Tour our ongoing exhibition Common Ground: Heart of a Community with experienced docents.

Calling Tokyo tells the story of Japanese Americans who participated in the United States and Britain's World War II broadcast campaign to influence the hearts and minds of people in Japan. Some of the radio broadcasters will share their experiences after the screening.

This is a story of discovery by a son, (Gary Ono) who learned about what his father did during the war, shortly after the signing of the 1988 Civil Rights Act. Upon finding out, he set out to tell this unhearalded story about his father (Sam Masami Ono) and a group of Japanese Americans who as U.S. civilians served America during World War II even as their family and friends were imprisoned in concentration camps.

While the unequaled battle records of Japanese American soldiers are now legendary, little is known about the vital role played by these US citizens who did language translation work and short wave radio broadcasting to Japan assisting in the joint wartime propaganda efforts of Britain and the USA. Through actual recordings and first person interviews with the participants of those broadcasts, ”Calling Tokyo” is a fascinating story about a unique effort to support and help hasten the end of the war.

Produced by Janice D. Tanaka and Gary T. Ono, Written by Sreescanda and Gary Ono, Edited by Sreescanda. 47:30

Made possible by a grant awarded by the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program and with personal redress- reparation funds.

Gary T. Ono, is a Sansei transplant from San Francisco, California who now resides in the Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles. He is a volunteer photographer for the Japanese American National Museum. In 2001, he was awarded a California Civil Liberties Public Education Program grant to produce a video documentary, "Calling Tokyo: Japanese American Radio Broadcasters of World War II." He moderated two education programs at the National Museum: "The Other Side of Tokyo Rose" and a screening of "Calling Tokyo."

*Picture by Tokyo Broadcasting System – re-creation of radio broadcasting

FREE ALL DAY!

Delight in a day of family fun at the National Museum. July’s theme is travel!

Generously sponsored by Target, these special Saturdays are filled with fun activities giving families unique ways to learn, play, and grow together. Media Sponsors: Los Angeles Downtown News, KSCI-TV LA-18, and The Rafu Shimpo

ALL DAY CRAFT ACTIVITIES:

Tag! You're it! Create a fun luggage tag to identify your bag when you travel

Pack it up! Decorate a backpack to take with you while you're on the go

Ruthie’s Origami Corner: Smile... and fold your own origami camera!

Take Montebello Bus Lines at $1.10 each way and no hassle with parking, it's a deal! The Montebello Bus Lines ( www.cityofmontebello.com/depts/transit/bus/default.asp) will be at the Museum with more information.

SCHEDULE:
11 AM - Doors open

11 AM – 4 PM – With the recent opening of the new Little Tokyo Gold Line Station, Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will be here to help you learn about the metro system and how to travel on it safety! We will be passing out free Metro tokens! (Limited supplies, first come first serve)

1 PM – The Japan National Tourism Organization will present a family-friendly Japanese customs and language class for families planning to Visit Japan

2:15 – 5:45 PM – Free Family "Little Tokyo-Gastronomy Tour" (Limit 14 people total, please RSVP early, families only)

3 PM – Kodo Arts Sphere America presents Yoko Fujimoto and Derek Nakamoto -- "Our Story," a concert about how traveling has shaped their music

4 PM - Doors close

ABOUT OUR FRIENDS:
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is unique among the nation’s transportation agencies. It serves as transportation planner and coordinator, designer, builder and operator for one of the country’s largest, most populous counties. More than 9.6 million people – nearly one-third of California’s residents – live, work, and play within its 1,433-square-mile service area.

For more information about the Metro, go to: http://www.metro.net/index.asp

Six Taste's Little Tokyo Food Tour
Little Tokyo is home to several restaurants, bakeries, and other historical eating establishments. Its 100-plus years of history provide some fascinating stories. Six Taste's Little Tokyo Tour will take you throughout Little Tokyo, from Fugetsu-Do, a confectionary shop and the oldest building in Little Tokyo to Chado Tea Room, where you'll get to taste some authentic Japanese tea, to several other restaurants and other eateries.

Six Taste's food tours are more than just walking and eating. They hope to provide you with an entertaining, educational, and exciting experience. You'll learn about Japanese culture, the history of Little Tokyo, the art and science of tasting, and have great conversations over great food.

The "Gastronaut Tour" includes a balance of history, culture, and delicious food. You'll stop at some of the most fascinating historical locations in Little Tokyo, meet owners of some of the longest running stores in Little Tokyo, try amazing food at seven different locations, and learn about Japanese culture and culinary customs. This tour is perfect for tourists or LA natives that have never ventured into Little Tokyo before.
For more information about Six Taste and it’s other tours, go to: http://www.sixtaste.com/

Japanese National Tourism Organization (JNTO)
JNTO is involved in a broad range of activities promoting travel to Japan through various activities overseas as well as tourism-promoting activities in Japan.

For more information about JNTO or to learn more about traveling to Japan, please visit: www.japantravelinfo.com or www.jnto.go.jp

Yoko Fujimoto & Derek Nakamoto – “Our Story”
Travel brings new experiences that shape our perspectives, creating each of our own stories. Yoko Fujimoto; acclaimed singer from the renowned Taiko Ensemble Kodo, Derek Nakamoto; Record Producer and Keyboardist who has worked with artist such as Michael Bolton & Keiko Matsui are joined by session drummer Denny Fongheiser; best known for his work with Tracy Chapman, Heart and T Bone Burnett for an concert presenting songs from Yoko’s repertoire with Kodo as well as songs from her CD with Derek “Morisa Komoris” in a contemporary setting. Stories will be shared about how each of our own experiences traveling the world shaped our perspectives, which influence our interpretation of music.

This project was made possible in part by a grant from the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, in partnership with the Walter and Elise Haas Fund, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the James Irvine Foundation.

