JANM Mourns the Passing of Yosh Nakamura

Editors please note: JANM’s Pavilion is closed for renovation; programs will continue on the JANM campus and at other locations at janm.org/OnTheGo. 
 

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) mourns the passing of Yosh Nakamura. A steadfast supporter of JANM, he was a veteran of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (442nd RCT), an accomplished artist, and treasured educator. Born in Rosemead, California, he was imprisoned at the Tulare temporary detention center in California and the Gila River concentration camp in Arizona before being drafted into the 442nd RCT. While stationed in Italy, he discovered his love for art and delved into the works of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, and Raphael. That intense immersion laid the foundation for his future career in art education. 

After being honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1946, Nakamura earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Fine Art from USC. In 1952 he started teaching art at Whittier High School in Whittier, California. He always gave his students the space and freedom to express themselves and became one of the high school’s most popular teachers. In 1963 he joined Rio Hondo College as the community college’s first professor. He spent nearly thirty years there as an art professor, dean, and vice president of community services and institutional development. 

In October 2023, the Whittier Art Gallery staged a retrospective of his work called Yoshio Nakamura: 75 Years of Artistry. On March 12, 2024, the Whittier Union Board of Trustees unanimously voted to dedicate the Whittier High School Fine Arts building in his honor. On April 6, 2024, Nakamura was thanked for his service in the 442nd RCT and presented the Legacy Award to David Ono for his work on Defining Courage during JANM’s annual Benefit. He celebrated his 100th birthday during the summer of 2025.

“JANM is deeply saddened by the passing of Yosh Nakamura. He was a beloved artist, educator, and hero who fought prejudice and hate at home and the enemy abroad. His service to his country, his dedication to his students, and his personal mission to share the Nisei soldier story inspires us to be our best selves and work towards a more just future,” said Ann Burroughs, JANM President and CEO.

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