{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = Day of Independence | image = Day of Independence (2003 short film) poster.jpg | caption = poster design: Dennis Mukai | runtime = 27 minutes | director = Chris Tashima | producer = Lisa Onodera | writer = Chris Tashima<br />Tim Toyama | based_on = {{Based on|''Independence Day''|Tim Toyama}} | starring = Derek Mio<br />Marcus Toji<br />Alan Muraoka<br />Keiko Kawashima<br />Gina Hiraizumi<br />Chris Tashima | music = Scott Nagatani | country = United States | language = English | released = {{Film date|2003|09|26}} }} '''''Day of Independence''''' is a 2003 short film, broadcast in 2005 as a half-hour PBS television special. It is a drama, set during the Japanese American internment of World War II, produced by Cedar Grove Productions with Visual Communications as fiscal sponsor.
==Plot== Set in a relocation camp in 1943, "Day of Independence" tells the story of a young baseball player facing the tragic circumstances of the internment of 110,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry during World War II. The narrative follows a family torn apart by forced and unjust incarceration, highlighting a father's decision that challenges his son. Ultimately, the story unfolds with the son's triumph through courage, sacrifice, and the backdrop of the All-American game of baseball.
==Cast== * Derek Mio as Zip * Marcus Toji as Hog * Alan Muraoka as Father * Keiko Kawashima as Mother * Chris Tashima as The Umpire (In order of appearance) * Dean Komure as Spectator * Lisa Joe as Frances ("National Anthem" singer) * Diana Toshiko as Betty * Sarah Chang as Sadie * Julie Tofukuji as Mimi * Ulysses Lee as Tad * Jonathan Okui as Satch * Gina Hiraizumi as Rose
== History == The story of the film is based on playwright and executive producer Tim Toyama's own father's World War II experience. During the war, Toyama's father, whose nickname was Zip, was sent along with his entire family to a U.S. internment camp for Japanese Americans. Zip's ''Issei'' (Japanese immigrant) father fell ill and elected to return to Japan, along with Zip's mother, on a prisoner exchange ship, called the MS ''Gripsholm''.<ref>[http://lists.amamedia.org/pipermail/ama-e-news/2006-April/000121.html [AMA-e-News] Asian Media Access, E-Newsletter, 4/19<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610005903/http://lists.amamedia.org/pipermail/ama-e-news/2006-April/000121.html |date=2008-06-10 }}</ref> However, the parents told Zip that as an American, he should remain in the U.S.
== Background == Toyama wrote a play based on his family history, ''Independence Day''. He and director Chris Tashima then adapted the play into a short film, which was produced by Lisa Onodera. The film was shot in 6 days, in Stockton, California and in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ww2f.com/wwii-films-tv/15601-day-independence.html |title="A Day of Independence" - World War II Forums<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2008-03-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609022833/http://www.ww2f.com/wwii-films-tv/15601-day-independence.html |archive-date=2008-06-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was completed in 2003 and played in over 70 film and video festivals and competitions, winning 25 awards. Following its broadcast premiere on KHET/PBS Hawai'i on May 12, 2005,<ref>[http://www.hiff.org/newsletters/2005_05_12/index.html enews] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828204348/http://www.hiff.org/newsletters/2005_05_12/index.html |date=2008-08-28 }} for Hawaii International Film Festival</ref> the film received a Regional Emmy nomination, from the NATAS San Francisco/Northern California Chapter (which includes Hawaii), in the category of Historical/Cultural – Program/Special.<ref>[http://www.emmysf.tv/pdf/emmy06nom.pdf list of 35th NorCal Emmy noms; p. 9] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070422022914/http://www.emmysf.tv/pdf/emmy06nom.pdf |date=April 22, 2007 }} (pdf)</ref>
==Awards== (partial list) *Emmy Nomination - 35th Northern California Emmy Awards *CINE Golden Eagle<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cine.org/directories/2004-CINE-Winner-Directory.pdf |title=2004 CINE winner list |access-date=2008-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070423003144/http://www.cine.org/directories/2004-CINE-Winner-Directory.pdf |archive-date=2007-04-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *Platinum Best of Show - Aurora Awards *Accolade Award of Excellence, Short Film<ref>[http://www.accoladecompetition.org/Film/Excell.aspx 2003 Awards of Excellence / Film] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328040251/http://www.accoladecompetition.org/Film/Excell.aspx |date=2008-03-28 }}</ref> *Best Short - Stony Brook Film Festival<ref>[http://www.indiewire.com/biz/biz_040806buzz.html Stony Brook Film Festival 2004 winners] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029103105/http://www.indiewire.com/biz/biz_040806buzz.html |date=October 29, 2006 }} on IndieWire</ref> *Best Narrative Short - Tambay Film & Video Festival<ref>[http://www.crazedfanboy.com/npcr/popculturereview214.html 4th Tambay Film Fest Winners on Nolan's Pop Culture Review online]</ref> *"Slate" Award, Best Short - California Independent Film Festival<ref>[http://caindiefilmfest.org/winners.html California Independent Film Festival winner history]</ref> *Best Short Film - Houston Multicultural Independent Film Festival *Gold / 1st Prize - Crested Butte Reel Fest<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cbreelfest.com/page.cfm?pageid=2050 |title=2004 Winners on Crested Butte Reel Fest online |access-date=2008-03-28 |archive-date=2024-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241216022431/http://www.cbreelfest.com/page.cfm?pageid=2050 |url-status=dead }}</ref> *Audience Award, Best Drama - Marco Island Film Festival
== Trivia == * Performance artist Dan Kwong, who is also a baseball player, coached lead actor Derek Mio in old-style pitching form. * Lisa Joe's character, "Frances" (who sings the National Anthem at the ballgame and later conducts a choir rehearsal), was named in honor of Joe's mother, Frances Sue Okabe, a well known Nisei singer and music teacher. Okabe was interned at the Minidoka internment camp as a teenager, where she was known for her singing. Joe provided the singing voice on the soundtrack as well, which was recorded on Mother's Day just after her mother died from cancer. * During one of the montage sequences of "camp life," there is a painter standing by an easel, who is portrayed by playwright Tim Toyama, who stepped in at the last moment when the person cast to play the part didn't show up for filming. * The scene depicting the choir rehearsal has un-credited cameo appearances by noted actors Tamlyn Tomita, Emily Kuroda, Sab Shimono and Greg Watanabe who are friends of the director.<ref>[http://www.sdaff.org/features_view.php?news_id=66 San Diego Asian Film Festival asks Tashima, "... quite an impressive crew & cast (Greg Watanabe, Tamlyn Tomita, Sab Shimono ). How did you get everyone ...?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227080716/http://www.sdaff.org/features_view.php?news_id=66 |date=2007-12-27 }} on SDAFF website</ref>
==See also== * List of baseball films
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [https://vimeo.com/ondemand/dayofindependence ''Day of Independence''] now available on [https://vimeo.com/ondemand/dayofindependence Vimeo] * {{IMDb title|id=0327949|title=Day of Independence}} * [http://starbulletin.com/2005/05/10/features/story1.html Coverage of PBS broadcast] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609043030/http://starbulletin.com/2005/05/10/features/story1.html |date=2008-06-09 }} in Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Category:2003 films Category:2003 short films Category:2003 sports films Category:American baseball films Category:American films based on plays Category:Films set in the 1940s Category:Films set in 1943 Category:Films about the internment of Japanese Americans Category:2003 English-language films Category:2003 American films Category:English-language short films Category:English-language sports films