Valor with Honor Website

"The Last Stories of these heroic men..............."

442nd Italy

Information: "Valor with Honor" is an independent documentary film based on over 35 interviews of Japanese American veterans who served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during WW2. This small segregated unit of 3500 men is the most decorated American unit for its size and length of service (3 years). By the end of WW2, the 442nd would be awarded with 7 Presidential Unit Citations, 21 Medals of Honor (upgraded from DSC), over 500 Silver Stars, and over 9000 Purple Hearts. The 85 minute feature film describes the harrowing stories of 442nd's battles in Italy, the Lost Battalion Rescue in France, the assault up Mount Folgorito, and witness to the holocaust at Dachau, Germany at the close of WW2. The film concludes with the vets bittersweet return home to America. The entire film is woven through stories told by the veterans themselves. Valor with Honor has been in production for over 3 years. Currently, the film is screening at special events across the US. The dvd will be released in the Spring of 2011. Link to the Facebook film group "Valor with Honor" for online updates and news about this documentary film.

"Valor with Honor" not only records the deeds and emotions of the veterans of the 442nd, but highlights the difficult struggle of the brave Nisei both on and off the battlefield. It is a suburb documentary." Professor Joe Roth SJSU

"Valor with Honor" is an independently produced documentary that is emotionally powerful and thought provoking! Unlike many historians, Takeuchi does not interpret history. The story of the 442nd is carried forward by the actual veterans telling their own stories, as they experienced it. I felt like I was in their living room, sitting across from them, as they spoke to me. The stories flowed , thanks to the superb editing...." Henry Sakaida (historian)

"Valor with Honor" preserves vivid first hand accounts of fierce battles, dramatic rescues, and the liberation of Jewish prisoners at Dachau" Esther Newman, Discover Nikkei

"The love and dedication you put into your film was so obvious and inspiring. I think what was most touching was that its completion was for the vets and their legacy, which I feel exemplifies the spirit of their own heroic actions and sacrifices." Tadamori Yagi (writer and actor)

"Mesmerizing! Made me more aware of the rights and privileges I have today which I often take for granted. Thanks in part to the tremendous sacrifices of those who came before me. I dont really want to admit it...but watching this film brought tears to my eyes..." George So (teacher)

"Valor With Honor" is a moving important film that captures history from those who lived it. I hope it finds a large audience so that they may become as touched and informed as I was. My deepest thanks to its dedicated filmmaker, Burt Takeuchi. Thank you so much." Dennis Sakamoto (Acting and filmmaking instructor "Just for Actors")

Trailer: " Valor with Honor"

Articles:

"Independent Filmmaker Gives 442nd a Voice" by Kenji Taguma, Nichi Bei Foundation

"Valor with Honor: An Emotional Experience for Audiences" by JK Yamamoto, Rafu Shimpo

"Burt Takeuchi Lauds Heroes with Valor with Honor" by Esther Newman, Discover Nikkei

"Sansei Director Completes Tribute to Nisei Soldiers" by JK Yamamoto, Nikkei West

"Documentary Spotlights Japanese American Experience During WW2" by Cynthia Cheng, The Santa Clara Weekly

"Film Boosts Lost Battalion Memorial Project" by Pacific Citizen

"Valor with Honor" 2012 Screening Updates:

JACL Stockton-Lodi Luncheon: Saturday, January 21st, 2012 (12 noon) Cost $17.00 for members and $22.00 for non members

Q&A after the screening. Dvds sold after the event.

Lodi JACL Hall 210 East Elm Street, Lodi, California 95240

Contact Bill Hinkle (209) 369-9539

Homestead High School Auditorium : February, 16th 2012 (6-8pm) 21370 Homestead Road, Cupertino, California 95014

Q&A panel discussion will follow the film. Dvds and snacks will be sold after the event. Free to the public.

Sponsored by the SV JACL and the Japanese National Honor Society

Silicon Valley JACL (408) 363-8191

Japanese American Museum of San Jose, San Jose Japantown: February 19th, 2012 (2-4pm) Sunday

535 North 5th Street, San Jose, California 95112

Q&A after the screening. Dvds sold after the event. Free to the public.

Sponsored by the JAMSJ and CATS

Space is limited: RSVP to info@jamsj.org or catstheater@gmail.com or call (408) 294-3188 or (408) 867-4525

Contact and Dvd info:

Organizations that are interested in hosting a community screening or fundraiser with "Valor with Honor". Please contact Torasan Films.

"Valor with Honor" dvds 25$ for California residents (only 23$ for non California residents) each plus 3$ shipping. Payments can be made by Paypal, check, or money order. Contact us by email to place your orders.

