JAMsj E-News
Japanese American Museum of San Jose
November  2009 - Vol. 2, Issue 6
In This Issue
JAMsj 2009 Winter Boutique
JAMsj Book Club (Note: Date Change)
Volunteer Opportunities
JAMsj Community Calendar
Join Our Mailing List!
Quick Links
JAMsj Home Page
JAMsj Youth Page

Featured Artisan
Jams In Bloom
Photo: Jams in Bloom
Black Washi with Waves-  2 bamboo sticks tied with yellow twine on an ivory card.

Winter Boutique Silent Auction Item
Kimekomi Doll

Kimekomi doll

See other auction items and donation prizes on the Winter Boutique web page.
JAMsj 2009 Winter Boutique

Photo: kimonos
Silent Auction: Kimonos Donated by the Sakakida Family 

2009 JAMsj Winter Boutique

Saturday, November 14, 2009
9 am - 4 pm, JAMsj Members
10 am - 4 pm, General Public
San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin
640 N. Fifth Street
San Jose
, CA 95112

For more information about this event, contact the JAMsj office at 408-294-3138 or email us at [email protected].

Click here to visit the 2009 JAMsj Winter Boutique web page where you can read artisan descriptions and view sample products, donation prizes and silent auction items.

The 2009 JAMsj Winter Boutique will feature annual favorites including Japanese-style collages, clothing and accessories made from vintage Japanese kimono, hand-crafted jewelry, Japanese folk dolls, washi crafts, stationery, hand-dyed silk scarves and many more specialty gifts!

Donation Prizes: 1st Prize, $1,000; 2nd Prize,  $500; 3rd Prize, $300

Many more prizes will be provided by artisans and merchants.  Winners need not be present at the time of the drawing.

Photo: battledore
Silent Auction Item: Battledore
JAMsj/Yu-Ai Kai Book Club
Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Image: Book Cover Hotel


JAMsj/Yu-Ai Kai Book Club


Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

Please note the date change for this event:
1:00 pm, Friday, December 4, 2009
Yu-Ai Kai Senior Center
588 N. Fourth Street
                                San Jose, CA 95112



"Mesmerizing and evocative, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is a tale of conflicted loyalties and devotion, as well as a vibrant portrait of Seattle's Nihonmachi district in its heyday."

      -- Sara Gruen, New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants



"In his first novel, award-winning short-story writer Ford expertly nails the sweet innocence of first love, the cruelty of racism, the blindness of patriotism, the astonishing unknowns between parents and their children, and the sadness and satisfaction at the end of a life well lived.  The result is a vivid picture of a confusing and critical time in American history."

                                                --Library Journal

Set during one of the most conflicted and volatile times in American history, Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet is an extraordinary story of commitment and enduring hope. Jamie Ford has created an unforgettable story that teaches us of the power of forgiveness and the human heart.



The book club meets the first Friday of every other month and is always open to new members. Selections are chosen collaboratively at the end of each meeting and align with the JAMsj mission -- the celebration of Japanese American art, history and culture. Books are readily available at San Jose public libraries. If you have questions, please contact Aggie Idemoto at 408-268-4440 or [email protected].
Volunteer Opportunities


Photo: Jamsj volunteers
As we get ready for our grand opening, we will need many more volunteers to help with various activities.  Help is desired in many exciting areas:
  • Docents for Museum and Japantown tours
  • Event planning
  • Business operations
    • Office manager
    • Administrative assistants
    • Data processing/transcribing
    • Library maintenance
  • Retail operations
    • Museum store manager
    • Online retail development
  • Finance department
    • Accounts payable/receivable
    • Budgeting and finance
  • Facility and grounds maintenance
    • Construction support
    • Gardening maintenance support
  • Marketing communications
  •  IT services
    • Hardware/Software management
    • Website maintenance
    • Internet communications implementation
  • Fund development
    • Grant writers
    • Donor program coordinators
    • Corporate and planned giving program coordinators
    • Membership coordinators
  • Exhibit preparation
Click here for more information about our exciting opportunities.

Become a part of the JAMsj family as we enter this exciting period! Contact June Honma at [email protected] or the JAMsj office at 408-294-3138.

JAMsj Community Calendar

November 6, 2009: Yu-Ai Kai 35th Anniversary Gala
November 14, 2009: JAMsj Winter Boutique
November 20-21, 2009: 9th Annual Asian Comedy Night
Note Date Change for Book Club:
December 4, 2009: JAMsj/Yu-Kai Book Club: Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet

JAMsj Logo

Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj)
535 N. Fifth Street
San Jose, CA 95112
Tel: 408-294-3138
Email: [email protected]
www.jamsj.org