.
Collection Items
Issei: A Final Say
Produced in 1975 as part of the Issei Gerontology Project, this film features Issei (first generation immigrants) responding to questions such as "What would make you most happy now?" and "What is the most important thing you would want passed on to…
Issei: A Quality for Survival
Produced in 1975 as part of the Issei Gerontology Project, this film traces the journey of first generation Japanese immigrants from the West Coast to the incarceration camps to eventual resettlement in Chicago. Compiled from interviews with eleven…
Social Service: Seeking a Human Dimension
Produced in 1975 as part of the Issei Gerontology Project, this film showcases the social support services provided by the Japanese American Service Committee to the aging Issei population in Chicago. It features scenes of clients receiving home…
Values and Attitudes II
Produced in 1975 as part of the Issei Gerontology Project, this film captures the attitudes of Nisei (second generation) and Sansei (third generation) Japanese Americans toward the aging Issei (first generation) population.