In October 1997, the pioneering trio of Nobuko Miyamoto, Chris Iijima and Charlie Chin reunited after twenty years for a performance at UC Berkeley. This is what some of the students had to say:
The fact that this generation fails to know or remember the history of Asian Americans makes it imperative that ‘A Grain of Sand’ continues to perform and enlighten the younger generation about its past.
Barnabey Chiong
Hardboiled Magazine
The show was both entertaining and inspiring, something I had
not expected. It ranged from the hilarious antics of ‘Charlie’
Chin to the poignant lyrics sung by Chris Iijima and Nobuko Miyamoto.
Seeing and hearing the performance live however, seemed to transcend
the whole experience and group’s message of fighting for minority
and especially Asian American rights.
Kevin Zen
The opening song "Yellow Pearl" chanted for cultural pride in
the Asian community, fostering in the listener a sense of security
in identity and self-esteem. "Somos Asiaticos" powerfully called
for unity among minorities, specifically between the Asians and
Latin Americans. Other songs were more personal in nature, yet
equally as powerful as their politically-oriented counterparts.
Peter Chung
One of the things that I found effective was the integration into
the show of other ethnic groups. The group presented the African-Americans,
Chicano-Americans, and American Indians. Miyamoto spoke about
how the Asian-American movement paralleled the African-American
movement.
P.J. Ople
I am so delighted I went to the "A Grain of Sand" Reunion Concert.
Although it was only a short two hours, yet what I have picked
up that night, the struggles of the Asian Americans, was more
than all I had learned in my life combined. There, not only did
I hear about the struggles of the people, I could vividly see
and feel their experiences. They all reached down into my bones
and were deeply imprinted into my heart.
Cecilia Chong