The museum’s exhibition was conceived and sponsored by the nonprofit Japanese American Stories using StoryFile, Inc. technology.
Photo courtesy Ellen Kawana
Lawson Sakai with filmmaker Cole Kawana who produced the new high-tech film interview.
By Robert Airoldi
Robert Airoldi
Former South Valley resident Lawson Sakai is featured in an interactive new exhibition at Los Angeles’s Japanese American National Museum. The groundbreaking storytelling technology uses artificial intelligence to give visitors the experience of “talking” with the World War II veteran.
Sakai was a long-time resident of Gilroy as well as Morgan Hill in the closing years of his life. He died last year at age 96. He was a decorated member of the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the founder of the Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans (FFNV) group,
The museum’s exhibition was conceived and sponsored by the nonprofit Japanese American Stories using StoryFile, Inc. technology. It was featured on CBS on Sunday, Nov. 28, in a special hour-long primetime edition of Sunday Morning titled “Forever Young: Searching For The Fountain Of Youth.”
Lawson Sakai
More than 1,000 questions were asked of Sakai over five days of filming. Capturing Sakai’s oral history preserves a remarkable life: Sakai received four Purple Heart Medals and a Bronze Star Medal, having participated in major campaigns including the liberation of Bruyeres, France; rescue of the “Lost Battalion” in France; and breaking of the Gothic Line in Italy.
The interviews were filmed using StoryFile’s “capture technology” of 27 different cameras, positioned around Sakai for a 360-degree view. This special filming technique will allow the video to be eventually projected as a holographic exhibition, once that technology becomes more accessible. Currently, the Sakai JANM exhibition is presented on a life-size flat screen.
The StoryFile AI storytelling technology gives visitors the ability to engage with someone that is not actually present. It allows a visitor to see the interview subject consider a question, then come up with the answer, and reveal their emotion as they tell their story.
Museum visitors can ask Lawson Sakai questions such as “What do you remember about the bombing of Pearl Harbor?” and “What was it like to lose fellow soldiers?”
It’s good to see Sakai’s wisdom about war is now held in high-tech.
Join the people of West Hills Community Church for their first annual “Christmas on the Hill Light Extravaganza.”
For 12 nights of December, the South Valley community is invited to drive-up to the church’s mid-level parking and encourage all to walk through the lighted tunnel and experience the holiday lights and spectacular views of Morgan Hill. At the top of the hill, guests will be able to sit and relax to enjoy a musical light display that features five different Christmas songs synchronized to a variety of lighted Christmas features.
“Christmas on the Hill features a vast array of Christmas lights, hand painted displays, Christmas trees, a tunnel of lights, and free hot chocolate for everyone who comes by,” read a press release from the church.
People who are unable to park at the mid-level lot due to handicap needs, limited ability to walk steps or in need of elderly support, may drive and park at the top, when spacing is available and pedestrian safety standards are met.
This event is open to the public at no cost. Christmas on the Hill will run from Thursday to Sunday evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. Days left are Dec 16-19. West Hills Community Church is located at 16695 DeWitt Ave., Morgan Hill.
We appreciate the church members sharing the Christmas spirit of wonder and delight.
Finally, from my heart I want to take a moment to wish all Morgan Hill Life readers a wonderful holiday season and a fantastic 2022.
With the COVID-19 pandemic turning our lives upside down, these past two years have been difficult for our community — as it has been for billions of people in cities and towns across America and around the world.
Despite the hardships, the human spirit endures. Most of us came together to support each other emotionally and financially in the difficulty of dealing with one of the most challenging times humanity has seen on a global scale.
Let us all remember that we all belong to one human family. We can survive these turbulent times when we unite in a spirit of compassion and unite as one people dedicated to peace on Earth and good will to men. That’s the message of the holidays.
