Author: ksakai1

Writer/Producer Koji Steven Sakai is the founder of Little Nalu Pictures LLC. He has written seven feature films that have been produced, including, most recently, The Commando, a feature film starring Michael Jai White and Mickey Rourke. He also produced five feature films; a one-hour comedy special on Starz, Comedy InvAsian, a television series featuring the nation’s top Asian American comedians; and Brash Girls Club, a limited comedy series which premiered on Tubi TV. Koji’s debut novel, Romeo & Juliet Vs. Zombies (paperback/audiobook); his graphic novel, 442 (online and in print); his newest novel, Zombie Run (print and ebook); and his newest graphic novel, Santa Vs. Zombies, was released in print this past winter. In addition to his writing, he produces and hosts three podcasts; Guy Code; Best OR Worst Podcast with M. Martin Mapoma; and Midnight Watchers with Quentin Lee and Jennifer Field. He is currently a screenwriting instructor at UCLA Extensions, New York Film Academy in Burbank, and Chapman University.

Japanese America: Ep4 Grandpa the Spy

by ksakai1

This episode delves into the complex intergenerational impacts of identity and
citizenship within a Japanese American family, particularly focusing on the
decisions made by Koji’s grandfather, Takaiichi Sakai, during his incarceration
in a WWII concentration camp. Featuring actor Derek Mio, the episode combines
personal stories with historical analysis, exploring themes of loyalty,
cultural belonging, and the heavy consequences of choosing between
nationalities. Through candid conversations and reenactments, the hosts examine
the lasting effects of their ancestors’ choices on their own identities and the
broader community.

ABOUT OUR READER

Derek Mio is an actor and comedian from Huntington Beach, CA. He portrays real-life
recipient Hiroshi “Hershey” Miyamura in the Netflix anthology series
Medal of Honor–executive produced by Robert Zemeckis–and is the lead actor in
the second season of the critically acclaimed AMC anthology series The
Terror co-starring George Takei and executive produced by Ridley Scott. He
is the creator and host of ‘The BudoComedy Show’ held at the Terasaki Budokan
non-profit rec center in Little Tokyo, downtown Los Angeles featuring comedians
such as Atsuko Okatsuka, Al Madrigal, Sheng Wang, Ian Bagg and more–the show
has raised over $10,000 for the facility. Derek earned a Bachelor of Arts from
USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. His hobbies include surfing, fishing, birding,
and wrangling his 2-year-old son.

ABOUT US

Welcome to “Japanese America,” where the Japanese American National Museum unveils captivating stories that add a Nikkei slant to the American narrative. In each episode, we explore Japanese Americans’ unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs, illuminating their rich contributions to the mosaic of American life. From historical milestones to contemporary perspectives, join us for an insightful journey showcasing the diverse tapestry of a community that has shaped the American story in extraordinary ways. Welcome to “Japanese America,” where each story unfolds like a chapter in a living history book.

For more information about the Japanese American National Museum,
please visit our website at www.janm.org.

CREDITS

The music was created by Jalen Blank

Written by Koji Steven Sakai

Hosts: Michelle Malazaki and Koji Steven Sakai

Edited and Produced by Koji Steven Sakai in conjunction with the Japanese American National Museum



S4E2 Was Bruce Lee Killed By the Touch of Death?

by ksakai1

In this martial arts-themed podcast episode, hosts Cat, Dwayne, and Koji humorously dive into Bruce Lee’s world. To honor Asian Pacific Heritage Month, they pay a funny yet heartfelt tribute to Bruce Lee and share outlandish theories about his early demise—was he killed because of a family curse or for some other nefarious reason?

Please consider supporting us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/unofficialofficialstory

RESEARCH

We do most of our research online… because why not? Here are the links we quoted from or used for background or inspiration.

https://www.empireonline.com/people/bruce-lee/

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3141681/what-killed-bruce-lee-triads-jealous-lover-ancient

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touch_of_Death

https://www.essentiallysports.com/us-sports-news-ufc-mma-news-a-bizarre-conspiracy-theory-suggested-bruce-lees-death-resulted-from-a-secret-touch-of-death-martial-arts-technique/

We all watched this video by Coffeezilla: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISj6s5a7kM8

ABOUT US

What are “they” not telling us? We’ll find out, figure out, and, when all else fails, make up the missing pieces to some of the most scandalous conspiracies, unexplained phenomena, and true crime affecting our world today. Join comedian Dwayne Perkins, writer Koji Steven Sakai, and comedian/actor/writer Cat Alvarado on The Unofficial Official Story Podcast every month, and by the end of each episode, we’ll tell you what’s really…maybe…happening. 

Website: http://unofficialofficialstory.com/

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theunofficialofficialstorypod/

X: https://twitter.com/TheUnofOfStory

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unoffoffstorypodcast

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxGCoSTC0bmTk5GVFHP4l3w

CREDITS

The intro and outro song was created by Brian “Deep” Watters. You can hear his music at https://soundcloud.com/deepwatters.

