Category: News & Announcements

The exterior front of JANM's Pavilion building.

JANM’s Messages About the Los Angeles Wildfires

Ann Burroughs Leave a comment

January 16, 2025: Update on Little Tokyo’s Response for the Fires in the Los Angeles Area

As the Los Angeles community begins to face the aftermath of the horrific Eaton and Palisades fires that have caused so much loss and devastation, people everywhere are mobilizing to help those who have lost loved ones, homes, businesses, and livelihoods, and to support the firefighters and first responders who continue their tireless efforts to contain the fires and protect lives and property as dangerous conditions persist.

Our Little Tokyo neighborhood is safe and intact, but many who work here are not. Thousands more are eager to find ways to help those affected by the fires. A coalition of Little Tokyo organizations are now working to coordinate our efforts to provide relief and community resources, including JACCC, JANM, LTCC, LTSC, and Visual Communications, in cooperation with the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles. We are hearing from many charities and mutual aid organizations that they are currently overwhelmed with donations of goods and other offers of help in response to immediate needs. This group is turning our attention to identifying ways to help meet key needs for the medium and longer-term recovery. We are reaching out to our colleagues, constituents, and community organizations in the affected areas to determine how we can be of most help. We will keep you updated and in the meantime, encourage those who can to make financial contributions to organizations who are well equipped to distribute aid.

For those needing assistance, and those looking to donate to trusted relief organizations, here are some resources to consider:

Our thoughts are with all of you in Los Angeles County as you take every precaution to protect yourselves and your loved ones. We are here for you, and we will get through this together.

Ann Burroughs
JANM President and CEO

January 9, 2025: Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the fires in the Los Angeles area

All of us in the JANM family are deeply saddened by the devastation caused by the Los Angeles wildfires. The tragic loss of life, homes, businesses, and livelihoods is unimaginable, and our hearts go out to everyone affected by the fires. Our gratitude goes to the firefighters and first responders who are risking their lives to protect our lives and property.

I want to assure you that our staff and volunteers are safe, and that the Museum and our Collections are unaffected. However, many of our staff and volunteers have been evacuated from high risk zones and we are hearing that some have lost their homes. As you know, JANM is currently closed to the public for renovation, however our operations will continue. In an ongoing effort to keep our staff and volunteers safe during the unpredictable and highly volatile conditions, and to help keep roads clear for emergency vehicles and evacuees in the affected areas, JANM’s offices will remain closed until the danger has passed. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Staff and volunteer availability is limited due to the emergency, so please be aware that services such as membership cards, store orders, and return email and telephone calls may be delayed. We will continue to update you about any cancellations of upcoming public programs. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

For those needing assistance or wanting to help, here are some resources to consider:

Thank you for your understanding, patience, and vigilance during this grave and challenging time. My thoughts are with all of you in Los Angeles County as you take every precaution to protect yourselves and your loved ones. We are here for you, and we will get through this together.

Please take care and stay safe,

Ann Burroughs
JANM President and CEO

A visitor shops at the Kokoro Craft Show.

See’s Some Holiday Cheer and Support Our Volunteers!

Helen Yoshida Leave a comment

Every fall, our volunteers host a See’s Candies fundraiser that supports the Kokoro Craft Show Committee and the volunteers’ activity fund. This fund helps pay for volunteer-led programs, including Together events and field trips to the Holocaust Museum of Los Angeles, the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, the Chinese American Museum, and a walking tour of Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo.

On January 5, 2025, JANM will begin renovating its Pavilion and launching JANM on the Go. During this time, the volunteers’ activity fund will be essential to keeping our volunteers connected to JANM and to one another.

Please share this fundraiser with your friends and family, and order some sweet gifts for the holidays! This fundraiser is open until Friday, December 6, 2024.

SHOP NOW
box of chocolates with a skiing reindeer on the lid

Please note that the price of See’s Candies online is the same as it is in stores. The Kokoro Committee and JANM will receive a percentage of each order. Your order will be delivered directly to your home or to the home of your family or friends.

