JAMsj E-News
Japanese American Museum of San Jose
September 2010
In This Issue
JAMsj Special Exhibition
Grand Opening Weekend
Angel Island Trip
JAMsj Docent Training
Valor With Honor Film Screening
JAMsj/Yu-Ai Kai Book Club
Volunteer Opportunities
Calendar of Events
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JAMsj Special Exhibition

 

Childhood Memories Grace JAMsj Grand Opening

By Sarah Gabot

"There were armed guards everywhere when we were taken to the concentration camps."

Armed Guards
In 1942, at the height of  the WWII hysteria, Chizuko Sugita de Queiroz was a timid, 9-year old girl who was removed from her Orange County home and forced to live in a concentration camp with thousands of other Japanese Americans in Poston, Arizona. In these hard times, she remembers her dad's optimistic attitude. Chizuko recalled that he always used to say, "Out of every bad comes some good."
 
Years after her incarceration, she was able to make some good out of a tragic time for Japanese Americans. The painful memories of camp developed into beautiful paintings as seen through  the eyes of a child.
 
Chizuko's water color paintings, entitled "Camp Days: 1942-1945," will be the first special exhibition for JAMsj and will run from October 16 to April 30, 2011. Read rest of article...
 
Grand Opening Weekend
 
Japanese American Museum of San Jose
 
Saturday, October 16: Grand Opening Ceremony and Open House
 
1:00 pm: Grand Opening Ceremony
 Entertainment by San Jose Taiko
Ceremonial Blessing
JAMsj Curator Jimi Yamaichi's 88th Birthday Celebration
 
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Open House  
 
To  help us celebrate the unveiling of San Jose Japantown's newest visitor attraction, we are offering free admission days during the grand opening weekend. Because we anticipate large crowds on October 16, please register for a time slot by calling the JAMsj office (408) 294-3138 or by registering online. You do not have to register if you only plan on attending the opening ceremony.
 
Sunday, October 17:  Exhibit Artist  Chiz Judy Sugita de Queiroz
 
 

Camp Days: Folding Stools

The museum will be open to the public from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Special exhibit artist Chiz Judy Sugita de Queiroz will also discuss her new "Camp Days" exhibit and will provide a hands-on watercolor demonstration for students in grades 3-12. Because space is limited for the student watercolor demonstration, please preregister by calling the JAMsj office at (408) 294-3138.
 
1:00 pm: "CAMP DAYS: 1942-1945" Exhibit Presentation
2:30 pm: Watercolor Hands-On Demonstration
 
Click here for more information.
Angel Island Immigration Station Excursion

Angel Island Immigration Station Excursion

Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tickets still available!


Picture Brides



Most of the 60,000 Japanese on Angel Island
were "picture brides."









JAMsj and the San Jose Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) are co-hosting a bus tour to historic Angel Island, "The Ellis Island of the West," on Saturday, September 18, 2010. We will be visiting the newly restored 100-year old immigration station on a docent-led tour.

Angel Island is one of the most beautiful state parks in Northern California, yet it also holds a shadowy past for hundreds of thousands of Asian Americans. Although the Angel Island Immigration Station was a major port of entry for Asian immigrants, the experience of Chinese and Japanese immigrants was quite different at the station.  While both Chinese and Japanese immigrants faced strong anti-Asian sentiments and exclusionary laws, Chinese immigrants often faced longer detentions and harsher treatment than their Japanese counterparts at the Angel Island Immigration Station. Come to this event and find out why.

This will be an all-day event and it will be an excellent educational experience for all. Seating for this trip will be limited, so please plan to purchase your tickets early. Tickets will be available through Nikkei Traditions and will cost $70 for members of JAMsj and/or the San Jose Chapter of the JACL. The cost will be $85 for non-members.

Contact Carrie Kimura (JACL) at [email protected] or June Honma (JAMsj) at [email protected] for additional event information. Alternatively, you may call the JAMsj office at (408) 294-3138.
JAMsj Docent Training


 JAMsj Docent Training


Volunteers
 
September 25
& 30, 2010

Japanese American Museum of San Jose
535 N. Fifth Street
San Jose, CA 95112

New and experienced docents are invited to attend a workshop to develop and/or polish their skills on Saturday, Sept. 25, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm or Thursday, Sept. 30, 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm at the all-new JAMsj facility.

