 |
JULY AT THE MUSEUM |
 |
NOW ON VIEW AT JANM
|
NEW EXHIBITIONS OPENING THIS MONTH |
 |
Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawai?i?The Art of Laura Kina and Emily Hanako Momohara July 11 ? September 6, 2015 Paintings by Laura Kina and photographs by Emily Hanako Momohara explore the two artists? mixed-heritage roots in Okinawa and Hawai?i, employing unique strategies that blend fiction and reality to question the stability of memory and identity. Curated by Krystal Hauseur, PhD. To learn more about this exhibition click here.
|
 |
Before They Were Heroes: Sus Ito?s World War II Images July 14 ? September 6, 2015 Susumu ?Sus? Ito?s WWII photographs were taken while on a tour of duty through Europe as a member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team?s 522nd Field Artillery Battalion. While Ito participated in such dramatic events as the rescue of the Lost Battalion and the liberation of a sub-camp of Dachau, these rare and breathtaking images capture the humble daily lives of a group of young Japanese American soldiers. Before They Were Heroes is the first in JANM?s new Sharing Our Stories series of exhibitions drawn from the museum?s extensive permanent collection. To learn more about this exhibition click here.
|
NEW! SUMMER CONCERT SERIES |
 |
JANM Summer Night Concerts Thursday, July 30 ? 7 p.m.?9 p.m. FREE TONIGHT?S FEATURED ARTISTS:
Mari? Digby JANM presents a new series of summer evening concerts featuring Asian American performers. This evening?s inaugural event will have a hip-hop theme. Featured artists include musical collaborators Magnetic North and Taiyo Na, who have achieved enormous popularity in Japan with their politically conscious brand of hip hop, and Irish-Japanese American singer-songwriter Mari? Digby, who vaulted to fame after her acoustic cover version of Rihanna?s ?Umbrella? went viral on YouTube. Check janm.org/events for updates.
|
BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE TOKYO |
 |
Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle: Extreme Unrated Edition Wednesday, July 8 ? 7 p.m. Directed by Danny Leiner, this raunchy 2004 comedy follows the life-changing (and mind-altering) journey of Korean-American investment banker Harold (John Cho) and Indian-American medical school candidate Kumar (Kal Penn). Both underdogs, Harold and Kumar decide to spend what would have been an uneventful Friday night trying to satisfy an oddly intense urge for White Castle hamburgers. But finding a White Castle proves a difficult task, and the two friends wind up on an epic road trip. Pre-sale: $8 JANM and Visual Communications members, $10 general. At the door: $12 JANM and VC members, $15 general. Presented in partnership with Angry Asian Man, First Pond Entertainment, and Visual Communications.
|
FOR FAMILIES |
 Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko |
JANM Free Family Days Saturday, July 11 ? 11 a.m.?4 p.m. FREE ALL DAY In conjunction with the opening of Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawai?i, join us for a day of crafts and activities celebrating Okinawan culture.
?and more! Check janm.org/sugar-islands/events for a complete schedule.
|
ART, CULTURE & IDENTITY |
 Top: Laura Kina. Bottom: Emily Hanako Momohara |
Panel Discussion and Reception Saturday, July 11 ? 2 p.m. Curator Krystal Hauseur, PhD, and artists Laura Kina and Emily Hanako Momohara discuss the ideas, histories, and inspirations behind their exhibition. Light reception to follow.
|
|
Advance Screening and Panel Discussion Saturday, July 18 ? 6 p.m. FREE The Japanese immigrants who worked on Hawai?i?s sugar plantations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries sang as they worked, creating a Japanese-American equivalent of ?the blues.? Called holehole (Hawaiian for dried cane leaves) bushi (Japanese for melody or tune), the songs are a record of the workers? joys, sorrows, and challenges, providing a fascinating window onto early plantation life. In the 1960s, Honolulu music teacher Harry Urata, whose own experiences in WWII concentration camps taught him the value of preserving immigrant culture, recorded hundreds of these songs, sung by the women who had created them 60 years before. Several years later, documentary producers Chris Conybeare, Franklin Odo, and Joy Chong-Stannard captured the last of the women pioneers on videotape, telling their stories and sharing their songs. This material is brought together in the stunning new PBS Hawai?i documentary, Canefield Songs: Holehole Bushi, narrated by ukulele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro. Screening will be followed by a panel discussion with the producers. Presented in conjunction with the exhibition Sugar/Islands: Finding Okinawa in Hawai?i.