Torasan Films, PO BOX 640831, San Jose, California, 95164

torasanfilms@yahoo.com

Upcoming Events/News:

5/16/09 Last shoot for reenactment footage for combat scenes. Actors and extras will be filmed moving through the forest in WW2 era costumes. The footage will be edited in between the interviews and credits. The shoot will be filmed at the Sequoia Paint Ball park in Santa Cruz County. No pyrotechnics will be used due to safety and fire danger issues. Digital special effects will be utilized only. Thanks to Sequoia Paintball Park, What Price Glory, Sgt Eddie Collis, and Spartan Imports for their help in this phase of the film project.
5/31/09 The shoot went well at the Sequoia Paintball Park. Dino Tsai provided the shuttle service to the park. Danny Inouye provided the extra packs and weapons to help with the shoot. Larry Kitagawa helped with the shot selection and camera work. Shin Tsurushima, Danny Inouye, Osum Cheung, and Mike Nagao were the extras who soldiered on through the shoot. Mahalo! Thanks to you all!
7/18/09 Focus groups will prescreen the film to help edit the final cut. Screenings will be planned for late 2009. The dvd will be released soon after. An educational dvd will include research materials on the 442nd.
9/18/09 A small focus group panel watched the rough final cut of the film. The groups response was very positive and offered comments to help the final editing. "The film did not seem like 90 minutes" commented one panel member who liked the detailed interviews.
9/22/09 Post production: sound and color are going to be digitally remastered to design the final cut. Preparations for locating a venue in the San Francisco Bay Area.
10/23/09 Sad news: Dino Tsai our shuttle driver and production assistant past away from an apparent heart attack at age 36. His help to the reenactment shoots was invaluable. Dino's name will appear in the final credits of Valor with Honor.
12/14/09 Continuing remastering of final cut with first color then sound remastering. Various organizations are being contacted for future film screening fundraisers for 2010. An educational short version (30 minute) is being planned for release in 2010 to universities and high schools.
2/14/10 Several venues are being set with host organizations in San Jose, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Dates and times are TBA. The two minute trailer was screened at the FFNV luncheon.
3/23/10 Placer JACL showing "Valor With Honor" in Auburn, Calif. on June 24, 2010 as a fundraiser for a monument to honor these WW II heroes in Placer County. See http://placerjacl.org
4/16/10 San Francisco community screening "Valor with Honor" Sunday June 13th, 2010 at the JCCCNC in Japantown SF. Time: 1pm, Short Q&A session and refreshments will be after the film.
6/13/10 The JCCCNC SF Japantown screening was attended by roughly 55 people of all ages. An emotional Q&A session followed with the vets giving thanks to the film maker for his efforts.
6/25/10 A large turnout (200 plus)for the 442nd Memorial fundraiser in Auburn, California. Some of the audience were weeping when they exited the theater. Over 10,000 dollars were raised for the 442nd memorial project. More shows in 2010 will be planned in the San Jose and Sacramento area.
8/16/10 The Nihonmachi Outreach Committee and Yu Ai Kai are screening "Valor with Honor" in San Jose Japantown Sept 26th 2010. Contact Reiko (408) 396-9402
10/21/10 Silicon Valley JACL will host two screenings for "Valor with Honor" (1pm & 3pm) at the Oak Grove HS Theater Nov 6th 2010 in San Jose, CA. Contact Pat (408) 910-3525
1/20/11 Japanese American National Musuem in Los Angeles will screen "Valor with Honor" on Sat. 2pm , Feb 5th, 2011. There will be a Q&A with the director after the film. Call (213)625-0414 for tickets.
1/30/11 The National WW2 Museum in New Orleans will show "Valor with Honor" at the AAAS convention for Asian Pacific Hertiage Month: May 18-21st 2011
2/23/11 San Jose State University Military and Asian American history departments will host a free screening of "Valor with Honor", Saturday 2pm, April 30th, 2011. Dvds will be sold at the event.
5/11/11 WW2 National Museum in New Orleans Louisiana will screen "Valor with Honor" Thursday May 19th 2011 at 5pm. Free to the public.
5/21/11 The NOLA screening at the WW2 National Musuem had over 150 people in attendence. The films response and Q&A was very positive. Thanks to John Costa, Jeremy Collins, and Delia Nakayama for their support.
8/15/11 A modest attended screening in SF Japantown but the Q&As went very well. Plan to return to the SF area again this year if time allows. NYU will host a screening cosponsored by the AARI, JAA, and the NY JACL Nov. 9th, 2011.
11/19/11 Both screenings at NYU and Hofstra went well. Thanks to everyone who helped to make the screenings possible. Look forward to returning to NY again in 2012.

Visit Facebook for the Valor with Honor group page