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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, NAMED ONE OF ‘AMERICA’S CULTURAL TREASURES,’ RECEIVES $5.5 MILLION GRANT OVER FOUR YEARS FROM THE FORD FOUNDATION

    Oct 16, 2020

    Los Angeles, CA—The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) is honored to be selected as one of the 20 Black, Latinx, Asian, and Indigenous arts and cultural organizations designated as “America’s Cultural Treasures,” and to be the recipient of a $5.5 million grant over four years, thanks to the vision and generosity of the Ford Foundation along with other leading foundations and major donors who have pledged to don...

  • Tea & Letter Writing: Letters of Connection

    Oct 14, 2020

    $10 suggested donation Gather with us in the comfort of your own home to share tea and conversation! We will be writing letters of solidarity to Little Tokyo seniors or special elders in our lives and spending some time in personal reflection. Prompts will be provided by special guests and traci kato-kiriyama, former Little Tokyo +LAB Artist-in-Residence at JANM. Make yourself a cup of tea, get comfortable, and jo...

  • A Celebration of Bronzeville’s Finale Club

    Oct 11, 2020

    FREE In March 1946, an important moment in jazz history took place when Miles Davis and Charlie Parker, two all-time jazz greats, performed together at the Finale Club in Bronzeville/Little Tokyo. During World War II, forced removal of Japanese Americans into concentration camps left Little Tokyo largely empty. African Americans coming West for defense jobs moved into Little Tokyo—one of the only neighborhoods...

  • JT Sata: A Japanese Immigrant in Search of Western Art

    Oct 10, 2020

    Suggested donation $10 Kagoshima 9066 Westridge, cowritten by Frank Sata and Naomi Hirahara, traces the life of Sata’s father, J.T. Sata, through his photographs, sketches, paintings and sculptures. A man committed to a life of art—not necessarily as a profession, J.T. emigrated to America from Kagoshima in 1918. In Los Angeles, he was active with the Issei photo community while working odd jobs. During World ...

  • On the Passing of Judge Vincent H. Okamoto

    Oct 01, 2020

    Los Angeles, CA—As the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Japanese American National Museum, it is with sadness and much respect that I note the passing of Judge Vincent H. Okamoto, a decorated Vietnam veteran, a prominent lawyer and judge, an articulate speaker and historian and a community leader. Judge Okamoto’s personal story is remarkable. The 10th child and sixth son born in an American concentration ...

  • PREMIERE and Q&A—ATOMIC CAFE: The Noisiest Corner in J-Town

    Sep 27, 2020

    FREE In the late 1970s, when L.A.’s punk rock scene was exploding, an unlikely family-owned restaurant in Little Tokyo started by Japanese Americans returning from America’s WWII concentration camps became one of its most popular hang-outs. That’s when Sansei “Atomic Nancy” with her “take-no-prisoners” punk make-up and demeanor took the café over from her parents and cranked up the jukebox. Infamous for its eclec...

  • Coming Out and Coming Home: Documenting the Voices of Queer and Trans Japanese Americans

    Sep 26, 2020

    PAY-WHAT-YOU-WISH $10 suggested donation The Japanese American community has not always broadly welcomed gay, transgender, and queer Nikkei people. It took courage for LGBTQ+ Nikkei to live openly and with integrity in decades past. Hear from four LGBTQ+ Japanese Americans who are forerunners of making Nikkei communities more accepting: Melvin Fujikawa, Gary Hayashi, Bill Tashima, and Mia Yamamoto. They will ...

  • ON THE PASSING OF FRANK HAJIME WATASE

    Sep 21, 2020

    Los Angeles, CA–In my capacity as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Japanese American National Museum, I wanted to convey our condolences and deepest sympathies to the family of Frank Hajime Watase at his recent passing earlier this month at the age of 96. Frank was among the first Trustees for JANM before our public opening in 1992 and served as a Governor twice. Frank believed in our mission to pres...

  • Japanese Cooking for Beginners with Azusa Oda: Baked Karaage

    Sep 19, 2020

    $25 general $20 member Pack a fall picnic or stay-at-home bento (Japanese packed lunch) for the kids with cookbook author, food blogger, and designer Azusa Oda! In this workshop, participants will learn how to cook tamagoyaki (rolled egg omelet), Japanese potato salad, and baked karaage (Japanese “fried” chicken). Participants have the opportunity to cook alongside Oda on Zoom as they make dishes that are easy t...

  • "TATAU" EXHIBITION TO MAKE ITS MARK AT JANM

    Jul 05, 2016

    The Japanese American National Museum will present Tatau: Marks of Polynesia, a photographic exploration of Samoan tattoo practice, from July 30, 2016, to January 8, 2017. Tatau explores the beauty of Samoan tattoos as well as the key role they play in the preservation and propagation of Samoan culture. Through photographs taken in the studio and on location in Samoa and elsewhere, the exhibition showcases the work...