Saturday, October 5, 2013

1:00 p.m.

   Wesley United Methodist Church

Venue Sponsor 

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 about 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.

 

 

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

For information, contact PublicPrograms@JAMsj.org . For tickets, call CATS at (408) 867-4525, visit the JAMsj Museum Store (Thursday to Sunday, from 12 noon to 4 p.m.), or visit Nikkei Traditions (for hours see http://shop.nikkeitraditions-sj.com/ ).

 

      

 

1:00 p.m.

Organized in conjunction with the Santa Clara Valley chapter of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS), this panel will explore the shared history of the Japanese American and Filipino American communities in San Jose's Japantown and how the two communities might work together in the future to preserve the cultural heritage and history of the area.

Panelists:

Tom Izu

Executive director of the California History Center and Foundation at De Anza College in Cupertino. Izu has a long history of active service in the San Jose Japanese American community. A past board member of the Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj), he now serves on its advisory board.

Ron Muriera

Administrator of FANHS,; FANHS national trustee, Santa Clara Valley chapter; and trustee, Northern California FANHS.

Robert V. Ragsac, Sr.

First-generation Filipino-American whose parents migrated to California in 1927. Born and raised in the Chinatown/Japantown area from the 1930s to the 1950s. Retired space systems engineer. Currently active in capturing the story and history of the first wave of Filipino immigrants who settled in San Jose during the 1920s and 1930s.

  Dr. Estella Habal

Associate professor of Asian American Studies at San Jose State University. Dr. Habal has written a number of books and essays on Filipino Americans, from their role in the International Hotel struggle to their participation in the 2008 presidential election.

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

Please contact PublicPrograms@jamsj.org or call (408) 294-3138 to reserve a spot.    

Time T.B.D. 

            Bullying in its many forms-online, verbal, physical-impacts everyone in a community in different ways: observers, victims, and aggressors. Bullying is often a form of discrimination against people of different backgrounds, appearances, and cultures. Overcoming these differences and accepting others are key to building a strong community, both in schools and in society.  

            Much in the same way, discrimination shaped

Discrimination against Japanese Americans during WWII parallels bullying in American schools. Photo courtesy of the National Japanese American Historical Society.

the Japanese American experience during and after WWII. Historically, Japanese Americans have suffered from discrimination due to their distinct appearances and culture. Many unfair laws prevented Japanese Americans from owning their own land and inhibited immigration, but they often managed to succeed despite these societal constraints.  

            In the confusion of WWII, many Japanese Americans were sent to internment centers against their will, regardless of their patriotism or adoption of American cultures. This stereotypical prejudice against Japanese Americans, based solely on their nationality and culture, reflects the prejudice and discrimination associated with bullying in American schools today.  

            Even for a while after the war, Japanese Americans had a hard time overcoming stereotypes and difficulties created during their internment. However, through hard work, strong character, and the help of others, they gained greater acceptance both in society and in the workplace. As with overcoming bullying, overcoming discrimination against Japanese Americans was a slow, yet rewarding process.  

            Because celebrating diverse cultures is keyto fighting bullying, JAMsj Youth is proud to present this movie screening to spread awareness on bullying and foster reflection on the Japanese American experience. Examining this experience will create a better understanding of bullying in American schools, advise how to tackle this problem, and show how to create stronger communities. In fact, we hope that the JAMsj Youth event will provide more insight into how to stop bullying and discrimination at all levels.

JAMsj Youth is led by students of any background who are dedicated to spreading Japanese American culture and history in innovative ways. We would like to remind the public that there are many cultures that make up America and that each and every culture, as well as each individual, is unique. We fight to preserve cultures, focusing on the Japanese American culture of the South Bay. 

Brandon Yang is currently a student at the Harker School in California. He is a docent at the museum and is enthusiastic about Japanese history and culture. He has diverse passions, including composing music, writing, playing piano, travelling, programming, and performing scientific research.

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

1:00 p.m.

"My goal is to create jewelry that is suitable to wear with your special dress, yet can be worn with everyday clothing.  I want my jewelry to have classic elegance which never goes out of style.  Think of it as diamonds; I aim to design every piece with that kind of quality and timelessness." - Noriko Romanko

Romanko's jewelry projects are designed to be "Always Beautiful, Comfortable, Durable (and Easy to learn" (ABCDE). Step-by-step instructions, complete with diagrams and photos, are provided. They are easy to follow and allow for the creation of multiple pieces years after having made the first one. Matching earring instructions are also included.

This program will also include a trunk show featuring Romanko's original jewelry pieces (necklaces, bracelets, and earrings), as well as additional bead kits for the design taught in this workshop.

Noriko Romanko

To see more of Noriko's designs, visit her website at  http://beadwithme.net.   You can also find an example of her work featured in the October 2006 issue of  Bead and Button magazine .

Class is limited to 10 students; 5 student minimum. RSVP early. Please contact PublicPrograms@jamsj.org or call (408) 294-3138 to reserve a spot.    

1:00 p.m.

A Principled Stand: The Story of Hirabayashi v.United States was selected for the upcoming JAMsj Book Club meeting when it meets November 2, 1:00 p.m., at the museum.   This book is a collection of memoirs by Gordon K. Hirabayashi, James Hirabayashi, and Lane Ryo Hirabayashi.

Gordon Hirabayashi was convicted of violating a curfew at the outbreak of WWII. Because he stood firm, his appeal of this conviction reached the U.S. Supreme Court. The rest of Hirabayashi's story promises a lively discussion at the book club meeting.

For the first time, the events of the case are told in Hirabayashi's own words. The result is a compelling and intimate story that reveals what motivated him, how he endured, and how his ideals deepened as he fought discrimination and defended his beliefs.

"I never look at my case as just my own or just as a Japanese American case. It is an American case, fraught with principles that affect the fundamental human rights of all Americans," states Hirabayashi.