Target Oregon: Little Known Stories from WWII with Storyteller Alton Takiyama-Chung

A little known fact, Oregon was attacked by the Japanese in WWII. In collaboration with and based upon the work of independent filmmaker, Ilana Sol (On Paper Wings and Samurai in the Oregon Sky; www.samuraiintheoregonsky.com) storyteller, Alton Takiyama-Chung will tell the stories of the paper balloons armed with bombs sent across the Pacific to attack the US towards the end of WWII and how the Oregon coastal range was targeted in hopes of starting a huge forest fire. Alton will share the story as well as the acts of reconciliation by Japanese citizens involved. www.altonchung.com

Alton has performed in schools, libraries, museums, and universities across the country. He has created multicultural programs sharing Asian folk tales from many countries as well as legends from Hawaii. Through historical research and conducting oral history interviews, he tells stories from the Hawaiian Monarchy and from the Plantation Days, as well as those which describe the Japanese American Experience of WWII. Alton has performed at the Chicago History Museum, the Bishop Museum, the Japanese American National Museum, the Oklahoma Historical Society, the Oregon Historical Society, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Oregon State University, the International School (Portland, OR), University of San Diego, as well as many library systems and schools. Alton is a proud member and former Chairperson for the National Storytelling Network.