If you need assistance with your orders, please call See’s Candies customer service at 877-599-7337 and mention that you are supporting the Kokoro Craft Show at JANM. Customer service is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. PT.

Volunteers walk in the Huntington.
Volunteers gather in front of the Shoya House at the Huntington.
Volunteers take a tour of the Shoya House at the Huntington.
Volunteers share a laugh at the Huntington.
Volunteers take a walking tour of Little Tokyo.
Little Tokyo fire tower.

Image Gallery: JANM volunteers take a field trip to the Shoya House at the Huntington. Mike Okamura, a JANM volunteer and the president of the Little Tokyo Historical Society, leads volunteers on a walking tour of Little Tokyo (photos by Tomoko Takasugi).

A live taiko performance at the Kokoro Craft Show.
Visitors waiting in line to enter the Kokoro Craft Show.
Kimono fabric bags at the Kokoro Craft Show.
A Kokoro Craft Show vendor.
Pottery at the Kokoro Craft Show.

Image Gallery: Shoppers enjoy the Kokoro Craft Show and a performance from Bombu Taiko. Photos by Ben Furuta.

Image Gallery: JANM volunteers enjoy Together events at the Museum (photos by Joe Akira and Ben Furuta) as well as a field trip to the Chinese American Museum followed by lunch in nearby Olvera Street.

Kristen Hayashi talking to teachers about the Little Tokyo postcard.

Summer of Learning in Little Tokyo

Lynn Yamasaki Leave a comment

With fall right around the corner, we are reflecting on a great summer welcoming teachers from across the country to Little Tokyo to participate in weeklong Landmarks of American History and Culture workshops titled Little Tokyo: How History Shapes a Community Across Generations. Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Landmarks of American History and Culture program brings K–12 educators to sites, areas, and regions of historic and cultural significance.

Lynn Yamazaki talks with teachers.
Teachers on a walking tour of Los Angeles's Little Tokyo.
Manzanar concentration camp
JANM volunteers Hal Keimi, June Berk, and Richard Murakami talk with teachers.

Image Gallery: Lynn Yamasaki, director of JANM’s Education unit, talks with educators. Educators on a tour of Little Tokyo. The site of the Manzanar concentration camp. Former incarcerees and JANM Volunteers Hal Keimi, June Berk, and Richard Murakami talk with teachers.

Teachers are some of our very favorite people and we were so pleased to welcome fifty-eight incredible educators selected from an applicant pool of over 150 to join us in Little Tokyo!

Collectively, they represented twenty-seven states and reach over 7,200 students each year.

In addition to sessions with JANM Education staff, participants learned from eighteen guest scholars, educators, and community members and gained an in-depth understanding of Japanese American history through the lens of Little Tokyo. Topics gave insight into the community throughout time and included immigration, prewar racism, Bronzeville, World War II incarceration, postwar activism, the redress and reparations movement, and present day issues facing Little Tokyo. This year, a powerful day was spent visiting Manzanar National Historic Site. Check out this short video to hear from some of the participants about their time spent at JANM!

We are grateful to the NEH and to all the teachers who traveled from near and far to join us. It was an inspiring and energizing program for our staff, volunteers, and community.

We are thrilled to share that JANM has received another Landmarks of American History and Culture grant to continue workshops again in 2025. Keep an eye on our website or join our education enewsletter to stay informed about the application period and process.

Little Tokyo: How History Shapes a Community Across Generations has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Teachers look at artifacts from JANM's collection.
Kristen Hayashi talking to teachers about the Little Tokyo postcard.
Former incarceree and JANM volunteer Hal Keimi talking with teachers.
Teachers listening to speakers during a workshop funded by the National Endowment for Humanities.

