JAMSJ NEWSLETTERS
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JUNE 2003 NEWSLETTER
A Message of Its Own by Ann Muto When Amy Higuchi agreed to make a quilt as part of the exhibit 1942: Luggage from Home to Camp for JAMsj, she didn't realize that she would be creating a depiction that would have its own powerful impact and leave a lasting impression. It began with Amy selecting photographs of the evacuation that would tell what happened in the camps, such as internees celebrating Memorial Day even if they were isolated from the rest of American life, in addition to the different types of luggage used by the evacuees. These photographs were placed in the center of the quilt as a reminder, perhaps, that despite the artistic rendering of the piece, it represented a time when the government "unfairly denied Japanese Americans and their families fundamental liberties during World War II," as is written in the letter signed by President Reagan, dated October 1, 1993. Amy also drew small pictures of items internees took with them to camp - a Sheaffer fountain pen, bible, pocket knife, Zane Grey novel, and wedding rings. She noted she made them small on purpose so as not to detract from the photographs. The colors she chose (browns) represented the desert-like, barren areas in which the camps were located. Amy chose to mute some aspects of that harsh reality by subtly depicting the barbed wire fences that surrounded all ten of the War Relocation Authority (WRA) camps with symbolic stitching around the border. The entire quilt was "quilted" with the diamond-like pattern of a chain link fence - fences through which internees saw and spoke to their visitors. As unobtrusive as these messages were, they hint at the underlying memories of shock and heartbreak experienced by those whose lives were indelibly changed. It continued with the development of each of the ten squares, each labeled with the name of one of the WRA camps, a piece of luggage drawn by Jiro Saito and signed by the person who completed the square. Each master quilter added her own touch by choosing colors and adding details that personalized the square. One quilter added a teddy bear, another a sweater with her initial embroidered on it, yet another added the silhouette of Heart Mountain. Photograph by Jim Nagareda Even before the quilt was totally finished, the potency of its message was clear. Charlotte Sprague, who added the chain link quilting, insisted that Amy enter the quilt in the Santa Clara Valley Quilt Show. Ms. Sprague, her sister and her mother all said, "This [quilt] is awesome. This quilt must be shown everywhere." Those who saw the completed quilt in early May agreed, and it won third place (out of 300 pieces) as favorite quilt of the show. It seems that Amy and her collaborators have created more than a companion piece for the 1942: Luggage from Home to Camp display. It appears to have a stature and significance of its own, in addition to appealing to an entirely different audience. Its future beyond JAMsj's yearlong exhibit has not yet been determined. Many adults have already seen the quilt and learned from it. The responses thus far make the actualization of Amy's wish that the quilt "be shown to children and used as a learning tool" definitely possible.
Congratulations to the master quilters for their artistic contribution toward the preservation of Japanese American history: Judy Azebu, Betty Hagiya, Jane Hayashi, Tina Higashi, Clara Ichikawa, Mary Ishimaru, Kiyoko Kamiya, Martha Kawakami, Laura Kinoshita, Taye Kitazono, Esther Oda, Ann Saito, Kathleen Shimada, Eiko Shimizu and Tina Urata.
