Papa Said Be Strong

Kiyo Jean Kariya, a Nisei teenager when she was interned with her family in Topaz and is now in her 80's, shares the drama of her life's adventures with her grandchildren. Her parents returned to Japan after the war with Kiyo and her two siblings only to find themselves outcast foreigners in a devastated nation with a starving population. But, armed with bilingual skills and perseverance instilled by her parents, she is discovered by the global computer giant IBM and rises through the ranks. Her amazing story continues with her move to New York City, marriage to the co-founder of one of the most recognized names in ceramics, and association with ambassadors, movie stars and diplomats. "Papa Said Be Strong" is the riveting, inspiring life-history of a woman whose humble childhood was ignited and fueled into a rags-to-riches narrative by simple but powerful lessons from her parents.