2010 TARGET FAMILY FREE SATURDAY SCHEDULE
October 9 – Just For Kicks!

November 13 – Fall Into Fall

December 11 – Fold, Crease, and Crinkle

Kiyo’s Story is the compelling story of starting a family in California, coping during the Depression, being swept off to concentration camps, and ultimately surviving and succeeding despite terrible odds and oppressive prejudice.

As a special bonus, Ms. Sato will be offering tips on how to write your own story!

[Purchase a copy of Kiyo's Story at the Museum Store Online]

Thursday, July 22 & Thursday, July 29
5 PM-6 PM — Self-guided JANM Gallery Tour
6 PM -7 PM — Evening Champagne Tea Service
7 PM -8 PM — Poetry Performance

Chado Tea Room
at the Japanese American National Museum

$20 Museum members; $ 25 non-members; $ 15 students

In this rare bilingual Japanese-English appearance, leading tanka poet and Tokyo-based performance artist Mariko Kitakubo will present tanka Japan's oldest and most popular poetry form accompanied by music on original instruments. L.A. awarding-winning tanka poet, Linda Galloway, Ph.D. will read the stunning translation of Ms. Kitakubo's work by Amelia Fielden. Book signing to follow.

Advance reservations required.

For information and to order tickets contact Chado Tea Room at 213.321.1748 or at chadotearoom@aol.com.

Ms Kitakubo's beautiful bilingual book edition of On this Same Star and her CD, Messages, accompanied by an original score on rare Japanese instruments (with print translation) will be available for purchase at the Museum Store.

This program is presented in partnership with Chado Tea Room and the Japanese American National Museum with special thanks to Mariko Kitakubo and Linda Galloway.

Proceeds from the ticket and book sales to benefit the National Museum's educational programming and outreach.

*FREE!

Months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, two best friends spend their final moments together, not realizing their lives will soon be forever changed by the incarceration of all Japanese and Japanese American living along the West Coast.

A Crossroad Called Manzanar was awarded a grant in 2009 from the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program. Project partners include the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) and the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California (CHSSC).

For more information about the film, visit www.acrossroadcalledmanzanar.com/

Comedyzen is proud to be hosting East Coast comedian, Eliot Chang. You can catch is Comedy Central Present on air now. We are also lucky to be hosting Iliza Shlesinger, winner of NBC's LAST COMIC STANDING. Her comedy is as lethal as she is lovely.

Youtube phenoms Just Kidding Films will be performing a special rendition of their famous, History of Korean Drama.

Plus many more. Meet and Greet the comedians at the AFTERPARTY at CHOP SUEY, right around the corner.

For tickets, visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/119160.

For more information, visit www.ComedyZen.com/.

Thursday, July 22 & Thursday, July 29
5 PM-6 PM — Self-guided JANM Gallery Tour
6 PM -7 PM — Evening Champagne Tea Service
7 PM -8 PM — Poetry Performance

Chado Tea Room
at the Japanese American National Museum

$20 Museum members; $ 25 non-members; $ 15 students

In this rare bilingual Japanese-English appearance, leading tanka poet and Tokyo-based performance artist Mariko Kitakubo will present tanka Japan's oldest and most popular poetry form accompanied by music on original instruments. L.A. awarding-winning tanka poet, Linda Galloway, Ph.D. will read the stunning translation of Ms. Kitakubo's work by Amelia Fielden. Book signing to follow.

Advance reservations required.

For information and to order tickets contact Chado Tea Room at 213.321.1748 or at chadotearoom@aol.com.

Ms Kitakubo's beautiful bilingual book edition of On this Same Star and her CD, Messages, accompanied by an original score on rare Japanese instruments (with print translation) will be available for purchase at the Museum Store.

This program is presented in partnership with Chado Tea Room and the Japanese American National Museum with special thanks to Mariko Kitakubo and Linda Galloway.

Proceeds from the ticket and book sales to benefit the National Museum's educational programming and outreach.

Relive history and learn about present-day Little Tokyo with National Museum docents.

$9 Members; $14 non-members, includes Museum admission. Comfortable walking shoes and clothes recommended. Weather permitting.

A one-day sushi workshop so you can enjoy sushi at home including how to make sushi rice and basic rolls, plus a special tasting of your own creations! $40 members; $50 non-members, includes admission and supplies.

For more information about the Sushi Chef Institute, go to: www.sushischool.net

Create greeting cards using recycled security envelopes. $9 for National Museum members; $14 for non-members, includes Museum admission and supplies.

FREE!

You Don’t Know Jack is a new one-hour documentary film by director/filmmaker and SF Public Defender Jeff Adachi. The film tells the fascinating story of a pioneering American entertainer Jack Soo, born as Goro Suzuki, who grew up in Oakland and became the first Asian American to be cast in the lead role in a regular television series Valentine’s Day (1963), and later starred in the popular comedy show Barney Miller (1975-1978), laying the groundwork for a new generation of Asian American actors and comedians.

The film features rare footage and interviews with Soo’s co-stars and friends, including actors George Takei, Nancy Kwan and Max Gail, comedians Steve Landesberg and Gary Austin, and producer Hal Kanter, tracing Jack’s early beginnings as a nightclub singer and comedian, to his breakthrough role as Sammy Fong in Rogers and Hammerstein’s Broadway play and film version of The Flower Drum Song. The film also explores why Soo, a former internee who was actually born Goro Suzuki, was forced to change his name in the post WWII era, in order to perform in clubs in the mid-west. Because of his experiences, throughout his career in films and television, Soo refused to play roles that were demeaning to Asian Americans and often spoke out against negative ethnic portrayals.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A by director Jeff Adachi. For more information, please visit www.jacksoo.com.