CYPRESS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The world premiere of a moving documentary celebrating a governor's brave fight against unconstitutional internment during World War II – underscored by a sponsorship of two recent events at a leading national museum - has showcased the commitment of Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. to give back to the communities in which it does business, including the nation's large Japanese American community.
“The Untold Story of Ralph Carr and the Japanese - Fate of 3 Japanese Americans and the Internment” is a new film that tells the story of the 29th governor of Colorado and his heroic and very public stand against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Governor Carr welcomed Japanese Americans to relocate to Colorado when the U.S. government was forcibly removing them from the West Coast and parts of Hawaii. Once considered a possible vice presidential running mate for 1940 GOP presidential nominee Wendell Wilkie, many believe that Carr's public pledge of support for Japanese Americans and his pleas for racial tolerance ultimately cost him his political career.
The documentary is a joint creation of Nitto Tire and Fujisankei Communications International, Inc., the American subsidiary of Fujisankei Communications Group, a large Japanese media conglomerate of television and radio channels, magazine, newspaper, record and video game companies.
More than 110,000 Japanese Americans, mostly along the West Coast, were sent to 10 “War Relocation Centers” in Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and California from 1942-46.
The Japanese American National Museum, located in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles, is dedicated to chronicling the forced internment and other significant events in Nikkei history. Nitto Tire recently played an important role during a busy mid-April weekend of fund-raising events for the museum, which features exhibits covering more than 130 years of Japanese-American history, back to the first Issei generation.
“Nitto was honored to participate in both the documentary and the successful events at the Japanese American National Museum,” said Tomoshige Mizutani, President of Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc. “There has been much triumph for the Nikkei in America, and some tragedy, too. Thankfully, there were people like the late Gov. Carr, who provide us with examples of morality and decency even in the most trying of eras. We hope that the new documentary will help educate this and future generations of all ethnic backgrounds about what it truly means to be an 'American.'”
Nitto Tire served as a platinum sponsor for the museum's Annual Gala Dinner and Silent Auction, held at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. Live on April 16, which drew prominent leaders of the Nikkei community. The gala dinner's theme, “Continuing Family Stories: The Expanding Nikkei Community,” highlighted some of the contributions of Japanese Americans in the post-World War II era, including those arriving in the 1960s and after. These families, like the original Issei immigrants at the beginning of the 20th Century, established businesses in the United States and became important members of local communities.
The previous evening, Nitto served as a VIP reception host for a private function at the museum itself where the attendees were shown clips of the documentary. At both weekend museum events, Nitto Tire presented attendees with a DVD copy of the Carr documentary. The documentary aired in the Los Angeles, New York and Honolulu markets on Japanese channels.
In addition to its support for the museum and for initiatives like the documentary, Nitto Tire plays an active role in many Southern California sports and cultural events. Nitto is a proud sponsor of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim MLB team and the Formula DRIFT Pro Championship Circuit.
About Nitto Tire
Nitto Tire (www.nittotire.com) develops performance tires for all uses, including racing, off-road and street. Using state-of-the-art manufacturing and testing facilities in both Japan and the United States, Nitto provides innovative and high-quality performance tires for the most demanding automotive enthusiasts. For more information about Nitto or its products, visit the company’s web site or contact the company directly. Nitto is a registered trademark of Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc., located at 6021 Katella Ave., Ste 250, Cypress, CA 90630.