The new Japanese American Farm House Exhibit brings together many elements central to the lives of early Santa Clara Valley Japanese Americans.  This exhibit, in the North Quonset Hut in the back of the museum, captures the texture of pre-WWII and early postwar Japanese American farming life by featuring the household and farming implements that they commonly used. Some, like the egg carrier, meat cutting saw, flower stem cutter and scale were necessary to run the farm efficiently. Others, for example, the charcoal-heated iron, dressmaking scissors, hair clippers, kerosene heater and stoves and high chair were items used by virtually all persons living in the Santa Clara Valley at the time. Still others, such as the several implements used to make mochi were important for maintaining Japanese cultural and family traditions.  

 

Several of the photo displays, capture how pre-WWII Japanese Americans practiced their version of intensive agriculture. Although the growers were often innovative and ingenious, farming still required long hours and the ability to deal with frequently capricious weather and markets. Another series of photos documents how a number of farmers who returned to the Santa Clara Valley after release from the WWII incarceration, restarted their lives sharecropping strawberries.

 

Rich Saito (front) and Chris Hioki (rear) check out the new farm house display.  Photo Courtesy of Steve Fugita

Items frequently found in a Japanese farm house.  Photo courtesy of Steve Fugita.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit Open House

October 11, 2014

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

 

To celebrate the grand opening, JAMsj will host an open house on October 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., showcasing the new exhibit. Timed to coincide with Aki Matsuri, the annual fall festival held at nearby Wesley United Methodist Church, JAMsj will be featuring first-hand stories about life on the farm, told by those who lived the experience.  As an added treat, Kerry Yo Nakagawa be on hand to demonstrate tsukemono making!  Check our website (www.JAMsj.org)  for details as the date approaches.  The open house is free to the public and limited to our agricultural exhibit area.

The open house will be preceded at 10:00 a.m. by a dedication ceremony, honoring the Sakauye Family in memory and appreciation of Eiichi Sakauye.  For more information, contact public programs@JAMsj.org.

It's the bottom of the ninth, two outs, and a three-two count for Yonsei Gosei. It's this generation's last chance to see the "living treasures" that paved the way for future JA athletes to step up to the plate and become successful. These Nisei all-star legends played at major-league level inside America's concentration camps during WWII. Come hear the stories and recollections of this "greatest generation" first-hand before time steals them away.

Join the Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) and Nisei Baseball Research Project (NBRP) as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of the famous series of games between the Gila River and Heart Mountain ball clubs. Special guests of honor include former ballplayers who will share stories of their experience.  JA baseball historians Kerry Yo Nakagawa, Bill Staples Jr., and Ralph Pearce will be on hand to talk about how these special guests, as well as many other players, built the Japanese American baseball legacy.    

*Our 1:00 p.m. program will be preceded by an informal social gathering starting at noon.  Contact PublicPrograms@JAMsj.org for more information.

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

Contact PublicPrograms@jamsj.org to reserve a spot.

Don't miss the 2014 JAMsj Winter Boutique!  This is the annual fundraiser for the Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) - a 100% volunteer-run, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Join us for a popular line-up of Bay Area artists, crafts people and special guest authors.  This year's guests include:   

• Lora Nakamura, author of The Bonsai Babes
• Kim Oshiro, author, and Jeanne Yee, illustrator, of The Saga of Simon the Skinny: Simon Saves the Day
• Cynthia Kadohata, author of The Thing About Luck (National Book Award winner)
• Tom Graves, photographer and author of Twice Heroes: Nisei Veterans of WWII and Korea

Early Entry for Members 

As usual, members of JAMsj will be granted early admission and will begin shopping at 9:00 a.m. If you are interested in becoming a member and enjoying the early-bird entry you can either register on the day of the boutique, or complete the membership registration online.  

Check the  JAMsj website for more information about participating artists and vendors, delicious food, drawing prizes and special boutique guests.  

Cost: Free 

Contact PublicPrograms@jamsj.org for more information.