Madame Fujima Kansuma shares the life of the celebrated Japanese American kabuki dancer and teacher with a career beginning in the early 1940s and spanning decades. 

Join filmmaker Yuka Murakami for a discussion around the legacy of Madame Kansuma with Madame Kansuma’s daughter, Miyako Tachibana, and longtime student, June Berk, who were both featured in the film produced for a celebration of Kansuma’s 100th birthday in 2018. As the third part of the JANM Digital Film Festival, this Q&A will explore her extensive career and the impact of her work today.

Be sure to watch the film first, then join us for the Q&A which will be streamed live on JANM’s YouTube channel on Friday, June 26, from 6 p.m.–7 p.m. (PDT).

Submit questions in advance using this form. Participants will be able to chat and ask additional questions live (you will need to be logged in to YouTube to participate in the chat).

Learn more about Madame Kansuma and the film.


This program is presented in partnership with Tadaima! A Community Virtual Pilgrimage by Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages. The film was produced for the program Fujima Kansuma: 100th Birthday Celebration, a co-presentation of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Japanese American National Museum, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, and the Alliance for California Traditional Arts. It received federal support from the Smithsonian Asian Pacific Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.