All That Remains

by Mona Z. Smith

In October 1969, a young Japanese American man travels to a forest in France to see where his father was killed in action under mysterious circumstances 25 earlier, during World War II. In this eerie forest, he encounters seven men who say they served with his father. When the traveler asks for the truth about his father’s death, time flows backward as the ghost-warriors tell a story of loyalty and betrayal...

In October 1969, a young Japanese American man travels to a forest in France to see where his father was killed in action under mysterious circumstances 25 earlier, during World War II. In this eerie forest, he encounters seven men who say they served with his father. When the traveler asks for the truth about his father’s death, time flows backward as the ghost-warriors tell a story of loyalty and betrayal, friendship and rivalry, courage and trauma, ghosts and demons, love and revenge.

ALL THAT REMAINS is inspired by the ghost-warrior plays of Japan’s Noh theatre. Though it is a work of fiction, this play draws on the very real and harrowing experiences of troops in the 100th Battalion and 442nd Regimental Combat Team – celebrated but segregated units of Japanese Americans from Hawaii and the Mainland U.S. who fought with distinction in some of the bloodiest battles of WWII.

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All That Remains

Character Information

The ensemble consists of 8 male actors in their 20s-30s: Japanese American, Asian American, and/or Hawai'ian. All actors play multiple roles. Most play a young World War II soldier (in the past) as well as the ghost of that soldier (in the present). A sample doubling plan is available. Principal roles are listed here.
  • TRAVELER
    A young man from L.A. who will soon fight in Vietnam. Before he enlists, he travels for the very first time to the forest in France where his father was killed in action in WWII. There, at night, in the forest, Traveler meets seven soldiers from his father’s WWII battalion. They are described below.
    20s
    Asian -- Japanese,
    Hawaiian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • SADAO “SAM” OTAKE
    A nisei from Japantown in Los Angeles. Intelligent, perceptive, and sarcastic, Sam is allergic to authority. A rebel, a loner, a jazz drummer, Sam struggles with issues related to identity and loyalty.
    20s
    Asian -- Japanese
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • YOSHIO “YOYO” YAMADA
    Kibei born in Hawai'i but educated in Japan. He has spent most of his life in Japan and speaks little English. A talented musician and athlete, Yoyo is sensitive and kind though he can also be nervous, shy, and awkward. He is a true friend to Sam.
    20s-30s
    Asian -- Japanese,
    Hawaiian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • KENNY “COWBOY” KIYUNA
    Sansei from Oahu. Clean-cut, charismatic kid who loves baseball and being the center of attention. He is self-assured to the point of cockiness, even belligerence. He's a natural leader who is determined to be a hero.
    20s
    Asian -- Japanese,
    Hawaiian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • MITSUBO “MITS” TAKEBA
    Nisei from Oahu. Easy-going, funny, but also fiercely loyal and protective. Mits is Cowboy’s teammate and his best friend. Trying to make everybody happy can put him in some sticky situations.
    20s-30s
    Asian -- Japanese,
    Hawaiian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
  • TINY
    Nisei from Oahu and baseball teammate of Mits and Cowboy. Funny but hot-tempered, he’s a "moke" (redneck). His speech is peppered with pidgin. He likes romancing the ladies, gambling, and drinking.
    20s-30s
    Asian -- Japanese,
    Hawaiian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • SLIM
    Nisei from Oahu, another baseball buddy. Slim is Tiny’s best friend, loyal sidekick, drinking buddy, craps partner, and lender of choice. Like Tiny, he's a joker with a short fuse.
    20s-30s
    Asian -- Japanese,
    Hawaiian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man
  • SQUIRT
    Nisei from Oahu, a recent high school graduate, youngest in the group -- he's the team benchwarmer, the annoying but much-loved little brother type. He's earnest, naive, enthusiastic, empathetic. Squirt loves comics and misses his mama and family back home.
    18 to 20s
    Asian -- Japanese,
    Hawaiian
    Male
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Man

Development History

  • Workshop, Slowly I Turned Productions (L.A.), 2012
  • Workshop, Japanese American National Museum (L.A.), 2011

Production History

  • Community Theater, Kumu Kahua Theater (Honolulu), 2013

Awards

  • Po'okela Award for Best Play
    Hawai'ian State Theatre Association
    Winner
    2013