Paper Lanterns: Screening + Producer Discussion

Please join the Japan Society of Northern California, Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco, the San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association and the Japantown Cultural District for a special film event.

“Paper Lanterns,” directed by Barry Frechette and produced by Nobuko Saito Cleary, follows the lifework of atomic bomb survivor Shigeaki Mori to track down the last 2 families of the 12 American soldiers who, along with an estimated 140,000 Japanese people, perished instantly in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. By following Mori’s quest to reach the families of American POWs Normand Brissette and Ralph Neal, casualties of the bombing, the film documents key elements of creating peace from war, depicting themes of empathy across countries, intercultural understanding, and the power of healing.

Screening to be followed by a discussion with producer Nobuko Saito Cleary.

Date & Time:
Wednesday, February 25, 2026 from 5:30-7:30 PM

Location:
Koret Auditorium, Main Branch of the San Francisco Public Library
100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Agenda:
5:00 PM Doors Open
5:30-7:30 PM Program, including special greetings, film screening, and producer talk

Registration:
All San Francisco Public Library programs are drop-in (no registration necessary) unless otherwise noted. All SFPL locations are wheelchair accessible. For accommodations (such as ASL), call (415) 557-4557 or contact accessibility@sfpl.org. Requesting at least 3 business days in advance will help ensure availability.

Special Greetings

• Kotaro Otsuki, Consul General of Japan in San Francisco
• Michael Lambert, San Francisco City Librarian
• Misako Sack, San Francisco-Osaka Sister City Association Executive Director
• Emceed by Dr. Emily Murase