Sunday, September 15, 2013

1:00 p.m.

   Japanese American Museum San Jose     

Jimmy Murakami, internationally acclaimed, Oscar-

Murakami at Tule Lake. Photo courtesy of Loopline Film.

nominated animator,  no longer wanted to be a U.S. citizen after his rights, and those of his family, were stripped away during WWII.  Looking for a sense of belonging, he tried living in Japan and Europe, eventually making Ireland his home.  Thirty years later, at the suggestion of his sibling, he returns to Tule Lake to confront his childhood demons and lingering anger with the American government that put him there.  

This documentary takes you on a journey that goes from his memories of Tule Lake as a child (depicted in his paintings), through his early personal life and career as a successful American animator, and to his attempts to find a country where he would feel he belonged.  It isn't until he is on the pilgrimage bus to Tule Lake that he finally finds people he can identify with. 

Murakami family living quarters inside camp (Jimmy is pictured sitting on the bed on his father's old shirt).  Jimmy Murakami artwork courtesy of Loopline Film.

Roughly half of the film takes place on the Tule Lake pilgrimage.  Those who have been on this pilgrimage over the past few years will no doubt remember being there for this critical part of Murakami's journey.  In fact, if they look closely, they might even see themselves in the film.

 For more information, visit this film's website (includes trailer):  http://loopline.com/project/murakami.

Cost:  Free with admission to the museum (nonmembers, $5; students and seniors over age 65, $3; JAMsj members and children under 12, free). 

   Japanese American Museum San Jose     

On Sunday, September 22, 2013, you can join the dedicated volunteers of the Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) from 1 to 3 p.m. at the volunteer fair. Volunteers are the heart of the JAMsj, giving countless hours serving as:

Photo courtesy of Andy Frazer

• Receptionists
• Docents
• Library and archival specialists
• Store staff
• Display construction workers
• Arts and craft experts
• Helpers at special events-- from the Winter Boutique to Hinamatsuri

Come to JAMsj on September 22 to learn more about volunteering and meet a dedicated group of individuals who are building a place for future generations of Japanese Americans. 

 

Photo courtesy of Will Kaku

Volunteers start coming to JAMsj for a variety of reasons, including to ensure that the bravery shown by Japanese Americans during WW II is not forgotten or simply because they want to be more involved in the Japanese American community.   First, these volunteers undergo docent training to learn about the Japanese American experience and have the opportunity to understand how this relates to our world today. Now docents, they can provide a legacy for generations to come and even learn from visitors relating their own experiences. How often do you get to meet a 90-year-old who can tell you about farming in San Jose? Crafters gather on Friday afternoons to make cards to sell in the JAMsj store. Talented IT professionals, archivists, and librarians all volunteer to work together to preserve and share Japanese American art, history, and culture. JAMsj has good karma! Come and join JAMsj as a volunteer and you, too, can have good karma!

For more information, contact  VolunteerAdmin@JAMsj.org or (408) 294-3138

 

Saturday, October 5, 2013

1:00 p.m.

   Wesley United Methodist Church

The Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) and Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS), in conjunction with the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, present the first full-length documentary chronicling the WWII internment of Japanese Americans in Hawaiʻi.

Within 48 hours of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawai'i authorities

Photo courtesy of JCCH

arrested several hundred local residents, targeting Buddhist priests, Japanese language-school officials,  newspaper editors, business and community leaders. In total, more than 2,000 men and women of Japanese ancestry were arrested, detained, and interned at 13 different confinement sites located in Hawai'i. There was no evidence of espionage or sabotage, and no charges were ever filed against them.

The Untold Story, produced by the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, chronicles their story through oral histories, documents, interviews, and reenactments. 

The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i, a nonprofit organization based in Honolulu, strives to strengthen its diverse community by educating present and future generations in the evolving Japanese American experience in Hawai'i.

The Untold Story is based on original research but was assisted by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

 

For tickets and/or information, contact PublicPrograms@JAMsj.org or call CATS at (408) 867-4525. Tickets will also be available (by September 15) at JAMsj (Thursday to Sunday, from 12 noon to 4 p.m.) and Nikkei Traditions (for hours see the  Nikkei Traditions website ). 

  

Cost: This special screening requires advance tickets ($5 donation).