Matsumoto, Jason, 2019 September 10

Jason Matsumoto is a yonsei born in Chicago to sansei parents who were also born in Chicago. His maternal grandparents were incarcerated at Rohwer, paternal grandmother was incarcerated at Gila River, and paternal grandfather served in the MIS. In this interview, Jason discusses his experiences growing up in Wilmette, IL, his family's involvement with the Midwest Buddhist Temple, the influence of his grandfather Ben Chikaraishi, and his interest in taiko drumming. He shares his reasons for leaving Chicago to attend college in Seattle, WA, his motivations for studying abroad in Japan, and the path that ultimately led him to become one of the founders of Full Spectrum Features, a Chicago-based nonprofit film production company. Throughout the interview, Jason reflects on his evolving sense of identity, the strengths of the Chicago Japanese American community, and the importance of aligning his work with his personal values.