 

The session will focus on the "how" by Education Director, Aggie Idemoto and the "what" by Curator, Jimi Yamaichi. Both are equally important strategies to meet the quality standard of "interpretation," a primary focus for museums. You will learn special skills on how to establish a connection with individuals and groups, how to tap resources, and how to to be sensitive to the needs of the visitor. These skills are equally important to content and historical knowledge.

 
 
You do not need previous experience to be a JAMsj docent and the time commitment can be as little as several hours per month.  As a trainee, you will be gradually brought along by our experienced docents and professional educators.  As a JAMsj docent, you will learn many life-long communication skills and you will have the opportunity to form many new friendships.

 

Please contact Aggie Idemoto at (408) 268-4440 or [email protected]  if you have questions or to register for the workshop.

Valor With Honor Film Screening
 
 

442nd "Valor with Honor"

 
Valor With Honor Film Screening
 
2:00 pm, Sunday, September 26
Yu-Ai Kai Community Senior Services Center
588 N. Fourth Street
San Jose, CA 95112

 
 
NOC  presents a special screening of the film, Valor with Honor. Valor with Honor is an independent documentary film based on over 35 interviews of Japanese American veterans who served in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during WW2. This small segregated unit of 3500 men is the most decorated American unit for its size and length of service. By the end of WWII, the 442nd would be awarded with 7 Presidential Unit Citations, 21 Medals of Honor, over 500 Silver Stars, and over 9000 Purple Hearts.
 
After the film, there will be a special Q&A discussion with the film's director, Burt Takeuchi. JAMsj will have special 442nd Regimental Combat Team display material at this event.
 
Click here for more information on this event.
JAMsj/Yu-Ai Kai Book Club
Autumn Loneliness

JAMsj/Yu-Ai Kai Book Club
October 1, 2010
1:00 pm
Yu-Ai Kai Community Senior Services Center
588 N. Fourth Street
San Jose, CA 95112

Autumn Loneliness:
The Letters of Kiyoshi & Kiyoko Tokutomi, July - December 1967


Translated by Tei Matsushita Scott and Patricia J. Machmiller

Awarded "Best Memoir of 2010" by BAIPA (Bay Area Independent Publishers Association)

Autumn Loneliness


"Although I did not know the Tokutomis were such significant people in the world of haiku, I still found the story of their love, their hardships, their separation, and their challenges to be presented in a way that enchanted, captivated, and fascinated me. The book is nearly impossible to put down." - BAIPA judge



This book is not available in local libraries. Copies can be purchased through the JAMsj store. Send email to [email protected] or call (408) 294-3138.

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.  If you have questions, please contact Aggie Idemoto at  (408) 268-4440 or [email protected]


Volunteer Opportunities


JAMsj VolunteersJAMsj 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.
 
We have immediate openings for:
  • Museum store staff
  • Docents
  • Volunteer coordinator
  • Event coordinators and event assistants
  • Online communication developers
There are many other positions that are available. Click here for more information about our exciting opportunities.

Become a part of the JAMsj family by becoming a volunteer! Send email to [email protected], fill out an online volunteer form, or call our office at (408) 294-3138.


Calendar of Events
September 18, 2010 : Aki Matusuri
September 18, 2010: Angel Island Immigration Station Tour
September 25, 2010: JAMsj Docent Training
September 26, 2010: Valor With Honor Film Screening
September 30, 2010: JAMsj Docent Training
October 1, 2010: JAMsj Book Club
October 2, 2010: Spirit of Japantown Festival
October 16, 2010: JAMsj Grand Opening Ceremony
October 17, 2010: JAMsj Camp Days Presentation and Demonstration
October 23, 2010: Issei Memorial Building Centennial Celebration
November 13, 2010: JAMsj Winter Boutique

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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