Japanese American National Museum

05/30/2026

Tune in to our livestream tonight at 6pm PT! Experience an unforgettable evening with this year’s Honoree, Tamlyn Tomita. Enjoy a special program that highlights stories that have inspired us for generations, and honors the legacy of the Japanese American community.

Join us on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the JW Marriott in the heart ...

05/28/2026

Join Wendy Shiba and Ann Burroughs for a timely conversation on the role of the Japanese American National Museum in defending civil rights, preserving historical memory, and confronting modern threats to democracy. Reflecting on the legacy of Japanese American incarceration during World War II, the discussion explores how museums serve not only as cultural institutions, but as essential civic spaces where history, truth, and democratic values are protected.

Hosted by ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice

Watch the recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IR0VUL4iYVk

05/28/2026

JANM’s annual Gala and Online Auction is this Saturday, May 30! Join us for an unforgettable evening with this year’s Honoree, Tamlyn Tomita . Enjoy a special program that highlights stories that have inspired us for generations, and honors the legacy of the Japanese American community. For those who cannot attend in person, a live stream will be available.

Our online auction is also open for bidding until Sunday, May 31 at 12 p.m. PDT.

Place your bids now in our online auction and support JANM’s mission. Our amazing selection of items ranges from unforgettable vacation experiences to exclusive culinary delights, limited edition artwork, sports memorabilia, and so much more from businesses nationwide.

Some featured items in the auction:
Sushi Gen Gift Certificate
Ride in the Goodyear blimp
Alaska Fishing Package
LA Clippers Floor Seats
and much more!

Start bidding by registering: https://my.onecause.com/event/organizations/5c6eb521-2cec-4d76-9660-ca51202778d5/events/vevt:adbd7825-e9ff-437d-b8c1-767fa2481c5d/home/story

05/25/2026

National broadcast premiere! is now streaming for free on PBS.

Generations of artists call Robert A. Nakamura “the godfather of Asian American media,” but filmmaker Tadashi Nakamura calls him Dad. What begins as a documentary about his father’s career takes a turn with a Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis, and evolves into an exploration on art, activism, grief, and fatherhood.

Check your local broadcast listings.

05/21/2026

Among the list of America's 2026 Most Endangered Historic Places are Tule Lake Segregation Center and Angel Island Immigration Station.

These sites now join Los Angeles' Little Tokyo, which was added to the list in 2024.

"These historic places, and the inspiring stories they preserve, are necessary so that America may learn from its past in the hopes of building a more perfect union."

Now in its 39th year, the list has proven to be a highly effective tool for shining a light on the threats facing our nation’s greatest treasures. The places featured on the 2026 list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places are united in how they illuminate stories of remarkable individu...

05/21/2026

JANM is deeply saddened and dismayed by the shooting of three men at the Islamic Center of San Diego in what is being investigated as a hate crime. The Islamic Center of San Diego is the largest mosque in San Diego County. The shooting is the latest in a series of attacks on houses of worship and comes amid rising threats and hate crimes against Muslim and Jewish communities.

“We are horrified by this deplorable act, and our hearts are with the victims’ families and loved ones in the face of such a devastating and senseless loss. JANM condemns hate and violence in all its forms. The scapegoating of individuals based on religion is unacceptable and abhorrent, and we urge that this tragedy not further inflame hate, including Islamophobic or antisemitic rhetoric. The Japanese American community knows the consequences of such rhetoric all too well. During World War II, more than 125,000 people of Japanese ancestry were targeted because of their ethnicity, incarcerated in America’s concentration camps, and unjustly treated during postwar resettlement. At JANM, we draw on these lessons to confront contemporary threats to human dignity and democracy and to help build a more just future,” said Ann Burroughs, President and CEO.

Three people, including a security guard, were killed in a shooting at San Diego’s largest mosque. Two teen suspects were found dead in a car near the Islamic Center of San Diego. Follow for live updates.

05/19/2026

JANM mourns the passing of Kyoko Nancy Oda. She was born to Tatsuo and Yuriko Inouye in the Tule Lake Segregation Center during World War II. Her father chose her name with the idea that although her birth took place during a chaotic time when their future was unknown, she would bring harmony to her family and the world. Oda grew up in the diverse neighborhood of Boyle Heights and graduated from Garfield High School where she met her future husband, Kay. She earned her BA in East Asian Studies from UCLA and her MA in Education Administration from Cal State LA.

JANM is profoundly saddened by the passing of Kyoko Oda. Her passion for education; her perseverance in translating, publishing, and sharing her father’s story with the world; and her strong leadership inspired future generations to participate in the preservation of their family and cultural history too. We’ll always remember her activism and powerful voice. Her dedication to social justice has helped to shape JANM’s programming and touched all of us. Our hearts go out to her husband, Kay, their family, and to the community whom she loved and cherished.

Photo by Mike Palma

05/18/2026

Author Maggie Tokuda-Hall discusses the censorship surrounding her children's book, "Love in the Library" which is illustrated by Yas Imamura .imamura

Scholastic offered to license the book but only on the condition that Tokuda-Hall removed the word "racism" from her author's note.

Maggie Tokuda-Hall is also the president of Authors Against Book Bans, a group of over 5000 book creators across the country united against censorship and book bans in literature.

JANM reaffirms our statement: to deny that racism is a part of this nation’s legacy and drove historical events like the Japanese American incarceration during World War II is to deny that white supremacy, hate, and systemic oppression have and continue to create inequality and inequity in marginalized communities. Censorship of American history has no place in literature. It smothers freedom of expression, erodes democracy, and contributes to historical revisionism.

05/18/2026

Author Evelyn Iritani will be at JANM this Saturday, May 23, to discuss her newest book, "Safe Passage: The Untold Story of Diplomatic Intrigue, Betrayal, and the Exchange of American and Japanese Civilians by Sea During World War II."

The Trump administration’s campaign against the 'mongrelization' of America echoes imprisonment of Japanese Americans.

05/15/2026

Reducing access to Manzanar Historic Site means limiting public access to this part of our nation's history.

Your morning catch-up: Reduced access to California’s best preserved WWII Japanese detention camp, a crisis in 'Chinese Beverly Hills' and more big stories