Japanese American National Museum
Electrical tape on paper
18” x 22”
Electrical tape on paper
18” x 22”
Located in the heart of Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo, the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) preserves and shares the history and culture of Japanese Americans. The museum’s campus includes two important buildings: the historic former Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple and the modern Pavilion building, symbolizing both the heritage and ongoing contributions of the Japanese American community.
The historic temple building, completed in 1925 by Japanese immigrants, is the oldest Buddhist temple in Los Angeles. For decades, it served as a central gathering place for the community.
During World War II, this building played a somber role in Japanese American history. After President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 in 1942, many Japanese Americans gathered at that very site to await transport to concentration camps, and some stored their belongings in the temple while they were imprisoned.
Photo by Jack Iwata. Japanese American National Museum, gift of Jack and Peggy Iwata.
In 1992, the historic structure became the first home of the newly founded Japanese American National Museum, marking a major milestone in the community’s effort to preserve and share its own stories. Later, JANM expanded to include a modern glass-and-steel Pavilion designed by Gyo Obata, which opened in 1999 and houses the main exhibitions and public spaces.
In 2016, the Go For Broke National Education Center (GFBNEC)—an organization dedicated to educating the public about the courage and sacrifice of Japanese American World War II soldiers—relocated to the historic temple building as part of a long-term partnership with JANM.
Today, the two institutions share a powerful physical and symbolic building. Yet even as they preserve histories of injustice and resilience, both organizations now face new challenges. JANM is undergoing critical renovations while grappling with federal funding cuts imposed by the current administration.
Meanwhile, the Go For Broke National Education Center is expanding its presence with a new facility, continuing to honor the legacy of Japanese American veterans. In a time when inclusion, historical memory, and civil liberties are again under pressure, both institutions remain essential voices, bridging generations and communities to ensure that the lessons of the past are not forgotten.
