Why would successful women from the world’s second largest economic power choose

Why would successful women from the world’s second largest economic power choose to start their lives over in New York City? The documentary “Mothers’ Way, Daughters’ Choice” explores how several Japanese women struggle to reconcile their traditional upbringing and their desire to create unique lives. To understand these struggles, the director, Kyoko Gasha, shows the deep, powerful influences of Japanese culture on her own life. Kyoko also uncovers stories of other Japanese women in New York City, weaving parallel tales of guilt, denial, sacrifice and joy. This is a story of cultures clashing on a personal level.

Gasha was born in Tokyo in 1963. She first came to America as an exchange student for her junior year of high school in Oregon. She returned again for her junior year in college at UMass-Amherst, then graduated from Sophia University in 1987. She became a broadcast journalist at TV Tokyo in the same year. Gasha was awarded a Fulbright scholarship as a journalist and attended Michigan Journalism Fellow Program between 1991 and 1992. Returning to TV Tokyo, Gasha covered foreign affairs, feature stores and became a documentary director. In 2001, she was hired by Reuters, and moved to New York with her daughter. As a result of the World Trade Center attack they had to move seven times in their first several years in New York before finally settling down in Manhattan. Recovering from the aftermath of September 11th, Gasha started to make documentaries again, working as a reporter for Reuters during the week, and creating this documentary at home on weekends. “Mothers’ Way, Daughters’ Choice” was finally finished in 2009.

See the trailer. Interesting how Japanese Women do not want to return to living in Japan once they live in the US.

The next showing is April 1st at New York University, School for Continuing and Professional Studies. For more information on the schedule please visit here.