An exclusive, invitation-only reception for National Museum Members, Contributing Level and above. For information, please contact Member and Donor Services at 213.830.5646.

To enjoy Upper-Level Member receptions like this, join or renew now!

Century Plaza Hotel & Spa, Los Angeles

Join us as we salute an amazing group of Japanese Americans that remain linked to their heritage and share that connection with others through literature, the arts, and popular culture.

Premier sponsor: Prudential Financial, Inc.

Plus: Win a new Lexus RX 400h!
Enter the 2006 Lexus Opportunity Drawing, sponsored by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.

For more information, please contact specialevents@janm.org or call 1.800.461.5266 ext. 2250.

Current National Museum Members are invited to attend a private Members-Only preview of the exhibition before it opens to the public on Sunday, February 5, 2006. The invitation is for a member and one guest and is non-transferable.

Become a member and be invited to special member events!

The first of three FREE workshops for middle-school teachers (grades 6-8). Lane credit and/or CPDUs available.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to work with professional development specialists from the Center for Cultural Understanding and Change at The Field Museum and Cultural Connections partner museums to consider the connections between understanding the value of cultural diversity and preserving the concept of democracy! Together, we will utilize an integrated approach that will combine the use of some key concepts and tools of cultural anthropology, ethnic museums and cultural centers as resources, and a social justice educational framework. These workshops have been designed to provide you with a chance to see and hear the experiences of others through their eyes and ears. We will spend time working with you to develop feasible projects that bring these perspectives into the classroom.

The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian and the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society will present their perspectives on the experience of relocation and the topic of stereotypes by examining icons and images.

SCHEDULE (You must be able to attend all workshops to participate):

-- Saturday, February 4th, 10:00am-3:00pm at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Evanston
-- Saturday, February 11th, 10:00am-3:00pm, Location TBD
-- Saturday, February 25th, 10:00am-3:00pm at The Field Museum

Capacity is limited to 30 participants. The deadline for registration is January 23, 2006!

Please CONTACT Yvonne Nieves at The Field Museum ASAP for more information and to register at 312.665.7485 or e-mail at ynieves@fieldmuseum.org

An initiative of the National Diversity Education Program, co-sponsored by the Japanese American National Museum and the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy in partnership with the Center for Cultural Understanding and Change at The Field Museum.

February 5, 2006 through May 14, 2006

Isamu Noguchi - Sculptural Design celebrates the legacy of Isamu Noguchi by integrating more than 75 of his works into a series of dramatic installations by renowned theater designer and artist Robert Wilson. The exhibition includes Noguchi's portrait busts, unique stone sculptures, and set designs for the Martha Graham Dance Company, as well his iconic furniture designs and Akari lamps, all arranged in thematic settings with bold lighting, visually striking tableaux, and evocative sounds.

Show that "special someone" you care with a romantic night of heart-warming improvisational comedy. Cozy up with your sweetie for some of Cold Tofu's biting, satirical take on the sappiest of emotions.

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

Lois-Ann Yamanaka's new work melds culture and spirituality into the story of a young girl attempting to escape the haunting legacy of her two sisters. Acclaimed author of Father of the Four Passages (2001, Farrar, Straus and Giroux), Yamanaka illustrates a brutal tale of love and loss, life and death in the Kahili Valley on the island of O'ahu.

East meets South in Dixieland Sushi, a delightfully offbeat tale about big fat weddings, the burdens of love, and the clash of cultures.

Cara Lockwood is the bestselling author of, I Do (But I Don't)—now a Lifetime movie—and Pink Slip Party. This humorous novel is inspired by her experiences of growing up a Yonsei in Dallas where she ate sushi while listening to country music.

Book signing to follow. Dixieland Sushi is available for sale through the Museum Store. Order online through the Museum Store Online, or call 888.769.5559.

Relive history and learn about present-day Little Tokyo with National Museum docents on this historic walking tour.

$8 for National Museum members and $13 for non-members, includes Museum admission. Reservations along with comfortable walking shoes and clothes are recommended. Weather permitting.

FREE GENERAL ADMISSION
Admission to the special exhibition, Isamu Noguchi - Sculptural Design - $4

The Day of Remembrance annually marks President Roosevelt's infamous signing of Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, which authorized the unconstitutional forced removal of 120,000 Japanese Americans from the West Coast and Hawai`i during World War II.

More than forty years later, the United States government apologized, setting the record straight, and silencing those who argued that the interment was justified. Or so we believed. Now as then, supporters of those illegal actions challenge history with arguments that seek to defend the indefensible. Day of Remembrance 2006 explores the legacy of redress, and considers its potential as a powerful tool for the many working to refute revisionist interpretations of history. Noted scholars, activists, and others will draw upon that legacy to suggest ways it can be used to strengthen connections with other ethnic and cultural communities seeking their own forms of redress.

Press Release

Allowed to bring only what they could carry during World War II, Japanese American inmates looked for ways to occupy their time by creating items such as bird pins.

Learn the fascinating story behind the pins and design your own out of various art materials. Afternoon storytelling will feature Marlene Shigekawa's Blue Jay in the Desert and Welcome Home Swallows.

Just in time for Girl's Day, this popular annual two-day class will teach participants how to make adorable dolls. $12 for National Museum members and $19 for non-members, includes supplies and Museum admission for both days.

See February 25 listing for class description and fees.

The debut of Joanne Oppenheim's new book, which incorporates images and letters from the National Museum collection, chronicles the story of humanitarian Clara Breed whose correspondence uplifted the spirits of San Diego children sent to America's concentration camps during World War II.

Book signing to follow. To order a copy, visit the Museum Store Online or call the Museum Store toll free at 1.888.769.5559.