|
 |
Before They Were Heroes Saturday, July 25 ? 2 p.m. JANM?s Curator of History Lily Tamai, PhD, will discuss historical background, preservation issues, and the selection process that went into organizing Before They Were Heroes: Sus Ito?s World War II Images.
|
LIFELONG LEARNINGFor all classes, workshops, and food tours, pre-payment is required to hold your space. Please call 213.625.0414 or purchase tickets online using the links below. Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance or no refund will be issued.
|
 |
Edible Adventures Saturday, July 18 ? 10 a.m.?2 p.m. Where does ramen come from? What is the difference between udon and ramen? Join this cultural and culinary tour and learn about the various noodle delights available in Little Tokyo. $48 members, $60 non-members. Admission and three noodle stops included. Limited to 15 participants.
|
 |
Little Tokyo Walking Tour Saturday, July 25 ? 10:15 a.m.?12:15 p.m. Relive history and learn about present-day Little Tokyo on this popular walking tour led by JANM docents. $12 members, $15 non-members. Museum admission included. Tour will take place weather permitting.
|
 |
Origami with Ruthie Kitagawa Saturday, July 25 ? 1 p.m.?3 p.m. Learn to hand-make floral cards for the next birthday or special occasion. $12 members, $15 non-members. Supplies and museum admission included. Limited to 10 participants.
|
PARTNERSHIPS & COLLABORATIONS |
 |
TAIKOPROJECT Summer Intensive Friday, July 17?Monday, July 20 This intensive weekend workshop for advanced taiko players is the first of its kind in Los Angeles. Delving into various techniques, TAIKOPROJECT will inspire participants from all over the world with its unique and innovative approach to the Japanese American art form. Topics to be covered include odaiko (big drum), multi-drum set technique, katsugi okedo (sling drum), hip-hop taiko, and Many Sides double-drum playing. For ages 14 and up; 2-5 years of taiko experience recommended. Visit taikoproject.com for details.
|
SAVE THE DATE |
 |
Natsumatsuri Family Festival Saturday, August 15 ? 11 a.m.?5 p.m. FREE ALL DAY Our popular annual summer celebration features Japanese and Japanese American performances, crafts, and activities for the whole family.
?and so more! Natsumatsuri is held in conjunction with Nisei Week Festival (August 15?23), Little Tokyo?s biggest annual event. Make your plans early!
|
SUPPORT CALIFORNIA MUSEUMS |
 |
Support California Museums with a Snoopy License Plate The California Association of Museums (CAM) has established a new way to generate support for museums in California. Purchase a Snoopy license plate for your car for only $50, and all proceeds will go toward establishing a competitive grant program administered by the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE) to support California?s museums. 7,500 plates must be pre-purchased before they can go into production. 5,300 plates have been ordered to date?CAM only needs 2,200 more people to participate. To sweeten the deal, CAM has created Beagle Backer Passes, available only to those first 7,500 pre-purchasers. These valuable passes are good for discounted or free admission to participating museums across the state. JANM is on board with a 2-for-1 admission deal. Help support all museums in California and purchase your new Snoopy license plate today! For more information and to purchase plates, visit snoopyplate.com. You can see the current list of Beagle Backer museums at calmuseums.org/BeagleBackers. Read the press release here.
|
MORE WAYS TO STAY IN TOUCH |
 |
FIRST & CENTRAL: The JANM Blog |
| The mission of the Japanese American National Museum is to promote understanding and appreciation of America?s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience. |
| Japanese American National Museum Museum & Museum Store Hours: Museum Office Hours: |
Unless otherwise noted, programs are free with museum admission. Reservations are recommended for most programs (RSVPs not required for Family Festivals). Please RSVP at least 48 hours in advance by emailing [email protected] or calling 213.625.0414. Please indicate the name, date, and time of the program. For all classes, workshops, and food tours, pre-payment is required to hold your space. Please call 213.625.0414 or purchase tickets online using the links above. Cancellations must be made 48 hours in advance or no refund will be issued. General Admission: |
| *Hours and admission rates subject to change. Check janm.org/visit for updated information and holiday hours. |