Japanese American National Museum's video: ATOMIC CAFE Q A with the filmmakers Atomic Nancy

In the late 1970s, when L.A.’s punk rock scene was exploding, an unlikely family-owned restaurant in Little Tokyo started by Japanese Americans returning from America’s WWII concentration camps became one of its most popular hang-outs. That’s when Sansei “Atomic Nancy” with her “take-no-prisoners” punk make-up and demeanor took the café over from her parents and cranked up the jukebox. Infamous for its eclectic clientele—from Japanese American locals and kids from East L.A. to yakuza and the biggest rock stars of the day—the Atomic Café became an important part of L.A.’s punk rock history. Now, the Atomic Cafe’s life and legacy is highlighted in a new film by Tadashi Nakamura and Akira Boch that explores its many sides—from the 1940s opening to its last days on First Street. Nancy Sekizawa aka “Atomic Nancy”, her daughter and artist Zen Sekizawa, Remy De La Peza, joined Nakamura and Boch for a livestreamed conversation and Q&A in celebration of the Atomic Café on September 27, 2020. WATCH THE FILM: September 24–30 The film will be available at a Pay-What-You-Wish rate for streaming from September 24 to 30 as part of Visual Communications’ upcoming Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Watch here: https://watch.eventive.org/laapff2020/play/5f592950b523a00c71a4bc5b/ This program is presented in partnership with Little Tokyo Service Center and Visual Communications, as part of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. --- Programs like this are made possible by the generous support of JANM's members and donors. Become a member (http://janm.org/membership) or consider making a tax-deductible gift so that we can continue to present more programs like these: http://janm.org/donatenow. Your support makes a difference. Thank you! Japanese American National Museum 100 N. Central Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012 http://janm.org