Members of the campus and Pittsburgh communities are invited to enjoy live music and Japanese Taiko drumming performances, sample authentic Japanese cuisine and pick up a free book at the upcoming kick-off of Duquesne University’s Spring 2017 Big Read event.
An initiative funded by a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant, the Big Read features Julie Otsuka’s novel When the Emperor Was Divine, which tells the story of a Japanese-American family forced from their Berkeley, Calif., home and sent to live in a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II.
A limited supply of free copies of When the Emperor Was Divine will be available at the Big Read kick-off, scheduled for Thursday, March 16, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Genesius Theater. In addition, Adjunct Professor Keiko Rushlander from the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures will perform Japanese folk songs; the Pittsburgh Taiko drumming group will perform; and authentic Japanese onigiri (rice balls) will be served. The event is free and open to the public.
“We knew the novel could spark a dialogue on campus, but the growth of involvement of the Pittsburgh community in our Big Read program has really been exciting,” said Outreach and Communications Librarian Christie Kliewer. “We have people who are visiting campus stop in to look at the beautiful paper cranes and learn about the experiences of Japanese-American internment through our Dorothea Lange photo exhibit. This program really provides a great opportunity to explore and engage in diverse perspectives, and we’re looking forward to celebrating the Kick-Off event with the community.”
When the Emperor Was Divine author Otsuka will visit campus on Thursday, March 30, to discuss her book and its cultural impact, and to answer questions.
For more information on Otsuka’s visit as well as on Duquesne’s Big Read project (including overviews and reviews of the novel; teacher resources; videos and podcasts related to When the Emperor Was Divine), visit the Library’s website.