To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center, the National Museum will continuously screen Eyewitness: Stan Honda - Reflections of a Photojournalist.

Following the devastation of the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001, photojournalist Stan Honda's extraordinary images of dazed, dust-enveloped victims riveted the public's attention to the covers and pages of national magazines and newspapers

Eyewitness: Stan Honda presents the photographer's own recollections and commentary, revealing the stories behind the haunting, unforgettable images that one media commentator observed, "put a face on the human witness and survivor stories."

25 min, 24 sec.

[Purchase a copy of Eyewitness: Stan Honda - Reflections of a Photojournalist at the "Museum Store Online]

This special showing will be screened at the Terasaki Orientation Theater.

Please Note: This class has been canceled!

Kidding Around the Kitchen (KATK) and the Japanese American National Museum are proud to present: Beat The June Gloom. A hands on family cooking class lead by Lisa Elaina Fontanesi creator of KATK: What better way to start your summer than with some tasty recipes the whole family will enjoy.

Get a head start on your summer family cooking with this hands on cooking class. You are sure to leave with a smile on your face and a belly full of food. We will be exploring salads, sandwiches and simple dessert recipes. $25 members (for one child & one adult); $35 non-members, includes Museum admission and supplies. Reservations are strongly encouraged, contact 213-625-0414.

This cooking workshop is brought to you in collaboration with Kidding Around the Kitchen. To find out more about Kidding Around the Kitchen, go to http://www.kiddingaroundthekitchen.com/

Other Family Events at the National Museum

June 13 – Target Family Free Saturday: Try this on for Size!

July 11 – Target Family Free Saturday: Books Galore!

August 15: Summer Festival on the Courtyard

August 29: Common Ground Tour for Families

August 29: Taiko for Families

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

2 & 8 PM

Please join us for a very special appearance of two musical icons. This performance features Yoko Fujimoto, singer of the renowned Kodo ensemble in collaboration with composer, arranger and musical visionary Derek Nakamoto.

Accompanied by Derek Nakamoto on Piano, Yoko sings traditional lullabies from the different Japanese prefectures. Nakamotos dramatic arrangements carry Yoko’s vocals into a musical journey both sweet and bittersweet, adding a timeless feel to this beautiful music that has been handed down from generation to generation.

Tickets are $12 for National Museum members and $15 for non-members. To purchase tickets, please call 213-625-0414 ext 2227, email rsvp@janm.org, or visit the front desk of the museum.

Co-Sponsored by the UCLA Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies. Presented in collaboration with Kodo Arts Sphere America.

The Asian Jewish Initiative was founded by the Anti-Defamation League in December 2006 as a partnership with Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Japanese American National Museum, Korean American Coalition, Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics and Search to Involve Pilipino Americans to advance alliances and partnerships between Asian and Jewish communities through constructive dialogue, exploration of common ground, joint community projects, and coalition building.

The Asian Jewish Initiative invites you to:

An Evening Exploring Shifting Attitudes on Multicultural Families and Intermarriage

Special guest performance: Kip Fulbeck
Panel discussion: Grace Yoo, Davi Cheng, Arlene Chernow, David Ono

Cost is $15 general admission; $50 sponsorship (includes one signed copy of Part Asian, 100% Hapa) Preregistration and ID required ~ RSVP by June 8 by contacting Elana Wien at (310)446-4228 or ewien@adl.org

The largest west coast Loving Day celebration kicks off the 2nd Annual Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival on June 12, 2009. The Festival celebrates storytelling of the Mixed racial and cultural experience and brings together innovative artists, film and book lovers, and families for two days of writing and film workshops, readings, film screenings, a special family event and live performance by talented comedians, musicians and actors.

The 2008 festival included appearances by: Rebecca Walker, Kim Wayans, Angela Nissell, Sundee Frazier and Maya Lily. Hapa artist and filmmaker Kip Fulbeck and best-selling writer James McBride were awarded the Loving Prize for dedication to illuminating the Mixed experience. All events are free and open to the public.

For schedule information visit www.mxroots.org

FREE ALL DAY

Delight in a day of family fun that explores clothing and costumes within the Asian American community.

Generously sponsored by Target, these special Saturdays are filled with fun activities giving families unique ways to learn, play, and grow together.

All day craft activities:

Fun and flat! Make a paper doll of yourself and design clothes to go along with it!

