Emiko Omori is an award-winning filmmaker and documentarian. Born in 1941 in Oakland, California to Japanese-American parents, Emiko grew up in an atmosphere deeply rooted in Japanese culture. She was educated at the University of California, Berkeley, and went on to become a teacher. In 1976, she began her film career with the short documentary "Rabbit in the Moon," which was about the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
The film was well-received and was nominated for an Academy Award. Following the success of "Rabbit in the Moon," Emiko released a series of other documentaries, including "Living on Tokyo Time" (1987), "A Whale of a Tale" (1990), and "Living on the Edge of the Rim" (1992). Her films have been screened at the Sundance Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Berlin International Film Festival.
In the early 1990s, Emiko began producing and directing television shows. She was the co-creator of the PBS series "I'll Make Me a World," which explored the lives of African-Americans, and "American Experience," which focused on various aspects of American history. She was also a director on the series "Miles to Go Before I Sleep" and "Frontline."
In addition to her film and television work, Emiko has been an active member of the Japanese-American community. She is a founding member of Visual Communications, a media arts organization that focuses on Asian-American media. She is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Emiko's films have been praised for their honest and intimate looks at the Japanese-American experience. She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Documentary Feature and the American Documentary Showcase Award.
Emiko continues to make films and television programs that explore the history and culture of Asian-Americans. She is an inspirational figure in the world of documentary filmmaking, and her films are widely respected for their unique perspectives and thoughtful insight.
