"Because of You, I Am," is from the Japanese phrase "okagesamade," which refers to the ancestors who paved the way for the following generations. For our subjects, PJ and Roy Hirabayashi, this means immigrants from Japan, including their grandparents, who persevered against many obstacles to pave the way for them to build their lives here in America. The title has a double meaning as viewers will learn that PJ & Roy have been together for over 50 years, dedicating their lives to each other and the art of Taiko.

Through their story, viewers learn about the tragic history of anti-Asian racism Japanese Americans endured during WWII. As Roy and PJ point out, anti-Asian hate is on the rise again in the US, so they continue to struggle against injustice and strengthen their community. Our subjects persevered against great odds to build a singular, creative life together as artists, educating and inspiring generations of taiko drummers. Their story serves as a reminder of the transformative power of the arts and education.

Director Biography - Doug Menuez

Doug Menuez is an American artist whose varied career over 35 years has ranged from documentary to commissioned work. His career began at The Washington Post in 1981 and progressed to freelancing for Time, Newsweek, LIFE, Fortune, The New York Times and other publications for 20 years covering the homeless crisis, Ethiopian famine, Oakland drug wars, Olympics, and AIDS crisis. His portraits include Charlize Theron, Cate Blanchett, Lenny Kravitz, Robert Redford, Mother Tereza and Presidents Clinton and George Bush, Sr. Menuez gained exclusive access to Steve Jobs and the greatest innovators of Silicon Valley to document the digital revolution from 1985-2000. In 2004, Stanford University Library acquired his extensive archive.