From CLA to China
Evan Kail (BA '12) never imagined that a dusty photo album from World War II would upend his life and launch him on a path as an unlikely ambassador for peace.
But that’s exactly what happened.
A Japanese Studies major, Kail once dreamed of writing Hollywood screenplays. Today, he spends much of his time in China, appearing on nationally televised galas, meeting diplomats, and sharing a story that has captivated millions, just not, notably, in the United States.
"Evan is on his way to making a name for himself"
In 2012, Kail was featured in the Minnesota Daily, discussing the origins of his love for film. At the time, one of his screenplays, Seiji Four: Part 1, made it to the finals at several film festivals and won honorable mention at the Los Angeles Movie Awards.
A story in pictures
The story began in 2022 at Kail’s St. Louis Park collectibles shop, SLP Gold and Silver. A mysterious package arrived: an old World War II-era photo album from a private seller. Kail, already well known on TikTok for sharing quirky historical finds, began flipping through the album.
At first, the photographs showed ordinary wartime scenes. But a few pages in, the images grew disturbing, documenting what appeared to be atrocities committed by Japanese forces during the occupation of Shanghai, just weeks before the Nanjing Massacre.
“I thought this might be evidence of a war crime,” Kail says. “I’ve always believed items like this belong in museums, not personal collections. But no museum would return my emails.”
So Kail did what he knew how to do: he made a video.
That video exploded. It became one of the most-viewed TikToks of 2022 and launched Kail into a whirlwind of international attention. But it sparked contrasting reactions in the US and China.
Vilified at home, honored abroad
In the US, skepticism and backlash followed. Some accused Kail of fabricating the story. He received death threats. He shut down his store, wore a bulletproof vest, and began therapy.
In China, the response was the opposite. Viewers flooded his shop with flowers and gratitude. Chinese students from the University of Minnesota showed up in person, hugging him and thanking him for shedding light on a largely forgotten chapter of history.
“I never wanted to sell it. It wasn’t mine to profit from,” Kail says. “It belonged to the Chinese people.”
He decided to donate the album to the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago. That decision, made against the wishes of the US State Department, earned him a diplomatic honor and solidified his celebrity status in China.
Since then, Kail has become something of a folk hero in China. He was invited to the prestigious Spring Festival Gala, an honor akin to being featured during the Super Bowl halftime show. He has spent the past year traveling across China, building partnerships, learning the language, and laying the groundwork for his next chapter.
Through it all, he has kept writing.
“I wrote a book about the entire experience,” he says. “It comes out next month with China’s largest publisher. If it takes off, I’ll have finally made it as a writer, just not the way I imagined.”
He still sees himself as a storyteller, albeit one with an unexpected audience. “I always thought I’d be writing for the screen. Now I’m writing for global readers, talking about reconciliation, history, and what it means to build peace.”
Liberal arts launchpad
Looking back, Kail credits CLA, and particularly his major in Japanese Studies, for giving him the lens to navigate this moment with care and insight.
None of this would’ve happened without my time at the University of Minnesota. I fell in love with storytelling here. I took random classes that ended up shaping how I see the world. I learned how to fail, how to pivot, how to keep going.
Evan Kail
He mentions professors like Raymond "Bud" Duvall (political science) and John Carl Evans (history) as figures who left a lasting impression.
“The liberal arts teach you how to think critically, how to understand context. That was everything in this story.”
A mirror on media
Kail has tried to pitch his story to US news outlets, including local Minnesota stations and national media. None have picked it up.
“I think part of it is how American media treats stories about China,” he says. “There’s a deep appetite for conflict, for fear. But peace? That doesn’t sell.”
But while the American media hasn't embraced the story, Kail remains committed to sharing it on a global stage. Today, he splits his time between the US and China and envisions a future that extends beyond borders. He hopes to expand his travels and continue using his voice and platform for cultural understanding.
“Travel makes you humble. It teaches you that there’s so much more outside of America,” he reflects. “If I can be a symbol of peace, a bridge between countries, that’s enough for me.”
And to current students who might be wondering how their liberal arts degrees will pay off? “Play the cards you’re dealt,” Kail says. “But play them well. Do something no one else is doing. That’s where your power lies.”
