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
Only the Brave: Lane Nishikawa honors Japanese American Veterans
Nov. 8, 2007 • Leslie Yamaguchi
In all of his pursuits as an actor, writer, and director, Lane Nishikawa has “continually broken ground in examining the human condition of the Asian American experience.” In Only The Brave, Lane Nishikawa gives viewers a unique perspective into a piece of World War II history that is little known to the American public. Only The Brave celebrates “the unparalleled courage of the Nisei soldiers who voluntarily fought in World War II while many of their families were imprisoned in …
Ronin Rabbit: Stan Sakai’s Amazing Usagi Yojimbo
Oct. 25, 2007 • Darryl Mori
"To make a living in any of the arts is difficult—whether it be acting, writing, painting, music, or, in my case, cartooning," says Stan Sakai, creator of the wildly popular Usagi Yojimbo comic book series. "Parents, of course, want the best for their children, and a traditional job is the safest way to earn a living. However, I really wanted to get into writing and drawing, and my parents supported my decision, but with reservations." "What really turned them around …
Masakazu Yoshizawa: Music Master and Magician
Sept. 28, 2007 • Noriko Eileen Kurahashi
As a respected composer, arranger and master of shakuhachi, other Japanese flutes, taiko, clarinet and piano, Masakazu Yoshizawa demonstrates how excellence can be achieved through an obsession with technique and structure. When he was first introduced to music, he remembers tediously hand-copying musical scores over and over again to understand the underlying structures and rhythms. In his elementary school, every student was required to choose an instrument, and Yoshizawa first dedicated himself to the accordion—and then revealed his uncanny musical …
On a Roll: The Global Business of Sushi
Sept. 13, 2007 • Darryl Mori
A piece of raw fish sitting on a small ball of rice.At first glance, it seems an unlikely tool for understanding the complex dynamics of global economics.But as author and journalist Sasha Issenberg discovered, a look at the business behind sushi reveals an intricate web of cultures, industries and money. Sushi, says Issenberg, provides a compelling view of how dramatically the world is changing. Issenberg’s new book, The Sushi Economy: Globalization and the Making of a Modern Delicacy, explores the …
The Issei Legacy: Passing the Values of the Issei onto Younger Generations
May 2, 2007 • Shigueru Julio Tsuha
Cherishing the values of the first generation of Japanese migrants to the United States of America, Tsukasa Matsueda, Ed.D. writes a compelling book that is simultaneously an honoring of the Issei and a message to younger generations. Dr. Matsueda honors the Issei by recounting their history of struggle in the U.S.; He recapitulates the episodes of racism that they faced as they first took their part in U.S. society as cheap labor and then as a fictitious military threat during …
Sakura: Beautiful Flowering Trees of Japan
April 20, 2007 • Leslie Yamaguchi , Vicky K. Murakami-Tsuda
The cherry blossom, known as sakura, is the national flower of Japan. Different from the fruit-bearing trees found in other countries, these flowering trees are enjoyed mostly for their beautiful blossoms and the beauty of the falling snow-like petals. Because the blossoms only last for a few days in the spring, many travel to common viewing sites where a festive atmosphere is enjoyed by all; friends and families gather, bringing picnic baskets and sake to be shared with music and …