Image Gallery: Educators look at artifacts from JANM’s Collection. Kristen Hayashi, director of Collections Management and Access and curator, and Hal Keimi speak with educators. Karen Ishizuka, chief curator, moderates a panel with community members Mike Murase, Kathy Masaoka, and Mark Masaoka about Little Tokyo.

a meal of chicken katsu, cabbage, rice, miso soup, and tea

Lights, Camera, You! Be Part of Discover Nikkei’s “Pass the Food” Video

Discover Nikkei Leave a comment

Does your mouth start to water when you see a steamy bowl of ramen or udon? Is your go-to snack Spam musubi or onigiri? Same here! Food plays a huge role in our cultural identities. This summer, Discover Nikkei is making a video that highlights how Nikkei around the world share a community through food. We’d love for you to participate! 

If you’re handy with a camera—or a smartphone—we’re asking you to take a video with your favorite cultural food (or perhaps your Oba-chan’s signature dish?), and then “pass it” to the virtual person next to you. Plus, take a picture of your plate to show us the delicious Nikkei cuisine you prepared! We’ll be editing all the submissions together to form one longer video of Nikkei sharing food around the worldwide dinner table. The video will be shared on our website, YouTube channel, and social media platforms. 

The final video will be a celebration of the incredible diversity of our global community. No acting experience necessary! Just be yourself and have a great time. If you’re feeling extra creative, put something in the frame that represents where you live. Maybe a favorite team jersey, a photo of a special place, or a national flag in the background—the more creative, the better! 

For all the details on how to shoot and submit your video, visit 5dn.org/pass-the-food. We can’t wait to see your videos!

Taiko members making mochitsuki.

Got Photography Skills? Volunteer with Us!

Helen Yoshida Leave a comment

Do you love capturing the world in unique and creative ways? Do you have a passion and talent for photography? If you have your own equipment and are available on weekends and evenings, we’d love to hear from you!

We’re expanding our crew of volunteer photographers to capture our exhibitions, public programs, and more at JANM. Volunteer photographers work with the Marketing and Communications department to shoot photographs that document and illustrate JANM’s events, initiatives, and mission to promote the understanding and appreciation of America’s diversity through the Japanese American experience.

Volunteers’ photographs are featured on our website and blog; highlighted in institutional reports, presentations, and outreach materials; used across social media; and archived at JANM. Their work conveys the powerful stories of the Museum and its mission to the public on a global stage.

Come join us and be part of an active network of volunteers!

JANM Volunteer Richard Watanabe captures the excitement of mochitsuki at the 2024 Oshogatsu Family Festival. Photo by Doug Mukai.

JANM Volunteer Nobuyuki Okada snaps photographs of visitors stamping the Ireichō. Photo by Doug Mukai.

Volunteer Opportunity: Photography

Reports to: Marketing and Communications

We’re looking for photographers who:

  • Have experience photographing events, exhibitions, people, and/or buildings at a quality level
  • Own photography equipment and a computer
  • Can select, edit, and digitally transfer photographs
  • Can attend at least one on-site event a month, usually on weekends or evenings
  • Are comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with visitors, staff, and volunteers
  • Have keen visual and compositional judgment
  • Are professional and flexible in meeting needs and circumstances of events
  • Can be appropriately dressed for the occasion
  • Can communicate with staff about their schedule in advance

Physical demands include:

  • Standing (10%)
  • Walking, including stairs (80%)
  • Sitting (10%)
  • Lifting (up to 5 pounds)

Sound like you? Submit your volunteer program application! Once we receive your application we will schedule a phone call with you to discuss volunteering at JANM and request a sample of 3–5 photographs.

Nikkei Names 2 artwork featuring nametags, name badges, and kokeshi

Share the Story of Your Name with Discover Nikkei

Discover Nikkei Leave a comment

Discover Nikkei is thrilled to announce the thirteenth edition of Nikkei Chronicles, our annual, themed open call for writings. Discover Nikkei, a project of JANM, is a community website highlighting Nikkei identity, culture, and history. Every year, we call on the global Japanese diaspora to share personal stories around a specific theme. This year’s theme is Nikkei Names 2: Grace, Graça, Graciela, Megumi? 