Show your style by making a wacky hat and decorating it using a variety of materials.

Ruthie’s Origami Corner: Turn an origami shirt into a Father’s day card.

11 AM – Doors open

1 – 4 PM – Let Loud, Proud, and Wild airbrush a shirt for you (limited to the first 60 children)

2 PM – Author Ai-Ling Louie will read and sign her book "Vera Wang Queen of Fashion"

3 PM – Special reading of "Suki’s Kimono" followed by a special unveiling of our special kimono drawing winners.

4 PM – Doors close

ABOUT OUR FRIENDS:

Loud, Proud and Wild
Since 2000 Loud Wild and Proud has been one of the best entertainment companies in California. We have had the pleasure of working for American Express, Macys, and Red Bull. Our company specializes in Airbrush items such as T-shirts and hats to body painting on male and female models. We also apply temporary tattoos on kids and adults. The musical production of the company is equally exciting. We provide a variety live music; from solo live percussionists who play percussion along with a DJ and the live bands featuring The Chaz Man. Our events span children’s' parties, high school and college events and conventions. The company is based out of Los Angeles and we travel all over the US providing entertainment for all those who want to be entertained.

For more information about Loud, Proud and Wild, go to: www.loudwildandproud.com

Ai-Ling Louie
Ai-Ling Louie is a children’s author. Her book, Yeh-Shen; a Cinderella Story from China, (Philomel/Putnam) is a children’s classic. It was made into a television show by CBS-TV. Her new book is Vera Wang, Queen of Fashion, (Dragoneagle). She received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, and her Masters Degrees are from Wheelock College and Rutgers University. She currently lives in New Jersey, where she is a children’s librarian.

Vera Wang Queen of Fashion
Written by: Ai-Ling Louie. Illustrated by Cathy Peng
Imagine growing up like a princess. That's what Vera Wang's childhood was like. Vera Wang is now one of the top fashion designers. Women all over the world wear her bridal gowns and clothes. The little princess has transformed herself into a hardworking, successful businesswoman. This is a book about her life.

Ages 9-12. 48 pages

Vera Wang Queen of Fashion is available for purchase at the Museum store.

Suki’s Kimono
Written by Chieri Uegaki. Illustrated by Stephane Jorisch.
Suki’s favorite possession is her blue cotton kimono. A gift from her obachan, it holds special memories of her grandmother’s visit last summer. And Suki is going to wear it on her first day back to school—no matter what anyone says.

When it’s Suki’s turn to share with her classmates what she did during the summer, she tells them about the street festival she attended with her obachan and the ondo dancing that they took part in. In fact, she gets so carried away reminiscing that she’s soon humming the music and dancing away, much to the delight of her entire class!

Ages 4-8. Hardbound: 32 pp.

Suki’s Kimono is available at the Museum store:Museum Store.

Tolain Bridal Salon
At Tolain Bridal, our trained staff would like to assist you for the fantastic pleasures of being a bride. Our service not only carries the hard stuff like gowns, jewelry and tuxedos. But we would like to help you to plan your right wedding and coordinate everything with you. They also have special kimono packages for adults and kids.

For more information about Tolain Bridal salon, go to: www.tolain.com/index.eg.html .

2009 Target Free Family Saturday schedule

July 11 – Books Galore!

Other Family Events at the National Museum

August 15: Summer Festival on the Courtyard

August 29: Common Ground Tour for Families

August 29: Taiko for Families

Free Screening of Quest of the Carib Canoe

Carib Indian artist and activist Jacob Frederick, and others from his community, sail nearly 1000 miles in a hand built canoe from their home on the island of Dominica in the British West Indies to South America in a voyage to rediscover their ancestral heritage. Director Eugene Jarecki generously donated this extremely rare film for presentation. Kantuta will begin the evening with her beautiful flute music and poetry!

Bringing the Circle Together: A Native American Film Series

Bringing the Circle Together: A Native American Film Series is a FREE monthly film series located in downtown Los Angeles at the National Center for Preservation of Democracy. The film series was established to provide quality documentaries by and about Indigenous people of the Americas, and bring together a central gathering place where discussion and awareness of issues can be shared with the Native community and its supporters.

