Story Boldly’s Defining Courage

Defining Courage commemorates the struggles and sacrifices of the Nisei soldiers of World War II through vivid cinematography, stirring live music, eyewitness interviews, and deft storytelling. Serving in segregated units, these Americans of Japanese ancestry were among the war’s most decorated soldiers, unsung heroes fighting for the US while many of their families were held in incarceration camps back at home. The production is a creation of Story Boldly, a nonprofit initiative devoted to journalistic storytelling founded by Emmy Award-winning creators David Ono (an anchor on KABC-TV in Los Angeles) and television producer Jeff MacIntyre. Ono has described the project as a work of historic reclamation: “They’re truly some of America’s greatest heroes, some of the toughest guys we’ve ever created. To learn about these guys and learn about their adversity and how they overcame it…[I was shocked at] how they just kind of faded back into the background, never to be adored, never to be thanked or congratulated.”

This performance is made possible, in part, by an anonymous patron sponsor.

This event is part of Cal Performances’ Illuminations: “Fractured History” programming for the 2024–25 season.