In 1958, five Japanese Americans founded the Holiday Bowl in the Crenshaw area of Los Angeles. Serving a multi-racial clientele, this bowling alley played an important role in the desegregation of the city and served as an integral part in rebuilding the Nikkei community after World War II. It was demolished in 2003 despite efforts to save or re-purpose the site. On this weekend the Holiday Bowl History Project seeks to preserve and celebrate this story with a number of events throughout Los Angeles including the following at the National Museum:

• 1:00–5:00 PM Bring your photos for the Holiday Bowl digital archives (all images will be returned)
• Panel Discussions
  

1:00–2:45 PM The Holiday Bowl Over Time: 1958–2003
3:00–4:45 PM Race and Sports in L.A.: the Importance of the Holiday Bowl to Southern California

For more information on this and other events presented in conjunction with the ongoing project research, visit www.holidaybowlcrenshaw.com.

To celebrate their 25th anniversary, the U.S. 101 Photo Club will showcase their work as one of the original non-commercial photo clubs to document Nikkei history. Club members will be on hand throughout this three-day program to discuss historical and contemporary images of life in Little Tokyo and Los Angeles.

please refer to the October 8 event information.

Inspired by George Nakashima's use of natural materials, kids of all ages will create miniature furniture models reusing wood, seed, and other items from nature. Drop in anytime throughout the afternoon and find out.

In order to increase teens' awareness of the injustices Japanese Americans faced as a result of racism and wartime hysteria during World War II, the group Project J, Justice designed a booklet of historical photos and text accompanied by a fusion of music. Barbed Wire and Hip-Hop incorporates audio excerpts from the Los Angeles Hearings of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians (CWRIC) with hip-hop, rap, and jazz. Written by Miya Iwataki of the National Coalition for Redress and Reparations (NCRR) with music production by David Iwataki, Barbed Wire and Hip-Hop will make its public debut at the National Museum. The event will include artists featured in the original recording.

The Little Tokyo community in Los Angeles was once a thriving residential, business, and cultural center of the largest Japanese American community in the United States until World War II. Relive history and learn about present day Little Tokyo with National Museum volunteers on this historical walking tour. Fees are $5 for National Museum members and $11 for non-members, includes Museum admission. Reservations and comfortable shoes and clothes are recommended.

Our new series for families begins with the Japanese style of storytelling, kamishibai, currently making its way into 700 schools throughout the state of Arkansas. A Promise Kept is about the friendship and promise between two elementary school boys, Mitch and Tom, before, during, and after World War II. This story is especially for kids in fourth through sixth grade. A craft activity where kids can create their own make-believe pets will follow the kamishibai presentation.

A Promise Kept was written for [/projects/lifeinterrupted/ Life Interrupted: The Japanese American Experience in World War II Arkansas], a multiyear project of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, in partnership with the Japanese American National Museum. Major funding provided by the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation.

Master woodworker Sam Maloof, like his friend and fellow artist George Nakashima, set the standard for contemporary American furniture making. In a rare public conversation, Maloof will discuss his unique work, process, and vision.

Draw California's state flower, the poppy, using the art of Sumi-e. Class fees are $5 for National Museum members and $11 for non-members, includes Museum admission and supplies. Reservations are recommended.

What could be scarier than improv comedy? Don't be a couch pumpkin! Freak out your friends with the Halloween-iest improvisation you'll ever see. Just bring your imagination and join Cold Tofu for laughs and a little music as we celebrate Halloween.

Cold Tofu is dedicated to promoting diverse images of Asian Pacific Americans through comedy and developing multiethnic talent through education and performance.