Join the Albany community for an afternoon of poetry, history, and reflection inspired by The Poet and the Silk Girl: A Memoir of Love, Imprisonment, and Protest by Albany author Satsuki Ina. This Albany Reads event explores how poetry and storytelling help people remember the past and build hope for the future. 

The program includes:

Youth Poet Laureate of Alameda County
The event begins with a poem from the Youth Poet Laureate of Alameda County, bringing a young person’s voice into conversation with history and community.

Tatsumaki Taiko
Experience traditional Japanese taiko drumming through performance and audience participation.

Haiku selected by Satsuki Ina
Satsuki Ina will read haiku written by her father. These poems hold personal meaning and reflect themes of resilience, dignity, memory, and hope.

Nancy Ukai – 50 Objects / 50 Stories
Nancy Ukai will share images and stories about objects preserved by Satsuki Ina’s family during their incarceration in six U.S. camps during World War II. Featured items include a quilt, a toy tank, letters censored by the government, and personal writings that tell the story of love, imprisonment, and protest.

Together, these presentations explore how individuals and communities respond to injustice, preserve memory, and support one another across generations.

Register Here