The Oath of the Sword
The Oath of the Sword
Image courtesy of the George Eastman Museum
Presented by the Japanese American National Museum (JANM)
Made by the Los Angeles–based Japanese American Film Company, The Oath of the Sword, recently discovered at the George Eastman Museum by scholar Denise Khor, is considered the earliest known Asian American film production. Leaving his native Japan to study at UC Berkeley, Masao also leaves behind his lover Hisa, who is caring for her ailing father. As Masao becomes an athletic star at Berkeley, Hisa languishes in Japan; their reunion four years later, during which time Hisa has given birth to another man’s child, ends in tragedy. Remarkable location photography lends an air of realism to this once-lost treasure, seeing its world premiere at the Academy Museum and shown with live musical accompaniment by pianist, improviser, and composer Naomi Nakanishi.
Following the film, Renee Tajima-Peña, Professor of Asian American Studies at UCLA, will moderate a panel discussion with Stephen Gong, Executive Director of the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM); Karen L. Ishizuka, Chief Curator at JANM; and Denise Khor, Associate Professor of Asian American Studies and Visual Studies at Northeastern University.
DIRECTED BY: Frank Shaw. WITH: Tomi Morri, Miss Hisa Numa, Yutaka Abe. 1914. 31 min. USA. Tinted, B&W. Silent. English intertitles. DCP. Restored by the Japanese American National Museum and George Eastman Museum. Funded by the National Film Preservation Foundation. Digital restoration from a 35mm nitrate print and 35mm safety negative from the George Eastman Museum collection was done at Eastman Museum Film Preservation Services and at Colorlab.
Academy Museum film programming generously funded by the Richard Roth Foundation.
Co-sponsored by Northeastern’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities and the College of Art, Media, and Design.
Theater accessibility accommodations available upon request. Learn more about our accessibility initiatives.
Back to Main Series
More in Series
Film Program
Sunday, November 12, 2023
Young Soul Rebels
Los Angeles Restoration Premiere. In person: Isaac Julien.
Film Program
Guillermo del Toro presents Pan’s Labyrinth
Screening includes a conversation with Guillermo del Toro, cinematographer Guillermo Navarro, and actor Doug Jones.
Film Program
The Big Chill
Honoring executive producer Marcia Nasatir. Introduction by writer-director Lawrence Kasdan, Scott Feinberg, Lucy Fisher, Piper Laurie, Anne Goursaud, and Mike Medavoy
Film Program
Poetic Justice
Opening with the title card, “Once upon a time in South Central Los Angeles,” writer-director John Singleton’s sophomore feature Poetic Justice blends tragedy with romance for a searing portrait of a community rebuilding from the ashes.
Film Program
Sat, Jun 11, 2022
A Trip to the Moon and Other Trips through Time and Space…with Serge Bromberg
Serge Bromberg introduces his most astounding discoveries and accompanies them on the piano, honoring the way they were first presented.
Film Program
Saturday, July 30th 2022
The Last Unicorn
40th Anniversary Screening. In-person: screenwriter and author Peter S. Beagle and producer Michael Chase Walker.
Film Program
Friday, January 27, 2023
Losing Ground @ 40
Introduction remarks by Nina Collins. Post-screening conversation with Julie Dash - Filmmaker, Dr. Jacqueline Stewart - Director and President of the Academy Museum, and Dr. Ariel Stevenson - Assistant Professor at USC.
Film Program
Thursday, February 9, 2023
The Blue Rose of Forgetfulness
United States Premiere. Special guest: Introduction by director Lewis Klahr.
Film Program
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
2 Fast 2 Furious
Special guests: Post-screening conversation with Tyrese Gibson - actor, Neal Moritz - Producer/USC alumnus, Derek Haas - Co-Writer, Bobbi Banks and Greg Hedgepath - Supervising Sound Editors, and Warren Drummond - Storyboard Artist. Moderated by Manouchka Labouba - Academy Museum Research Assistant.
Film Program
Friday, March 17, 2023
Lee Unkrich Presents The Shining
Special guest: Introduction and presentation by Lee Unkrich - director, animator and author of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining
Film Program
Thu, Jun 23, 2022
Making Love
40th Anniversary Screening. Q&A with A. Scott Berg, Barry Sandler, and Harry Hamlin.
Film Program
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Desk Set
Post-screening Q&A with author Claire L. Evans, Electronic Resources Librarian at the Los Angeles Public Library Eileen Ybarra, and Associate Director of Reference and Public Services at the Margaret Herrick Library Elizabeth Youle.
Film Program
Wednesday, June 28, 2023
An Evening with Arnold Schwarzenegger
Marking the release of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s limited edition two-volume book published by TASCHEN, join us for an evening celebrating Schwarzenegger’s life, accomplishments, and history of unforgettable performances.
Film Program
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King —20th Anniversary Screening
Museum Members-Only Screening. Free for Museum Members.