Japanese American National Museum Store Online
The award-winning Museum Store of the Japanese American National Museum features distinctive Asian American merchandise for all occasions and generations. Their unique product line represents the essence of the Japanese American experience, while also promoting an appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity. All proceeds from the Museum Store support Museum programs and exhibitions.
The articles in this series were originally written for the Japanese American National Museum’s online store [janmstore.com] to give a deeper understanding of the authors, artists, and traditions featured in the store.
Stories from this series
Author Jamie Ford: From Eating Scones to Writing a Bestseller
Jan. 20, 2011 • Edward Yoshida
“On the side of the trunk was the name Shimizu, hand-painted in large white letters. It was opened for the curious crowd. … The new hotel owner explained that in the basement she had discovered the belongings of thirty-seven Japanese families who she presumed had been persecuted and taken away. … Henry stared in silence as a small parade of wooden packing crates and leathery suitcases were hauled upstairs, the crowd marveling at the once-precious items held within … items …
Maneki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat
Dec. 7, 2010 • Leslie Yamaguchi
Anyone who has been in a Japanese gift store has probably seen the adorable beckoning cat called Maneki Neko with its wide eyes and raised, waving paw. Many look upon these statues as loveable collectibles without ever being aware of the legend behind the iconic cats and why they are known for the good fortune they bring. Susan Lendroth, author of Maneki Neko: The Tale of the Beckoning Cat, presents her own version of the folk tale without tampering with …
Beverly Patt interview “Best Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook”
Sept. 16, 2010 • Leslie Yamaguchi
In her book, Best Friends Forever: A World War II Scrapbook, writer Beverly Patt uses a unique format—a scrapbook—to tell the story of the friendship between two young girls separated during World War II. After her Japanese American friend, Dottie Masuoka, and her family have been sent to “Camp Harmony” following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, fourteen-year-old Louise Krueger dedicates herself to keeping a journal that she will be able to share with her best friend when she returns. The …
Virgil Westdale: Farm Boy, Pilot, Soldier, Inventor, Author, and Gentleman
Sept. 9, 2010 • Esther Newman
Virgil Westdale’s exceptional life story might never have been published had he not attended a Halloween dance. Unsure of what to wear, the World War II veteran donned his Army uniform of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, nearly sixty years after issue and still a perfect fit. On the dance floor, he met Stephanie Gerdes, who remarked, “it’s not really a costume, is it?” After many more questions spanning two years, the two collaborated on Westdale’s autobiography, Blue Skies and …
Reclaiming Untold Stories from the Camps: Karen Ishizuka’s “Lost & Found”
Aug. 31, 2010 • Leslie Yamaguchi
In addition to her credits as an award-winning producer and writer, Karen L. Ishizuka is respected for her work as the curator of the Japanese American National Museum’s critically acclaimed 1994 exhibition, America’s Concentration Camps: Remembering the Japanese American Experience. In an interview with the Japanese American National Museum for this article, Ishizuka recalled her work with the National Museum. “When I was asked to curate America’s Concentration Camps, I had already done a lot of work on the camps, …
Behind the Scenes of “Old Man River” (DVD)
Aug. 25, 2010 • Darryl Mori
Throughout his life, the late actor Jerry Fujikawa (Chinatown, M*A*S*H,Taxi) harbored a secret that even his children didn’t know about. As one of Hollywood’s busiest Asian-American performers, he spent over three decades in the public eye. But privately, few were able to penetrate his characteristic silence about his past. Hidden in the shadows of his young adulthood during World War II was a surprise that would leave his daughter stunned and questioning everything she thought she knew about him—and about herself. …