The film series is held at the National Center for Preservation of Democracy located at 111 North Central Avenue, between 1st Street and Central Avenue, in downtown Los Angeles. The NCPD can be reached via train, bus, or parking in the area (pdf for directions). Doors open at 6:30pm.

The film series is hosted by Lorin Morgan-Richards and Tahesha Knapp-Christensen and is sponsored by the following organizations:

The Japanese American National Museum
The National Center for Preservation of Democracy
Hecho de Mano
Nahui Ohlin
InterTribal Entertainment

For more information about the film series please visit www.myspace.com/nafilmseries
or by email at nafilmseries@aol.com

To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center, the National Museum will continuously screen Harsh Canvas: The Art and Life of Henry Sugimoto
From Japan to California, on to Paris, then to concentration camps in Arkansas that transformed his art forever and finally to New York, Henry Sugimoto (1900-1990) pursued what he called, “the path of an artist.”

Sugimoto’s recently translated memoirs, brought to life by Academy Award nominated actor Mako, reveal the artist’s own journey through his life and art. Features his paintings and sketches, rare archival footage, and film of the artist just before his death.

30 min

[Purchase a copy of Harsh Canvas: The Art and Life of Henry Sugimoto at the "Museum Store Online]

This special showing will be screened at the Terasaki Orientation Theater.

You’re invited to a special Open House birthday celebration on June 20! Join us for FREE all day. Don't miss this day filled with family fun activities, performances, and the Members' Coffee & Tours. It's time to visit our magnificent Pavilion and Museum and show it off to your friends and family. All are welcome!

Celebrate all that has been presented within and beyond our walls with your fellow members, donors, and the community.

Enjoy a FREE day of exciting activities:

• 10am - Member's Coffee & Architectural Tour
  Introduction by Akemi, for Members Only, must make a reservation at ext. 2249


• 11am to 2pm - Free entry to the Fighting for Democracy exhibit


• 11am to 3pm - Free Immigration Record Lookup in the HNRC (Limited to 4 requests per party)


• 12pm - Children storytime in the barrack
  30 minute Reading of Under the Cherry Blossom Tree
  30 minute Reading of Promise Kept


• 1pm & 2pm - Family Tour of the Common Ground exhibition


• 1:30pm - Taiko for Families


• 2pm - Tanabata Workshop


• 2:30pm - A special behind-the-scenes Collections Tour with Tea
  (limited per availability for Upper Level Members only, Tea will be served first in the Yuki Board Room) Must make reservation at extension 2242


• 3:30pm - Outdoor Performances and Stage events in Courtyard
  - Paul Dateh - 30 minute set
  - TAIKOPROJECT - 30 minute set
  - Demon Drummer from East Los Angeles Featuring Cava - 30 minute set

All Day Activities Include:

• Naming our Frog Contest -- See the new kaeru frog design with a special t-shirt by Zolo Toys and a kaeru naming contest


• Member Raffle (1 FREE ticket per member; winners must be present to win)


• Display of JANM 10th Anniversary


• Origami


• Plaster Sculpting


• Scavenger Hunt beginning at the Membership table and leading throughout the Museum


• Aloha Cafe and Chado Tea Room will have drinks and dishes available for purchase

Visit janm.org for more detailed information. Call 213.625.0414 for reservations to the Members’ Coffee (ext. 2249) and Upper-level Member Collections Tour (ext. 2242).

This program is sponsored, in part, by American Honda Motor Co., Inc., LA County Arts Commission, and The Rafu Shimpo.

Crossings: Ten Views of America's Concentration Camps closes.

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.

Create fun garden greeting cards and decorative balls for your friends and family. $9 for National Museum members; $14 for non-members, includes Museum admission and supplies.

On Paper Wings is the story of four Japanese women who worked on balloon bombs, the families of those killed in the U.S., and the man whose actions brought them all together forty years after WWII, and the balloon bomb project.

During WWII, the Japanese military developed a new weapon intended to strike directly at the American continent – the balloon bomb. Thousands of hydrogen-filled balloons were attached to bombs and then launched into the jet stream to drift toward North America.

When six civilians found a balloon bomb in Southern Oregon, the device exploded. They became the only people killed on the continental U.S. as the result of enemy action during WWII.

This is the story of four Japanese women who worked on balloon bombs, the families of those killed in Oregon, and the Japanese American man whose actions brought them all together forty years after WWII, and the balloon bomb project.