IF YOU'RE IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA:
The JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM is the "go-to" place!
Tours, book readings, documentary films, cultural exhibits, fun events - this is the "one stop place" to experience all of it!
Learn about present day Little Tokyo with Museum docents. The cost is $9.00 for members and $14.00 for non-members and includes the price of admission to the Museum afterwards. Generally held on the last Saturday of the month, please check with the Museum for various dates and times. The next tour coming up is Saturday, January 28 from 10:15-12:15.
See the museum for FREE! On Saturday, February 11 from 11 am to 4 pm, Target is sponsoring the "Free Family Saturday". February's theme is "healthy living" and there will be learning, crafts and fun for the entire family!
On Sunday, March 11, from 11 am to 2 pm, learn how to make fresh, stone-milled artisanal SOBA noodles with Sonoko Sakai. The soba will be served with fresh soy-based dipping sauce, toppings, and spices..RSVP to the museum early, since only 10 lucky students will be accommodated.
Come hear Olympic Gold Medalist KRISTI YAMAGUCHI read her newest book "Its a Big World, Little Pig!" at the Museum! The reading will take place on Sunday, March 18 at 2pm, and Kristi will sign books after the program.
On Saturday, April 28 at 2pm, there will be a film screening of the documentary "The Untold Story of Ralph CArr and the Japanese: Fate of 3 Japanese Americans and the Internment". The film follows the story of two Japanese Americans who were sent to Amache, and a third who was a Colorado native who worked for the state government starting with the Carr administration.
For information on all of these programs, go to:
"Japanese American National Museum"
Step back into a legendary time and take a walking tour at Sony Pictures Studio! You will get a "rare glimpse of Hollywood's glory days and an insider's view of a state-of-the-art motion picture studio." Visit Sony's website to get more information: "Sony Studio Tours"
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IF YOU'RE IN THE SAN DIEGO AREA:
Spend time strolling in a beautiful Japanese garden at THE JAPANESE FRIENDSHIP GARDEN in Balboa Park. From Memorial Day to Labor Day the park will be open to visitors. The garden is an expression of friendship between San Diego and its sister city Yokohama. It features a stone arrangement, koi pond, exhibition hall and ornamental tree collection. It also offers seminars, classes and workshops as well as accredited horticultural classes. For more information go to: "Garden Tour"
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IF YOU'RE IN THE SAN FRANCISCO AREA:
Want to find out more about Japanese culture, music, and social events? Then visit the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California on Sutter Street in Japantown! They are a great destination place and resource center for events happening in the community.
How about taking a WALKING TOUR through Japantown and receive unique insight into the community's FIRST 100 YEARS. The self-guided tour consists of 16 interpretive signs along the approximately 10 block route through the heart of Japantown. Download the map on the JCCCNC site.
Help SURVIVORS of the Japanese Earthquake and visit KOKORO 4JAPAN. Organized by the JCCCNC, the Northern Japan Relief Fund is a community based and volunteer driven effort with 100% of the donations going DIRECTLY to citizen relief efforts that are actively on the ground in Japan.
For more info go to: "Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California"
A visit to the National Japanese Historical Society is a great way to shop for gift items including books, videos and dvd's. For more info go to: "The National Japanese American Historical Society"
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IF YOU'RE IN THE SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA AREA:
The JAPANESE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF SAN JOSE is now OPEN! Check out the NEW exhibit: YESTERDAY'S FARMER: PLANTING AN AMERICAN DREAM which will be unveiled on DECEMBER 10TH. The outdoor exhibit highlights the important contributions of Nikkei farmers to California's agricultural history.
Due to popular demand, the Special Featured Exhibit, "Childhood Memories of Chizuko Judy Sugita de Queiroz" has been extended to December 30, 2011. Chiz, who recently retired from teaching in Southern California, was 9 years old when she and her family were uprooted from their home and incarcerated in Poston, AZ. Haunted by her past, she began to reconstruct her childhood camp experience through interviews with older siblings, relatives and friends. Those feelings are depicted in vivid watercolors. She also published a best-selling book "Camp Days 1942-1945",which is available at the museum bookstore.
For more info go online to
"Japanese American Museum of San Jose"
Would you like to be a DOCENT for the museum? Find out more about Docent Training on December 3rd from 1-4 pm. Call 408-294-3138 or email at joe@jamsj.org.
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IF YOU'RE IN THE CHICAGO AREA:
For a great evening, enjoy the 25th ANNUAL HOLIDAY FUNDRAISER AND BONENKAI on DECEMBER 15th from 5:30-9:30 pm. A silent auction and cocktail reception and banquet will be held at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago.
For info on Chicago area events, go to "The Japan America Society of Chicago"
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IF YOU'RE IN THE WASHINGTON D.C. AREA:
Visit the National Japanese American Memorial which is dedicated to the patriotism of Japanese Americans during World War II. The memorial is located at the intersection of New Jersey Avenue, Louisiana Avenue and D Street. For more info go to: "National Japanese American Memorial Foundation"
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IF YOU'RE IN THE SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AREA:
View the largest COLLECTION OF ASIAN ART in the southwestern United States at the Lenora and Walter F. Brown Asian Art Wing at the San Antonio Museum of Art! This 15,000 square foot addition features works of art that have been amassed over 70 years and include over 1,400 works from Japan, China, Korea and other Asian countries. The museum is located at 200 West Jones Avenue in San Antonio. For more info go to: "San Antonio Museum of Art"
