Between 2012 and 2018, Sam Goto drew over 250 multi-paneled Seattle Tomodachi ("friend of Seattle") comic strips for The North American Post. These comics chronicled the lives and stories of early Japanese settlers and their American-born offspring. Through his work, he captured elements of culture, nostalgia, and history, while infusing his characters -- Shigeru Tomo and his alterego Samurai Shigeru -- with the samurai values of courage, respect, and continuous improvement and compassion.

Design researcher Kelly Goto reflects on her father's legacy as she brings his work back to life in this collection so that others can be inspired and informed by his witty and wise look at the world.

About the Author
Kelly Goto is a design researcher, educator and author of industry classic, "Web Redesign 2.0: Workflow That Works." Goto currently heads up gotomedia, a global leader in research-driven strategy and solutions for digital products and connected experiences. She lives in Mercer Island, WA, with her family. Sam Goto was the creator of the Seattle Tomodachi cartoon strip that describes the experiences of Japanese Americans in the 20th century. The strip ran for five years in The North American Post. He passed away in 2017. Sam Goto was the creator of the Seattle Tomodachi cartoon strip that describes the experiences of Japanese Americans in the 20th century. The strip ran for five years in The North American Post. He passed away in 2017.

Reviews

The comic strips of Sam Goto bring to life pivotal moments in the history of the Seattle Japanese American community, from immigration through mass removal and incarceration to the rebuilding of social connections upon their return - memories and feelings that would otherwise be lost to time. Kelly Goto blends her meticulous text with photos and memorabilia that contextualize her father's work into a cohesive narrative. Her beautiful book design is given a hand-crafted treatment by Chin Music Press to create a gorgeous collection that is a feast for the eyes, one that any family will treasure. Highly recommended.

-Frank Abe, lead author, We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration

Book Information
ISBN 9781634050685
Author Kelly Goto
Format Paperback
Page Count 264
Imprint Chin Music Press
Publisher Chin Music Press
Dimensions(mm) 241mm * 254mm * 25mm