Defining Courage
Defining Courage, the immersive live theatrical presentation honoring Japanese American soldiers of World War II, makes its Pacific Northwest debut at Meany Hall on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM. Created by Emmy Award-winning ABC7 Los Angeles News Anchor David Ono, this powerful multimedia stage show blends stunning visuals, live music, and eyewitness accounts to tell the heroic but little-known story of the Nisei soldiers who fought for their country while their families were incarcerated at home.
The Seattle performance features newly filmed stories with connections to the Pacific Northwest and beyond:
- Follow Bill and Anne Okubo to the Vosges Mountains, where their father—Medal of Honor recipient James Okubo from Washington state—saved 17 men in a single day
- The history of Bainbridge Island, the first community in America where Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes
- A class ring lost in battle and discovered decades later by a French metal detectorist—leading to a remarkable reunion with the family of a fallen hero
- Embark on a journey with Kristen Hayashi, curator at the Japanese American National Museum, completing a ten-year mission to learn about her great uncle Henry Kondo and find where he took his final steps
"The Pacific Northwest holds a profound place in this story," said Ono. "To bring Defining Courage here for the first time and share these deeply personal journeys is a privilege. Bainbridge Island was where it began—the first forced removal. It's fitting that we finally bring this show to the Pacific Northwest to honor that history."
Event Links
Tickets: https://go.evvnt.com/3550867-0
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3550867-2
