Japanese American Nat'l Museum

JANM supports the Neighbors Not Enemies Act, which will be reintroduced early in the 119th Congress. This bill would repeal the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which was used to intern 31,000 noncitizens of Japanese, German, and Italian descent during World War II. “Support for this bill is important to acknowledging the grave harm done to those former internees, helping to ensure that no other group is similarly targeted in the future, and to fighting future anti-immigration policies, including proposals to target Mexican, Salvadoran, and Venezuelan immigrants for mass deportation. It also raises awareness about the experiences of Japanese, German, and Italian internees and expands the historical narrative of US incarceration during World War II on a national level for future generations. We hope that this bill can be passed in both chambers of Congress.” Image: Japanese American National Museum, Gift of The James N. Shinmoto Family, 2022.9.3

Euphemistic language is a tool often used to sanitize grave injustices. In 1981, Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga submitted a memorandum on the subject “Use of the term ‘concentration camps’” to the executive director of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC). At the time, she was a staff researcher for the CWRIC. In her words, “what follows is a personal story of how my consciousness about the uses and abuses of euphemistic terminology has evolved through the hard work and courage of many individuals from myriad backgrounds, both without and within the community of Nikkei (persons of Japanese ancestry). I am certainly not alone, nor among the first, to be concerned about the power of words to lie or clarify, and the need to identify and replace inaccurate and misleading euphemisms that were used by government officials at all levels and perpetuated by many Nikkei as well.” The information provided in this post was taken from Yoshinaga’s memorandum. As we commemorate Day of Remembrance, let’s honor our history by using the proper nomenclature for this dark period. #ExecutiveOrder9066 #DayOfRemembrance

JANM was built to honor our families, our ancestors, and the hard-fought lessons of history—lessons that are now being dangerously ignored. The very forces that led to the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II—racism, xenophobia, and authoritarianism—are resurfacing under the guise of national security, immigration enforcement, and the rejection of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are deeply committed to our mission of preserving this history, building bridges across communities and divides, and ensuring that America remains a nation where all people can thrive.  As an institution that tells the stories of untold histories, we celebrate diverse voices and perspectives because they matter. Despite the Administration’s attempt at erasure, we will continue to celebrate the Day of Remembrance, Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Pride Month, and other critical commemorations that recognize the contributions and struggles of communities across America and the hard-won protections for women, historically marginalized communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities. We also recognize that the Japanese American community is not monolithic—we are multiracial, multiethnic, multicultural and multigenerational, with diverse identities across gender, sexuality, religion, and ability. We will continue to stand against discrimination in all its forms. JANM remains committed to being a place of refuge, a safe space where all people are welcome to be themselves. Read the full statement from JANM’s Board of Trustees at the link in bio

Architecture preserves memory, identity and community as displayed by the iconic Japanese American National Museum (JANM) Pavillion in Los Angeles. Take a look at archival materials behind the design process from 1999. Designed by HOK co-founder Gyo Obata, the Pavilion was conceived in relationship to JANM’s Historic Building. Gyo, whose father Chiura was an Issei artist, chose exterior and interior building materials that expressed a Japanese aesthetic that favored wood, stone, and glass. “In designing the Japanese American National Museum’s new Pavilion, we sought to create a sense of openness instead of the conventional front-of-the-house/back-of-the-house division of so many museums,” explained Obata. “We also worked to incorporate both Western and Eastern philosophies in the design and to create a structure that was inviting and reflective, as witnessed in the use of glass and perforated stainless steel that softens direct sunlight.” HOK is collaborating with JANM in support of ongoing renovations. The museum is scheduled to reopen late 2026.

Little Tokyo, like many historic immigrant districts around the U.S., is a testament to community and resilience. This Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, let’s take a look at how Japanese immigrants made this Los Angeles neighborhood home.

Looking for WICKED plans this Saturday, May 9th? Join us for @jamuseum ’s 2nd Annual Nikkei Children’s Book Festival! 📚 Celebrating Asian American, Pacific Islander, Native Hawaiian Heritage Month, Children’s Book Week, and Kodomo no hi (Japanese Children’s Day), the event explores the breadth and diversity of children’s literature across the Nikkei community with author and illustrator storytimes and signings, arts and crafts for all ages, and a special pop-up bookstore from @shopjanmstore . 📖 🎟️ FREE tickets available for Little Tokyo supporters using the code GLT at checkout! Get tickets, shop for books, and check out the schedule of events at janm.org/events. Featured guests include: 📘 Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Yas Imamura (Love in the Library) 📘 Mia Wenjen (Barbed Wire Between Us) 📘 Jolene Gutiérrez, Chris Sasaki, and John Tonai (Unbreakable) 📘 Korey Watari and Mike Wu (Kimi the Ballerina) 📘 Stan Sakai and Julie Sakai (Chibi Usagi: Attack of the Heebie Chibis) 📘 Derek Mio (The Terror actor, and reader of Baseball Saved Us) Activities throughout the day will be presented by Discover Nikkei, the Democracy Center, and the LA County Library Asian Pacific Resource Center. See you there! 🌟 #books #littletokyo #childrensday #nikkei #childrensbookfestival

