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Closed for Renovations

JANM’s Pavilion is closed for renovation and will reopen in late 2026. While the museum and store are closed, join us for programs and events on our Little Tokyo campus, throughout Southern California, and beyond. 

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  • JANM and MOMAW Present the Virtual Symposium, “Undercurrents: Tracing Shared Histories from Japan to California,” on January 17

    Dec 26, 2025

    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 – JANM and its sister museum, the Museum of Modern Art Wakayama (MOMAW), present the virtual transnational symposium, Undercurrents: Tracing Shared Histories from Japan to California, on January 17 from 3 p.m.–6:30 p.m. PST/January 18 from 8 a.m.–11:30 a....

  • Democracy Center Announces the 2025 Irene Yamamoto Arts Writers Fellows

    Jun 11, 2025

    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 Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (Democracy Center) has awarded the third annual Irene Yamamoto Arts Writers Fellowship to Heven Haile and Joyce Kwon, and the Jurors’ Award for Special Recognition to Syd Westley. A ...

  • JANM Announces New Board Members

    Jun 06, 2025

    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) is pleased to welcome new board members to its Board of Governors and Honorary Board. Diana Abouali, Anthea M. Hartig, Hiroshi Kawano, Erika Moritsugu, and Jay Shiba joined the Board of Governors. US Represen...

  • JANM and the Democracy Center Host June 5 Town Hall with California Attorney General Rob Bonta

    May 29, 2025

    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)’s Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (Democracy Center) will host Our Fragile Democracy: The Role of State Attorneys General in Upholding the Law in Times of Crisis from 2 p.m...

  • The Ireichō National Tour Launches in Washington DC at National Archives and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History February 18–21

    Feb 04, 2025

    JANM, The Irei Project, Japanese American Citizens League, JACL-DC Chapter, National Japanese American Memorial Foundation, National Archives Foundation, National Archives and Records Administration, and the National Museum of American History partner together for free programs commemorating the Day of Remembrance LOS ANGELES, CA – The Day of Remembrance (DOR) commemorates the signing of Executive Order 9066 on Febr...

  • Book Launch—Giant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian-American Pop Culture

    Oct 25, 2024

    Celebrate the release of a new book that dives deep into the pop culture phenomenon of Giant Robot. Author and Giant Robot founder, Eric Nakamura, will be joined by special guests Randall Park, Martin Wong, and Daniel Wu to talk about the zines, stores, exhibitions, and more that redefined what it means to be Asian American. About the bookGiant Robot: Thirty Years of Defining Asian-American Pop Culture features the b...

  • JANM to Relaunch the Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy on December 1, 2023

    Nov 15, 2023

    LOS ANGELES, CA – The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) will relaunch the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy as the Daniel K. Inouye National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (Democracy Center) on Friday, December 1, 2023. The relaunch will include remarks by James E. Herr, director of the Democracy Center, and Bill T Fujioka, chair of the JANM Board of Trustees. Musical performances wil...

  • What We Carried - Artist’s Statement

    In 2007, I began interviewing returning soldiers from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I expected to hear chest thumping and Fox News-like talking points like “We are fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them over here.” I heard none of that from the soldiers. I heard profound remorse and anger about their participation in U.S. interventions in the Middle East. Many of the vets have become radicals and an...

  • Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo—JANM Store

    Purchase items related to the “Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo” exhibition from the JANM Store.

  • History

    Japanese immigration to Hawai‘i began in 1868—more than 140 years ago. From Tokyo and Yokohama, seekers of fortune and adventure responded eagerly to the recruiters sent by the sugar industry in Hawai‘i who promised a wage of four dollars a month, plus food, lodging and medical expenses, with boat passage to the Islands and back after the fulfillment of three-year contracts. In reality, those who came to the Is...