Written by Koji Steven Sakai

Hosts: Cat Alvarado, Dwayne Perkins, and Koji Steven Sakai

Edited and Produced by Koji Steven Sakai

S4E1 What if the Aliens Wrote the Bible with Nick Guerra

by ksakai1
Dive headfirst into the cosmic conundrum of extraterrestrial morality and history’s hidden alien influences with the dynamic trio, Cat, Dwayne, and Koji, in this laughter-laden podcast episode. They ponder the mysteries of the universe, debate whether a “don’t be an asshole” policy could work for intergalactic relations, and humorously hypothesize about Biblical figures following alien GPS systems. Joining them is the wittily introspective comedian Nick Guerra, who shares the trials of his comedic journey and the perplexing nature of parking fees. It’s a rollicking ride through the quirky possibilities of ancient astronaut theories and human civilization’s star-studded past, all while tickling your funny bone and stretching your imagination to the farthest reaches of the galaxy.

Please consider supporting us on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/unofficialofficialstory
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Nick Guerra is definitely a comedian that will catch you off guard BUT in a good way. His comedy has been described by his fans as a hilarious soul cleansing experience. A stand up comedian that wants people to not only enjoy his show but leave enjoying life in general. Nick has been featured on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, has a Dry Bar comedy special “Enjoy Life” and an HBO half hour comedy special “Love Me At My Worst”. He made his TV debut on the Comedy Central show “Stand Up Revolution with Gabriel Iglesias” and was a fan favorite on NBC’s Last Comic Standing.

RESEARCH
We do most of our research online… because why not? Here are the links we quoted from or used as inspiration
https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=7e299a290eecbaed3802d828074d6ab7be0adc1c

ABOUT US
What are “they” not telling us? We’ll find out, figure out, and, when all else fails, make up the missing pieces to some of the most scandalous conspiracies, unexplained phenomena, and true crime affecting our world today. Join comedian Dwayne Perkins, writer Koji Steven Sakai, and comedian/actor/writer Cat Alvarado on The Unofficial Official Story Podcast every month, and by the end of each episode, we’ll tell you what’s really…maybe…happening.

Website: http://unofficialofficialstory.com/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/theunofficialofficialstorypod/
X: https://twitter.com/TheUnofOfStory
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unoffoffstorypodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxGCoSTC0bmTk5GVFHP4l3w

CREDITS
The intro and outro song was created by Brian “Deep” Watters. You can hear his music at https://soundcloud.com/deepwatters.
Written by Koji Steven Sakai
Hosts: Cat Alvarado, Dwayne Perkins, and Koji Steven Sakai
Edited and Produced by Koji Steven Sakai

S1E3 Japanese America The First Pilgrimage

by ksakai1

Hosts Michelle Malizaki and Koji Steven Sakai delve into the history of the Manzanar pilgrimage. They discuss its historical significance, personal connections, and the necessity of education to prevent similar injustices.

If you’re interested in joining this year’s pilgrimage, here is a link for more information: https://manzanarcommittee.org/2024/02/09/55-pr1/

ABOUT PILGRIMAGE

 22min, 2006

Directed & Edited by Tadashi Nakamura – tadashinakamura.com

Produced by Karen L. Ishizuka

Exec. Produced by Robert A. Nakamura

PILGRIMAGE tells the inspiring story of how an abandoned WWII concentration camp for Japanese Americans has been transformed into a symbol of retrospection and solidarity for people of all ages, races and nationalities in our post 9/11 world.

With a hip music track, never-before-seen archival footage and a story-telling style that features young and old, PILGRIMAGE reveals how the Japanese American community reclaimed a national experience that had almost been deleted from public understanding. PILGRIMAGE shows how the annual Manzanar Pilgrimage now has new meaning for diverse generations who realize that when the US government herded thousands of innocent Americans into what the government itself called concentration camps, it was failure of democracy that would affect all Americans.

You can watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tf3t-5JP65M

ABOUT US

Welcome to “Japanese America,” where the Japanese American National Museum unveils captivating stories that add a Nikkei slant to the American narrative. In each episode, we explore Japanese Americans’ unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs, illuminating their rich contributions to the mosaic of American life. From historical milestones to contemporary perspectives, join us for an insightful journey showcasing the diverse tapestry of a community that has shaped the American story in extraordinary ways.  Welcome to “Japanese America,” where each story unfolds like a chapter in a living history book.

For more information about the Japanese American National Museum, please visit our website at www.janm.org.

CREDITS

The music was created by Jalen Blank

Written by Koji Steven Sakai

Hosts: Michelle Malazaki and Koji Steven Sakai

Edited and Produced by Koji Steven Sakai in Conjunction with the Japanese American National Museum

Damaged Is Out!

by ksakai1

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/amzn1.dv.gti.dc2bb33f-0e96-427b-a61b-761e535662ac?autoplay=0&ref_=atv_cf_strg_wb

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9usFQPaqEg4

Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/damaged-2024/umc.cmc.2eyj4d1ys6et1ylreaesmpi8h?action=play

GooglePlay https://play.google.com/store/movies/details?id=F740P7PI4Xg.P

Fandango: https://www.vudu.com/content/browse/details/Damaged/2983931?cmp=OrganicSearch~Vudu~GoogleWatch