Kodomo no Hi (Children’s Day) is a special occasion celebrated every year on May 5 to honor children all over the world. 🎏🌈 On this holiday it is customary to hang colorful koinobori, or carp streamers, which represent the vitality of children. The carp’s ability to swim upstream in heavy currents is used as inspiration to wish children a strong and healthy life. This image from JANMs collections of a watercolor painting by Toshiki Hamaoka shows the celebration of boy’s day with children in the streets and flying carp banners hanging from poles between barracks. Dated 1945. Japanese American National Museum, Gift of Charlotte Opler Sagoff, 2002.142.2

JANM decries the US Supreme Court’s decision to narrow the Voting Rights Act that has increased minority representation in Congress and elsewhere. Their 6-3 ruling on Louisiana v. Callais struck down a majority Black congressional district in Louisiana, eliminating a major pillar of the law that had protected against racial discrimination in voting and representation. Their decision also leaves the door open for more redistricting at all levels across the country. “As an institution dedicated to preserving, sharing, and preventing the injustice of the incarceration of Japanese Americans from happening again in this country, we view Wednesday’s Supreme Court ruling as a troubling step backward. The Voting Rights Act has been a cornerstone of American democracy, and weakening its protections opens the door to discrimination and unequal access to the ballot. At the Japanese American National Museum, we know from lived history that civil rights, once eroded, are not easily restored. The lessons of the past compel us to speak plainly: when legal protections are diminished, the most vulnerable communities bear the greatest cost. Our Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy was founded on the belief that democracy is not self-sustaining—it must be actively strengthened, defended, and renewed by each generation. This decision underscores the urgent need for renewed federal and state action to protect voting rights and ensure that every eligible voter can participate freely and fairly. Our democracy depends on it, and history will judge how we respond in this moment,” said Ann Burroughs, JANM President and CEO.

Join us at #LAAPFF2026 for an exciting lineup of films, panels, discussions, and events! Some featured films: ⭐️Far East LA - Barrio Beats x Taiko Streets screening at JANM Saturday, May 2 ⭐️Let the City Speak screening at AMC Sunday, May 3 (discount code LetTheCitySpeak20) ⭐️Diamond Diplomacy screening at JANM Sunday, May 3 …and many more! View the program and schedule now at festival.vcmedia.org

We mourn the passing of Mary Kageyama Nomura. Known as the “Songbird of Manzanar,” she was a JANM Charter Member and the subject of the Watase Media Arts Center’s 2002 short film, Words, Weavings, and Songs. Nomura was born in Los Angeles, California, and was the fifth of six children born to Tomitaro and Machi Kageyama, a carpenter and a Japanese dance teacher, respectively. Machi was a gifted musician who encouraged her daughter’s talent in music. Nomura pursued music at the Manzanar concentration camp and found a mentor in the camp’s music teacher, Lou Frizzell. She was an in-demand vocalist at programs, dances, and talent shows, and recorded the songs “I Dream of You” and “The Day After Forever,” with Frizzell. She and her husband, Shiro “Shi” Nomura, met at the camp’s New Year’s Eve dance. After the war, they started Shi’s Fish Mart in Garden Grove, California, and she raised their family. As awareness and interest about wartime incarceration grew in the Japanese American community during the 1970s and 1980s, she began to perform more frequently. She continued to be a guest vocalist at community events, including the Manzanar Pilgrimage. She often traveled throughout Southern California and San Francisco, and toured in Japan with The Grateful Crane Ensemble. JANM is deeply saddened by the passing of Mary Nomura. Her musical gifts connected young people during challenging times in camp, energized and informed community events, and highlighted the power of music to bring generations together. Her dedication to music and the cultural arts have shaped JANM’s programming and touched all of us. We’ll always treasure her creativity, passion, and the many beautiful performances she gave over the years.

Ann Burroughs, president and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum, explains why it was important for her museum to take a strong position against the federal government’s attempts at censorship. The pressure the Trump administration is exerting on the museum field, she says, is their attempt to homogenize culture. From Zócalo’s February 23, 2026, program, “How Do Museums Resist Censorship?,” co-presented with @jamuseum and @moca . Click the #linkinbio to watch the full program.

Generations of artists call Robert A. Nakamura “The Godfather of Asian American film,” but his son calls him Dad. In "Third Act," the filmmaking legend's son documents his father's legacy as a Japanese American activist and artist in their last ever film together. Get free passes to the May 2 screening at @natasianart in the bio link. This event is copresented with @smithsonianapa Trailer courtesy of Generation Films