The Cats of Mirikitani

The Cats of Mirikitan
                              Wounded from War, healed from Art

Regardless of the distractions to life on the streets of New York, Jimmy Mirikitani drew constantly. Most ignore homeless people; however Linda Hattendorf, who is the filmmaker decided to use his story. Japanese American Internment Camp, bombs, and cats, is what caught Linda’s attention to this Japanese American man. Once she gives him a chance to share his story, it is clear that the man was wounded from war and isolation from his loved ones, but healed from art.

Art not war is the motto Jimmy lived by. He’s an 80 year man, who was raised in Hiroshima, but moved to NY in 2001. The film is recent enough in the sense that we were all live to witness on Television the devastation of the World Trade Center collapsing. Lina saw this homeless man on the streets of New York coughing. I can only imagine the impact it had on him.  My God mother was in the World Trade Center, but she managed to escape, since she was only a few floors away from the ground. I cried and panicked, but I thanked God that she was alive, and that she survived. Just like my God mother, Jimmy Mirikitani

Although there was chaos, Linda Hattendorf, was able to rescue Jimmy from the toxic smoke due to the World Trade Center, and invite him over. Her apartment is where they are able to bond. Forty kids died during the atomic bomb and 260, 000 were killed. Jimmy isn’t afraid of sharing the story of the experiences that he has been through. This is the land of opportunity, the land where people from other countries dream of living in. Yet, it is interesting to note that Jimmy thinks that this country is garbage. There are people still homeless and bankrupt he says. At first, he even refuses to get social security, even though that it there to help him.

Story moved me. IT is redemption despite the various hardships that this man faced. This film captures an American story. Not only is his artwork a gift, but it is his story. Mr. Mirikitani was charming, his story heartbreaking and gives all Americans lessons to learn about caring and strength. Thanks so to the director and to Mr. Mirikitani for sharing his life story, his love of cats and his great art with us. He will be missed, I would’ve loved to meet him.