The world of cinema, education, and activism is mourning the loss of a true pioneer. Robert A. Nakamura, an acclaimed filmmaker, educator, and cultural trailblazer widely regarded as the “Godfather of Asian American media,” passed away recently at the age of 88.
Nakamura’s profound impact on the Asian American community and on the broader landscape of American documentary filmmaking cannot be overstated. As a founding member of Visual Communications, alongside Alan Ohashi, Eddie Wong, and Duane Kubo, he played a central role in creating the very foundation of Asian American media arts. His visionary work captured stories long ignored by mainstream narratives — particularly those of the Japanese American experience, from the struggles of internment to the quiet resilience of postwar identity.
Throughout his life, Nakamura wore many hats: filmmaker, educator, activist, mentor, and father. His films broke ground not only artistically but politically, giving voice to communities too often silenced or sidelined. But perhaps his most enduring legacy is the community he built — a generation of Asian American storytellers who found their voices through his teaching and his example.
As the Japanese American Alumni Professor of Japanese American Studies at UCLA, where he also served as an emeritus professor, Nakamura helped institutionalize Asian American media studies, guiding countless students in their creative and cultural journeys. To many, he wasn’t just a professor — he was a beacon of encouragement, a defender of truth through art, and a master craftsman of memory and meaning.
His remarkable life was most recently honored in the deeply personal documentary “Third Act”, directed by his son, acclaimed filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura. The film, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, is a moving portrait of a father, a teacher, and a legend in his final chapter — an intimate celebration of the legacy he built both on screen and at home.
“Robert wasn’t just a filmmaker. He was a cultural architect,” said one colleague at the Sundance screening. “He built spaces where our stories mattered.”
Visual Communications, the organization he helped build from the ground up, posted a tribute calling him a “foundational force” whose legacy will live on in every reel of Asian American history captured through film.
In the iconic group photo often shared in remembrance, Robert Nakamura stands at the center, surrounded by his fellow founders — a symbolic image of the central role he played in shaping a movement.
As we say goodbye to Professor Nakamura, we also celebrate all that he gave us: stories of resistance and beauty, spaces for unheard voices, and a living legacy carried forward by the countless artists, activists, and students he inspired.
He is survived by his loving family, including his son Tadashi, who continues his father’s work with powerful and resonant storytelling.
Robert A. Nakamura, 1937–2025.
May his memory be a blessing, and may his stories continue to light the path forward.