Library System Undergoing Revamp Thanks to the untiring efforts of a volunteer force, the JAMsj library system is being reorganized to facilitate storage and materials checkout. All library books, videotapes and other reference materials have been entered into a database developed by May Matsuzaki. Devoting countless hours of time toward inputting and categorizing are Florence Yokomizo, Toki Pagoulatos and Ron May. Joanne Kumano has been listing all books and materials as she combs through the JAMsj library. This has been a daunting task and very helpful for those volunteers entering data into the library database. The database will provide easy access to the sorting of books, magazines, pamphlets, videotapes and other materials by author, title, and subject/category. As a result of their efforts, JAMsj will have an improved and more efficient library shelving and checkout system. Ishizue Group to Address MIS Contributions to Japan After WW II Ishizue (South Bay Community Network), an organization operated by volunteers, supports the Japanese-speaking community, such as Japanese who were married to Americans, Japanese students and businessmen and their families. Their recent project with JAMsj involved the translating of exhibit captions from English to Japanese. A panel of Ishizue members will address the topic, Japanese Americans Who Changed Japan After WW II on Saturday, June 28, 1:00 p.m. at the Palo Alto Buddhist Church. The targeted audience includes Japanese business people and their families, Japanese students, and all interested individuals. The event will be conducted in Japanese. Ishizue members express a need for such a presentation because, in their words, "We have not learned Japanese history about the period of time following WW II; information about this time period is by chance; and to raise awareness and Kansha (appreciation) among Japanese on Japanese Americans' efforts to settle in the U.S." This event has been made possible as a result of the Ishizue Group's translation experiences. Arigato (thank you) to translators for their work: Chaote Lin, Seiko Edwards, Chitose Otani, Yasuko Furuta, Ikuko Kitamura, and Noriko Kumoi-Ray. JAMsj exhibits have taken on a deeper meaning with the addition of captions in Japanese, as well as English. JAMsj Visitors Abound; Speakers Busy During the months of April and May, various groups toured the Museum. JAMsj hosted 150 visitors during the annual Nikkei Matsuri festival. Field trip groups to the Museum included San Jose Conservation Corp high school students; students from Overfelt, Monte Vista, and Santa Clara Valley Christian high schools; and City Year volunteers. Members of the JAMsj speakers' bureau -- Jimi Yamaichi, Joe Yasutake, and Roy Matsuzaki -- spoke to groups at Foothill Community College, San Fran- cisco State College, Piedmont Hills High School, St. Justin Elementary School, and the G.E. Diversity Faire. The Foothill College event focused on "The Patriot Act."
Return to the Valley Telecast Attracts Large Viewership, Support for KTEH
Spotlight on Volunteers This edition of the JAMsj newsletter highlights some of our volunteers: Toki M. Pagoulatos, Douglas Nomura, Joanne Kumano, and Pat Johnson. Toki Pagoulatos brings experiences from all over the world. Toki was born and reared in Kyoto, Japan; came to Colorado as an exchange student; returned to Japan to earn her college degree; and subsequently met her then husband-to-be in Greece. Toki is currently raising two elementary school-age children and attending West Valley College. When not volunteering at her children's school, she is an active sportswoman, particularly in swimming. She also enjoys traveling and cooking. Toki wants to keep adding new challenges to her life and has indicated a keen interest in helping JAMsj, as it will help her get in closer touch with her "roots." Douglas Nomura is a specialist in computer network security and biotechnology. Nonetheless, he enjoys helping out in many capacities at JAMsj. For starters, he has updated the Mac used for photo scanning and desktop publishing, painted the exhibit rooms and videotaped Museum events and contributors. Doug has a deep interest in Japanese American history and has contributed his knowledge in several ways. Further, by being able to "mix it up" with Museum Board Members who are rich resources with respect to the Japanese American experience such as Eichi Sakauye, Jimi Yamaichi, Ken Iwagaki and Joe Yasutake, Doug has been able to further develop his interest in JA history, particularly with respect to his family and their experience during the World War II incarceration. Joanne (Jo) Kumano is a familiar face around the Museum during the week. She has almost single-handedly organized the large collection of books in the library. Further, she continues to take care of many of the administrative tasks that need to be done to keep the organization moving forward. She likes volunteering at JAMsj because it allows her to meet new people and learn more about Japanese American culture. When not pitching in at the Museum, Jo enjoys reading, trying new ethnic foods, taking photos and