Do you have a Japanese name? How did your parents choose your name? Have you ever changed your name? We invite you to share stories, essays, and vignettes about how Nikkei names connect families, reflect cultural identity, embody struggles, and more. We welcome diverse approaches to our theme. Submissions might include historical essays on naming people and places, the origins of names, how names become cross-cultural, or writing about names other than your own. For inspiration, check out some of the wonderful stories we received during our first Nikkei Names series ten years ago.

All submissions that meet the series guidelines and criteria will be published online in the Discover Nikkei Journal. Nikkei Names 2 stories will also be eligible for selection as the community favorite. Readers can vote for their favorites by logging in and giving them a “star”—the earlier you submit, the more time your story can earn stars! And, our editorial committee will select one favorite each in English, Japanese, Spanish, and Portuguese. The five favorite stories will be announced in December 2024.

All submissions must be sent by email and formatted using Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Submissions must include a short author biography, a headshot, and at least one image to accompany the piece. Multiple submissions and submissions written by multiple authors are welcome. For the full submission guidelines and writing prompts, please visit 5dn.org/names2.

We can’t wait to read your stories! 

Thanks to our Nikkei Names 2 Community Partners!

Giant Robot Biennale 5 Now on View!

Helen Yoshida Leave a comment

On Friday, March 1, 2024, JANM hosted the opening celebration of Giant Robot Biennale 5 with exhibition curator and Giant Robot founder Eric Nakamura; artists Sean Chao, Felicia Chiao, Luke Chueh, Giorgiko, James Jean, Taylor Lee, Mike Shinoda, Rain Szeto, and Yoskay Yamamoto; and music with Dan the Automator.

The new exhibition welcomed nearly 1,300 visitors in a few hours, with a line that wound through JANM’s core exhibition, Common Ground: The Heart of Community. Visitors enjoyed engaging with the art, listening to music, and chowing down on food from Kogi BBQ and MANEATINGPLANT food trucks.

Since 2007, the Museum has partnered with Nakamura to produce the Giant Robot Biennale, a recurring art exhibition that highlights diverse work and celebrates the ethos of Giant Robot—a staple of Asian American alternative pop culture and an influential brand encompassing pop art, skateboard, comic book, graphic arts, and vinyl toy culture.

“These exhibitions champion the spirit of collaboration and welcome you into a unique space with a DIY attitude. They create a vibrant culture for future generations to see themselves and their interests on the national stage. And they continue to fuse the past with the present to create a trailblazing community for you,” said Ann Burroughs, JANM President and CEO.

Nakamura and the artists also contributed to the Giant Robot Biennale 5 audio tour, now available on JANM’s digital guide. Hear directly from the artists anytime, anywhere, and come down to JANM to check out the exhibition. It’s on view through September 1, 2024, and it’s an experience you don’t want to miss!

Photos by Kazz Morohashi.

JANM Debuts Its New Podcast

Helen Yoshida Leave a comment

JANM is excited to release its new podcast, Japanese America, today. Coinciding with the annual Day of Remembrance, the Museum’s new podcast explores unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs of Japanese Americans and illuminates their contributions to the mosaic of American life.

From historical milestones to contemporary perspectives, cohosts Michelle MaliZaki and Koji Sakai will take listeners on an insightful journey through JANM’s collection that showcases a diverse community that shapes the American story in extraordinary ways.

In the first episode, learn how Yuri Kochiyama’s concentration camp experiences transformed her into a civil rights icon. Listen and subscribe at your favorite podcast app!

Norm Mineta’s Legacy

Helen Yoshida Leave a comment

On January 26, 2024, JANM ushered in a new era for its campus by naming its plaza after the late JANM Board of Trustees Chair and Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and hosting the namesake distinguished lecture at the Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (Democracy Center). On Friday afternoon, guests gathered at the Museum to witness the unveiling of the new sign as the sun began to set behind the buildings of Little Tokyo and downtown LA. The Norman Y. Mineta Democracy Plaza connects the Museum’s Pavilion, Historic Building, and Democracy Center together. It’s a place that creates a sense of transparency and access between all buildings on campus and is a reminder that democracy is shaped through the involvement and engagement of individuals.

