Japanese American Museum of San Jose Tour: Ono Letters Project – Letters from the Incarceration Camps

Japanese American Museum of San Jose Tour: The Ono Letters Project – Letters from the Incarceration Camps

Embark on a unique journey with us on Sunday, January 28th at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose. Established in 1987, the Japanese American Museum of San Jose showcases a unique collection of permanent and rotating exhibits chronicling more than a century of Japanese American history. Their goal is to educate visitors about the early immigration of Japanese to America, their leadership in the agricultural community, their incarceration during World War II, and the challenges they faced while adapting and contributing to West Coast communities. The Japanese American Museum of San Jose also provides a historical forum that stimulates present-day discussions on civil liberties, race relations, discrimination, and American identity. To learn more about the Japanese American Museum of San Jose and the work that they do, please visit their website.

Join the Japan Society as we take a private tour guided by a knowledgeable docent, exploring their newest showcase, Ono Letters Project – Letters from the Incarceration Camps. The Ono Letters Project aims to illuminate the experiences of Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans during World War II through the transcription, translation, and analysis of invaluable primary source material: 65 personal letters, including about 30 letters written in Japanese, exchanged between 1942 and 1945 by family members and friends who were interned in separate camps and forced to live apart. Their accounts not only shed new light on the events of the time, but also reveal the struggles of the incarcerates’ lives in the camps, their deep concerns about the harm done to the community, and their worries about their future prospects after the closure of the camps.

This exclusive experience offers a rare opportunity to delve into the intimate details of the challenges faced by Japanese immigrants and Japanese Americans. Don’t miss this chance to gain deeper insights and connect with the rich history at the heart of the exhibit.

Date and Time:
Sunday, January 28, 2023 • 10:15 – 11:45 AM

Location:
Japanese American Museum of San Jose
535 N 5th St, San Jose, CA 95112

Agenda:
10:15-10:30 Registration
10:30-11:10 Museum Tour
10:30-10:35 Tour Introduction
10:35-10:45 Explanation of Japantown and Immigration
10:45-10:55 Tour of Farming Exhibition
10:55-11:10 Explanation on Internment Camps
11:10-11:15 Participants Head to the Activity Room on the 2nd Floor
11:15-11:35 Presentation on the Ono Letters Project by Naoko Ohgama & Madoka Ayaki | Project Leader, Japanese American Museum of San Jose & Volunteer Experience, Japanese American Museum of San Jose
11:35-11:45 Q&A / Networking

Admission:
$15 Per Person

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