What is the "Yonsei" documentary about?

The "Yonsei" documentary follows filmmaker Rachel Michiko Whitney as she explores her family's Japanese American legacy, including her grandmother's experience in a WWII internment camp and her mother's challenges as an actress in 1980s Hollywood.

Who are some of the key figures featured in the "Yonsei" documentary?

The documentary features interviews with pioneering Asian American actors like George Takei, as well as Whitney's own family members, including her 101-year-old grandmother.

How did Rachel Michiko Whitney's family react to the "Yonsei" documentary?

Whitney was initially nervous to show her family the documentary, but her 101-year-old grandmother had the most positive reaction, expressing hope that future generations would be able to see this important piece of Japanese American history.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Filmmaker Unearths Japanese American Family's Untold Story in Poignant Documentary

Filmmaker Unearths Japanese American Family's Untold Story in Poignant Documentary

23 Oct

•

Summary

Rachel Michiko Whitney's directorial debut, "Yonsei," explores her family's Japanese American legacy
Whitney grapples with respecting her family's privacy while honoring their stories
Documentary features interviews with pioneering Asian American actors like George Takei

Filmmaker Unearths Japanese American Family's Untold Story in Poignant Documentary

In 2025, filmmaker Rachel Michiko Whitney is set to premiere her directorial debut, a documentary called "Yonsei," at the Newport Beach Film Festival. The film follows Whitney as she pauses her acting career to write and star in a project about her mother, Elizabeth Reiko Kubota, a struggling Japanese American actress in the 1980s.

Through the documentary, Whitney uncovers her family's rich history, including her grandmother's experience being sent to a Japanese American internment camp during World War II, where she met and fell in love with Whitney's grandfather. However, Whitney initially struggled with respecting her family's privacy while also wanting to honor their stories. She even wrote fictionalized versions of her grandparents' and mother's narratives before deciding to make a documentary.