“We all feel Norm’s presence here. This is hallowed ground, a place where American families were taken to concentration camps,” said Ann Burroughs, JANM President and CEO. She described how Mineta used his imprisonment experiences at the Santa Anita temporary detention center (about fifteen miles away from the Museum) and the Heart Mountain concentration camp in Wyoming to lead the US in Congress and the White House. “Few better understand that this union could be more perfect than Norm and few worked as hard to make it so.”

“Norm lived his life for the democracy of his country,” said Deni Mineta, widow of the late Secretary. “It is important for the community at large to understand these lessons and pass them on. I see memories, love, and compassion, and I am so grateful that you’re here.”

Mayor Karen Bass described her mother’s experience of seeing her classmates’ empty chairs when she was going to school in Los Angeles and emphasized the importance of acknowledging the darker periods of US history to create a more inclusive democracy. “This is our shared history of folks of color,” she said. LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis added, “He’s a beacon of hope for us, and a reminder for why we’ve been fighting for all voices around the world.”

The newly named plaza brings Mineta’s values and vision for democracy to new generations and reflects the evolution of the Japanese American community. His extraordinary legacy, lifelong commitment to democracy, and profound impact on the Museum was also recognized with the inaugural Norman Y. Mineta Distinguished Lecture Friday evening. The lecture is a signature series of the Democracy Center focusing on Mineta’s leadership values and principles, including his commitment to public service, social justice, and strengthening US-Japan relations.

Mitch Landrieu, former senior advisor to the President and former mayor of New Orleans, was the special guest speaker. From 2010–2018 he served as the 61st Mayor while New Orleans was still recovering from Hurricane Katrina and in the midst of the BP oil spill. Similar to Mineta, Landrieu’s father, Moon, championed integration while serving in the Louisiana House of Representatives, as mayor of New Orleans, and as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Jimmy Carter. Throughout Moon’s time in office, the Landrieus and Minetas became friends. Like them, Landrieu also dedicated his life to public service. His speech and subsequent conversation with Mineta’s son and JANM Board of Governors member David Mineta discussed their fathers’ friendship, the power of the vote, and why it is important to fight for democracy every day.

“Our fight today starts by reclaiming our democracy and continuing to uplift our ideals in this country. We cannot allow our history to be erased. We cannot shrug our shoulders at the past,” said Landrieu. “When so much has pulled us apart, we must work together to answer the question: Who are we? This is a time for us to come together as patriots. Every generation in America has faced a moment where they had to defend democracy. This is ours. Do not close your eyes to what is happening around you. Do not think for a moment that the fight for democracy is over there. It’s happening right here.”

Photos by Mike Palma

Ring in the New Year with Us at Oshogatsu!

Helen Yoshida Leave a comment

Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at JANM’s Oshogatsu Family Festival on Sunday, January 7, 2024 from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Admission to the festival and Museum is free all day.

Families and kids of all ages can enjoy cultural performances, crafts, and activities. You’ll get to watch candy sculpture demonstrations, take souvenir photos, make dragon puppets and daruma dolls, shop for some fukubukuro (lucky grab bags), watch Kodama Taiko’s mochitsuki (rice pounding) demonstration, relax with the Los Angeles Public Library’s storytime session, and more!

You can also see all of our exhibitions for free. Don’t miss your chance to see The Bias Inside Us and Glenn Kaino: Aki’s Market (before they close on January 28, 2024) as well as The Interactive StoryFile of Lawson Iichiro Sakai, and Common Ground: The Heart of Community.

To ensure swift entry to the festival, we encourage everyone to register for their free tickets at janm.org/oshogatsufest2024. After you register, you will receive a barcode (to print or display on your smartphone or other mobile device) that confirms your spot and provides quick access at the door.

JANM Members will have access to a Members-only entrance for expedited entry and can take advantage of the special perks throughout the festival including priority seating and Members-only giveaways.

You can view the full festival schedule online or on our free digital guide on Bloomberg Connects. Printed schedules will also be available at JANM.

Photos by Daryl Kobayashi, Tracy Kumono, and Doug Mukai.