Electronic Press Kit (EPK)

Book Summary

(From the publisher, 114 words)

Between 2012 and 2018, Sam Goto drew over 250 multi-paneled Seattle Tomodachi (“friend of Seattle”) comic strips for The North American Post. These comics chronicled the lives and stories of early Japanese settlers and their American-born offspring. Through his work, he captured elements of culture, nostalgia, and history, while infusing his characters -- Shigeru Tomo and his alterego Samurai Shigeru -- with the samurai values of courage, respect, and continuous improvement and compassion. Design researcher Kelly Goto reflects on her father's legacy as she brings his work back to life in this collection so that others can be inspired and informed by his witty and wise look at the world.

(Short summary, 100 words)

Sam Goto created the character Samurai Shigeru in the comic strip "Seattle Tomodachi," telling the stories of the first Japanese immigrants and their descendants in the Pacific Northwest. His comics blend Japanese culture and tradition with his own experiences of balancing the samurai values of loyalty, honor, and honesty while pursuing the American dream. Author Kelly Goto pays tribute to her father’s artistic legacy by weaving his illustrations of history, family, and culture into an accessible narrative. For Kelly, compiling this work has been a journey of reconnecting with her cultural heritage and identity, culminating in a true coming home.

(longer summary, 148 words)

"Seattle Samurai: A Cartoonist's Perspective of the Japanese American Experience" by Kelly Goto is a deeply personal and cultural exploration through the lens of her father, Sam Goto's, comic strip, "Seattle Tomodachi." The central character, Samurai Shigeru, embodies the samurai's code of loyalty, honor, and honesty, reflecting the values of the first Japanese immigrants and their descendants in the Pacific Northwest. Sam’s illustrations not only portray Japanese traditions but also his own experiences as he navigated the balance between maintaining cultural heritage and pursuing the American dream.



The book not only honors Sam Goto’s artistic legacy but also provides an understanding of how Japanese culture and samurai values influence the newest generation’s attitudes and behaviors. The compilation of his work in this book has been a journey for Kelly, threading together family history and forming a tapestry of identity, culminating in a profound sense of coming home.

Logos

Seattle Samurai title against a red background
Open Graph Image
1200 x 600 JPG
Download
Black Logo (Transparent)
1600 x 600 PNG
Download
Seasttle Samurai logo white against black background
White Logo (Transparent)
1600 x 600 PNG
Download

Covers

Seattle Samurai cover image
Book Front Cover
842 x 786 PNG
Download
Seattle Samurai cover image
Book Front Cover
3033 x 2791 JPG
Download
Seattle Samurai front and back cover
Book Full Cover
6375 x 2945 JPG
Download

Author Photos

Kelly Goto headshot facing front color
Kelly Goto
1168 × 1752 JPG
Download
2336 x 3504 JPG
Download
Kelly Goto headshot facing front black and white
Kelly Goto
1168 × 1752 JPG
Download
2336 x 3504 JPG
Download
Kelly Goto headshot looking left color
Kelly Goto (Looking Away)
1168 × 1752 JPG
Download
2336 x 3504 JPG
Download
Kelly Goto headshot looking left black and white
Kelly Goto (Looking Away)
1168 × 1752 JPG
Download
2336 x 3504 JPG
Download

Social Media Graphics

Social Post 1
1080 x 1080 JPG
Download
Social Post 2
1080 x 1080 JPG
Download
Social Post 3
1080 x 1080 JPG
Download

Other Photos and Graphics

Book Photo 1
2736 x 2336 JPG
Download
B
3908 x 2226 JPG
Download
Seattle Samurai Book cover on a dark background
Cover Graphic 1
3000 x 3000 JPG
Download
Cover Graphic 2
6000 x 6000 JPG
Download
Seattle Samurai Collector's Edition with Slipcase Cover against black background
Slipcover Graphic 1
3600 x 3000 JPG
Download
Special Limited Edition of Seattle Samurai book with a slipcase cover shown against a dark background
Slipcover Graphic 2
6000 x 6000 JPG
Download