Running Tour of Japanese-American History on Chicago's Near North Side

Join Read & Run Chicago guide Chelsey Stone for a 4-mile, easy-paced (11:00 min/mile) guided running tour showcasing on the real-life Japanese-American history in Chicago that appears in Naomi Hirahara's young adult mystery novel, . In the novel, twenty-year-old protagonist Aki Ito and her family are resettled in Chicago in 1944 after being forcibly detained at Manzanar, much like thousands of other Japanese-Americans. After a terrible tragedy strikes their family, Aki desperately searches for answers around Chicago's Near North neighborhood.

Just like the novel, the bustling streets surrounding the real-life intersection of Clark and Divison in 1944 were lined with Japanese-American-owned businesses like barber shops, grocery stores, and restaurants. Today, there is almost no visible trace of this pivotal part of life for Japanese-American Chicagoans. Along this route built by stories, we'll honor the Near North's neighborhoods like Gold Coast, Old Town, and River North) Japanese-American roots as you stop at various points of interest related to both the novel and real-life history.

After the route, enjoy social time with snacks and drinks while you hear a panel discussion with Japanese-American Chicagoans like Mary Doi of the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society.

No prior reading required. Copies of Naomi Hirahara's will be on sale at Slant of Light Books during the event or online anytime on Read & Run Tours's bookshop.org affiliate page.

Here's what else you need to know:

MEET: Doors open at Slant of Light Books (1543 N Wells) at 5:45pm on Tuesday, February 25. You'll check-in, write a name tag, and mingle with other readers & runners. Our program will begin promptly at 6:00pm and the route will take off by 6:10pm. Any late arrivals after 6:10pm should wait at the bookstore until the group returns.

TRANSPORTATION:

• Paid street parking is available around Slant of Light Books (LaSalle, North, Wells)
• Various CTA buses pass by Slant of Light Books
• The closest Divvy station to Slant of Light Books is at Wells & Concord

ROUTE: We will run an easy-paced (11:00 min/mile), ~4-mile route with several stops. Not planning to run? Cyclists, rollers, rollerblades, scooters, and more welcome (take care of your own safety, please!).

END: After the 4-mile guided run, we'll return to Slant of Light Books for a panel discussion, snacks, drinks, and the opportunity to purchase books.

NOTE: If you are planning to join only for the panel discussion only, plan to arrive at Slant of Light Books by 7:15pm.

All registered readers & runners will receive reminder emails and details 2 days and 4 hours prior to the event.

About your guide: Chelsey Stone is a freelance editor and writer. She's worked on projects like Adam Nimoy's memoir and written for Runner's World, Bicycling, and National Geographic (about the Chicago River!). A former Chicagoan, she's now living in the Washington, DC area. She spends her free time visiting all the free museums she now has access to.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN: If it becomes unsafe to run outside, we will hold an alternative version of the event indoors beginning at 6pm. You will be notified via email no later than 4pmm on Tuesday, February 25 if there are any changes to the event as listed here.

Read & Run Chicago is a chapter of Read & Run Tours, the country’s first and only organization that hosts running events inspired by books. Founded in 2021 by queer educator, freelance writer, and runner Allison Yates, the mission of Read & Run Tours, LLC and the city chapters is to use movement and stories to explore locations. Our community-focused run programming includes running tours, book club runs, author talks, and other literary-themed fun runs all inspired by books set in the cities where chapters are located, written by local authors. While connecting runners to the city’s stories, we also actively support literacy programs, public libraries, independent bookstores, and local authors.

In Chicago, we have hosted more than 60 events (in English and Spanish) for over 300 Chicagoans, featuring over 30 authors or local experts, and we have been featured in various media outlets including CNN, Runner’s World, Midwest Living, NBC’s Chicago Today, Fox32 Good Day Chicago, WGN Radio, Block Chicago, and more.

More information at readandrunchicago.com, Instagram, and Facebook.

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