The Japanese American National Museum is an organization that contributes to the Japanese American community in numerous ways. Since it is a museum, it offers historical information and many services to both the Japanese American and non-Japanese community about the role that Japanese played in American history. It is an active organization that interacts with the surrounding community, as well as with other organizations and programs worldwide and an organization that serves to the public with exhibits, programs, and publications that explore the changing role of Japanese Americans. However, the history and the presence of the museum itself is significant because it is an establishment that serves as a landmark for people of Japanese ancestry, a compilation of a reflection of America, and a memorial for all the suffering that the Issei and Nisei have endured.

The Japanese American National Museum began with the idea from a businessman and a war veteran. These individuals wanted to preserve the Japanese American's contributions to California and the United States history. Therefore, Bruce Kaji and two war veterans: Colonel Young Oak Kim and Y.B. Mayima decid

The Museum became a great establishment for thousand of people. During the official opening of the Museum, many people dedicated many hours to coordinate the events. Thousands and Thousands of museum supporters wanted to preview the Museum and attend the opening ceremony. Not only were there supporters from Los Angeles, people from over seas wanted to be part of the Museum's historical moment. Interestingly, the Museum's official opening would not take place. The Los Angeles riots broke out on the preceding night of the opening. Although some members (mostly overseers) attended a mini-ceremony, the riots underscored the significance of the Museum. Nevertheless, a public opening was held ten days later, which drew a greater crowd. During the opening, members of the Museum announced that the Museum would help promote community-unity through education and history. In an honorable presentation, a 13-year-old Yonsei honored a 101-year-old Issei in attempt to show the respect and historical value of the Japanese American experiences.

The Japanese American National Museum plays an active role in educating people about historical events and how the Japanese American population contributed to the development of America today. In accord with the authors and the people that we read about in this class, the museum celebrates the accomplishments and the significance of Japanese Americans. As the museum affects the community, it is also affected by the ever-changing community, such as new generations of Japanese Americans and people with multi-ethnic backgrounds. Most importantly, the museum does not serve exclusively for those of Japanese ancestry. By working with other ethnic institutions, it attempts to bridge the gap between ethnic differences, thus showing how it is community based, rather than ethnically based. Since it has only been seven years since the museum opened, it is still developing, changing, and improving. It is expanding through both time with the continual studying of sansei, yonsei, gosei, and space, with its globally establishments that are beyond it's location in Los Angeles and in America. Although it is called the Japanese American National Museum, it is beginning to explore the experiences of Japanese from an international outlook, as seen in its Nikkei research project. In tying together from our class readings and the experience at the Japanese American National Museum, we believe Senator Daniel Inouye's quote sums up our views of the Museum. The Museum was "conceived, built and largely financed by Americans of Japanese Ancestry. Increasingly, the effort is being joined by other Americans for whom the appeal comes from the similarity to their own stories... In sum, it is an American institution, built by Americans, while has meaning for all of us."

The museum offers a plethora of artifacts, photos, quotes, poems, personal testimonies, pieces of art, and records to the public to create a deeper understanding about Japanese American history. In the Historic Building, there is a temporary photo display of The Heart Mountain Story, including over thirty images of Japanese Americans in the relocation camp. The photos were taken by Hansel Mieth and Otto Hagel. In 1943, they were sent to the Heart Mountain Relocation center in Northwest Wyoming to take pictures for Life magazine. The photos went unpublished and hidden until 1995. This display is a useful supplement to the readings and discussions in class because the visual affects of seeing black and white photos of internees are quite dramatic. To read and talk about the experiences of Japanese Americans during World War II is shocking, but to see actual photos of moments frozen in time is overwhelming. The collection includes photos of people leaving their homes to go to camp, mothers struggling with their young children, children in camp schools, and even a photo of Lt. General John DeWitt himself. Also among the collection were the ex

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