singing in the church choir. She is a native San Josean but likes seeing new places and has visited Alaska, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean. Pat Johnson is a computer graphics specialist who enjoys helping museums using digital technology to preserve and tell their stories. Her background makes her an ideal person to do this, as she has strong interests in history, art and computer graphics. She hails from Minnesota where she has helped other groups preserve the rich history of that region. With the help of a grant from KTEH, Pat is spearheading the much-needed task of organizing and digitizing JAMsj's large and valuable collection of images. She has been able to get Hewlett-Packard to donate much of the needed equipment for the project. Pat is also enlisting, training and supervising students to do much of the scanning and organizing. Visitors' Reflections Patricia Johnson, who labels herself a "Midwestern Transplant," wrote the following after touring JAMsj: "One of the most rewarding experiences of my recent move to California is the opportunity to meet and enjoy the company of the Japanese American community here. The courage and integrity these families displayed is an example to all. This exhibit has given these stories new life and an even deeper, more personal meaning. These moving memories should be displayed in every city in the United States." The Museum tour triggered an emotional reaction for Keiko Osawa of Japan, who wrote: "I was very much moved and couldn't help crying to see all these photos. It must have been very hard for them, especially Issei people, to cope with the American society. Now, many Japanese young people like myself want to be Americanized and to come here because it's cool, but we have to know what really happened when the first Japanese came to the U.S., how they lived and went through the hardships. I hope this museum lasts forever." Nicole Pham left the Museum with the following reflection: "Thanx 4 a great tour! This is a great place to learn and you taught me a lot about the history of the Japanese!" Wish List In order to provide greater service, JAMsj seeks donations of new or fairly new equipment: digital camera, scanner for a PC, and a fax machine. Can you or your company help? Thank you! Help Wanted for Digital Photo Project Thanks to a grant from KTEH and equipment loaned by Hewlett Packard, JAMsj is able to reach out to the Japanese American community to locate and archive as many of the remaining photos as possible. Scanning and restoring these pictures of our community history in digital form will preserve them for use in education, research and display for generations to come. This project will be time and labor-intensive. Can you help? Volunteers will be trained in all computer skills needed to assist with this project. Students may arrange to use this project as an internship for course credit. If you have photos to add to this collection, they would be scanned and returned to you. To volunteer for this project or if you have photos to loan the museum, contact Pat Johnson, Project Coordinator at patjoh1@earthlink.net. Luggage Exhibit to Debut July 1 "I want the memories not of political leaders, but of old people who have different memories, of people whom no one knows exist, people who retain the collective popular memory." -Patricio Guzman, Chilean documentary filmmaker JAMsj is proud to announce the July 1, 2003 opening of 1942: Luggage From Home to Camp, an exhibit by Flo Oy Wong that explores what six Japanese American residents of the San Jose area packed for internment camps during WW II. The show, composed of six suitcase art pieces created in actual luggage taken to camp, will be housed in a replica of a barrack designed and constructed by Jimi Yamaichi, Museum Director and Curator. The opening reception is scheduled for August 7, 5:00-7:00 pm, with the artist and project participants in attendance: Lola Tanaka Abe, Elsie Mayeda Honda, David M. Sakai, Eiichi Edward Sakauye, Esau Shimizu, and Misao Yamano Shiotsuke. Lola Abe's family did not go to camp immediately because her family moved to Cutler in Central California, hoping that their departure from San Luis Obispo would save them from internment. The Abe family farmed in Cutler for six months before being ordered by the US government to report to Poston, Arizona. Because Lola was in school at the time of leaving for camp, she was not involved in the packing. Her parents were. Many years later, Lola read her mother's autobiography (written when Mrs. Tanaka was 80 years old) and discovered her family's packing story. In Richmond, California, Elsie Mayeda Honda, a 17-year-old student, longed for her cat, Kitchong, who disappeared when Elsie and her family were pre-evacuated to Berkeley from her home, located in a sensitive area. Elsie thought that her mother took the cat to a grocer in Richmond with hopes that the owner would take care of Kitchong while the family was in camp. As Elsie chose what to take, she decided to take a blue dress, which her sister, Maria, sewed for her. She wore the dress when she met her husband, Henry.
