Kimiko’s Pearl is based on a story by Emmy Award-winning writer Howard Reich inspired by the family history of Bravo Niagara!’s founders Christine Mori and Alexis Spieldenner, who serve as co-creators and producers of the ballet. The production features original music by Kevin Lau and choreography by Yosuke Mino with dancers from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Boston Ballet, as well as three generations of Japanese Canadian visual artists and musicians. 

Kimiko’s Pearl unfurls the bittersweet story of one family – spanning four generations – set against the turbulent backdrop of World War II. It is told through the eyes of Kimiko, a 15-year-old Toronto girl who discovers an old family trunk containing her great-grandfather’s diary and other precious keepsakes. As Kimiko reads the diary, her family’s tale comes to life before her eyes.

Kimiko’s story reflects the tragedies and triumphs of Japanese Canadian families before, during and after World War II. Their harsh experiences attest to heroism and hope in the face of racism.