Visit to "The Japanese American National Museum"-missed session

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

I had visited the Japanese American National Museum located at 369 East First Street, Los Angeles,CA 90012 on 2nd January2008 ,there I found many interesting facts that I want to share with you and my students.
The Japanese American National Museum, an important player in Little Tokyo since it opened in 1992 under the leadership of President and CEO Irene Hirano.
On the entrance I had seen Paper Mache Daruma- A symbole of persistence and determination, Daruma has come to represent wishes of good luck. The name “daruma” is derived from “Bodhidharma,”a legendary Buddhist priest who, having meditated so long in one spot, lost the use of his arms and legs.As a charm, it is said that if you make a wish when you fill in one blank eye, that Daruma will help you pursue that wish in order to earn the second eye.Darumas are popular at New Years, when one has highest hopes and aspirations for the coming year.
After that I entered Weing art Foundation Gallery there I had seen Landscaping America: Beyond the Japanese Garden provides new frames through which to consider and experience Japanese style gardens and the vernacular landscapes of Japanese American communities.In this multimedia exhibition designed by artists Hirokazu Kosaka and Clement Hanami, the “Japanese garden” provides an exploration of how Japanese Americans have shaped the landscape by designing, building, and maintaining a variety of outdoor environments. Highlighting how West Coast Japanese American drew upon their agricultural and ethnic backgrounds to carve out a viable vocational niche in gardening.Landscaping America reveals the personal stories, historical journeys, labor, creativity, and communities that underlie the surface of the “Japanese garden”.I had also seen The Yamaguchi Bonsai Nursery.. Brother Shigezo & Chotaro Tashiro immigrated to the US in 1898. They initially worked as farm labours in CA central valley, before finding more steady word as gardeners. In 1921 their employer sold them property, where they established Miami Beach Nurseries.I got the information that so many Japanese American become gardeners after World war II . I had seen the slogan” Use the blower Go to Jail”.I had also seen the picture of Japanese Tea Garden,at Golden Gate Park, San Franancisco, California and also small structure of Sakura stage model, created by Raynun K. Tsukamoto 1933,Gift of Hollywood Bowl Museam.I had seen different tools used in gardening and small wooden symbol like wood ball, wood square to design our own Japanese style Garden.I had also seen in the Paul I Hisako Terasaki orientation theater.
Next I had seen the Heart of community- This is Historical exhibit about immigration coming to America in 1941. I had seen collection of suit cases & trunks of those coming to America. I had seen the structure of America’s concentration camps, 1942 after Proharbour that the American Govt. provided to Japanese & there were total 10 camps for 10,000 Japanese American people, Mr. Lee Hayashi had given this valuable information. These camps were wooden structure ,outside covered by black paper to protect weather conditions like dust, cold etc & structure was divided into 5 rooms for 8 and 5 people , inside structure was in the form of triangle and open. I had seen the cloth of Japanese Immigration people before World War II and also camera and typewriter . In the temporary Detention People stood two hours three times a day with pails in their hands like beggars to receive their meals. There was no hot water ,no washing or bathing. I had seen different types of artifacts that people had made in the camp and handmade jewelry &other items. I had also seen Shogee game and method of playing.I had seen 100th battalion soldier’s cap Pin , different medals of honor for the prize of war and different certificates of Notarization.
I got the information about Giant Robot Biennale: Celebrating its 50th issue, the pop culture magazine. Giant Robot has assembled works by 10 cutting-edge artists from the country. This exhibition is the first in the National Museum’s Salon Pop series that includes collaborative displays that focus on Asian American pop culture. 50th issue featuring artists who have graced the pages of the magazine or the walls of galleries in Los Angeles, San Francisco , New York city . Giant Robot Magazine begin in 1994 as a stapled and folded zine and has grown into full fledged bimonthly magazine.

I hope you like this valuable information that I want to share with you and my students.

By Sharad Chandra Shukla

[Anonymous]

Oh what important information you are providing me Chandra. I am glad I get to know so much about the museum before I show up there.

I am in my way there with 25 students on a field trip sponsored by the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (www.ncdemocracy.org). the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy is located in the Old Buddhist temple behind the Japanese American Museum.
the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy sponsors one to two schools at a time to take students and explore the facilities without any other visitors. Besides, the NNNN pays for the bus from and to school.
The time in between the pick up and return to school can be managed between the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy , the Japanese American museum and a quick walk through Little Tokyo. I intend to have the students figure out the drawings and dated on the floor as we walk the streets adjacent to the center.

[Author]

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