David (Dave) M. Sakai was a senior at San Jose State College while incarcerated. After working at the College to process non-English speaking Issei, he prepared for his own leave-taking. Determined to stay in contact with outside friends, Dave included a fountain pen among his selected suitcase items. He eventually used that pen to write postcards to his future wife, Ruth, who was interned at Rohrer, Arkansas. Eiichi Sakauye's family left their San Jose farm in the hands of an old family friend, Edward Seely. Comforted that their property would be cared for, Eiichi and his family then left for Santa Anita Assembly Center. Among the items he took was a small pocketknife, which authorities allowed him to keep. Esau Shimizu married his wife, Kay, prior to their departure in April, 1942. After closing up their strawberry basket business, they packed their belongings, including Esau's Zane Grey books, in a duffle bag that belonged to his brothers. In Hollister, California, Misao Shiotsuka purchased two suitcases on Good Friday. After packing, she departed for Poston, Arizona with her family. There, she eventually became engaged to Sam Shiotsuka, whom she married in a Buddhist ceremony. After the wedding, she packed her bridal suit in her luggage as she accompanied Sam, a member of the 442nd to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. 1942: Luggage From Home to Camp has an accompanying project quilt, created by Amy Higuchi and her team of quilters. A catalog, with essays by Dr. Stephen Fugita of Santa Clara University, Krissy Kim, Curator of the Japanese American National Museum, and Dr. Wendy Ng of San Jose State University, and stories by project participants will be available for sale throughout the duration of the exhibition. On October 11, 2003, JAMsj will present a symposium at the San Jose Museum of Art. Project participants will speak and sign catalogs. JAMsj has also invited two Chinese American organizations - the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation and the Chinese Historical Society of America - to collaborate. There will be an examination by scholars and historians of common issues between the Angel Island immigration detainee experience and the Japanese American internment experience. Flo Oy Wong, a native of Oakland, California, began her art career at age 40. In 2000, she premiered her art about Angel Island paper people at the Angel Island Immigration Station. She has also exhibited at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, the de Young Memorial Museum, the Smithsonian, and the Japanese American national Museum. Currently, she is working on an installation entitled Kindred Spirit about Dr. Wen Ho Lee. Other project personnel include Jim Nagareda, photographer, Steve Yamaguma, Han Nguyen, and Antoinette Wardell of Yamaguma & Associates, graphic designer; Brian Komei Dempster, editor; Tim Buckwalter of Karen Larsen Associates, publicist; Joe Yasutake, Ken Iwagaki, and Jimi Yamaichi, Steering Committee members. 1942: Luggage From Home to Camp is supported by the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program; Applied Materials Excellence in the Arts, a program of the Arts Council Silicon Valley; California Stories Initiative of California Council for the Humanities; San Jose Mercury News; Union Bank; Yosh Uchida; Stephen Nakashima; Duncan Iwagaki; and others. For more information, see this exhibit's own website, or call the museum at (408) 294-3138. Extra! Extra! Read All About It . . . in the Heart Mountain Sentinel JAMsj thanks Eiichi Sakauye, museum historian, for his donation of seven bound volumes containing every issue of the Heart Mountain Sentinel. This collection includes every weekly edition of the award-winning newspaper published during the three years of the incarceration period at Heart Mountain, Wyoming. Edited by Bill Hosokawa, the Sentinel was the most liberal newspaper of all ten camps and included several uncensored editorials. Generous Donors Support JAMsj JAMsj continues to receive community support in the form of donations throughout the year. The following are three examples of generosity, for which the Museum is most grateful. Once again, JAMsj received an annual gift of $2,000 from an anonymous donor, who has supported the Museum's activities and programs for the past several years. Midori Kai, a professional business women's organization, donated $500 last year and again this year to JAMsj. Midori Kai supports organizations that are committed to and actively promote programs which benefit the community. JAMsj received $4,851.54 from the Heart Mountain Reunion Committee, which felt it could no longer sponsor the Heart Mountain Reunion as it had done in the past. The Committee thereby decided to divide the remaining balance among the Japanese American organizations that support programs for Japanese American communities.
Membership Drive Underway If you are currently a member of JAMsj, you enjoy certain privileges such as newsletters, reduced prices for some special events, and early bird entry to the popular Winter Boutique. It's time for new or renewed membership to help maintain and expand upon the Museum's level of community service. During this era of economic challenge, your contributions are even more appreciated. To join or renew your membership now, download the membership form and mail it, along with a check (payable to JAMsj), to JAMsj Membership, 535 N. 5th St., San Jose, CA, 95112. Calendar of Events
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