Japanese American Museum of San Jose, San Jose
The Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) is a cultural institution located on North Fifth Street, in the heart of San Jose鈥檚 historic Japantown鈥攐ne of the few remaining Japantowns in the United States. Founded in November 1987, the museum is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Japanese American art, history, and culture, with a particular emphasis on the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.
JAMsj has its roots in a 1984鈥�86 research project focused on Japanese American farmers in the Santa Clara Valley. This initiative gathered family histories, archival photographs, personal memoirs, and unpublished documents, which not only enriched local understanding of Japanese American heritage but also led to the creation of a school curriculum used by the San Jose Unified and Eastside Union High School Districts.
The museum鈥檚 educational efforts contributed materials and images to the award-winning 1985 publication Japanese Legacy: Farming and Community Life in California's Santa Clara Valley, co-authored by Timothy J. Lukes, Ph.D. and Gary Y. Okihiro, Ph.D.
Originally housed in the historic Issei Memorial Building (once the Kuwabara Hospital), the museum was launched with support from the San Jose Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. In 2002, it adopted the name Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) to highlight its evolving archival and museum focus. Today, JAMsj is located in the former home of Dr. Tokio Ishikawa, just a few doors down from its original site. The current museum space opened to the public in October 2010, following the demolition of the original building in 2008.
JAMsj continues to serve as a vital center for education, memory, and community, preserving the experiences and legacies of Japanese Americans in the Bay Area.
JAMsj has its roots in a 1984鈥�86 research project focused on Japanese American farmers in the Santa Clara Valley. This initiative gathered family histories, archival photographs, personal memoirs, and unpublished documents, which not only enriched local understanding of Japanese American heritage but also led to the creation of a school curriculum used by the San Jose Unified and Eastside Union High School Districts.
The museum鈥檚 educational efforts contributed materials and images to the award-winning 1985 publication Japanese Legacy: Farming and Community Life in California's Santa Clara Valley, co-authored by Timothy J. Lukes, Ph.D. and Gary Y. Okihiro, Ph.D.
Originally housed in the historic Issei Memorial Building (once the Kuwabara Hospital), the museum was launched with support from the San Jose Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League. In 2002, it adopted the name Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) to highlight its evolving archival and museum focus. Today, JAMsj is located in the former home of Dr. Tokio Ishikawa, just a few doors down from its original site. The current museum space opened to the public in October 2010, following the demolition of the original building in 2008.
JAMsj continues to serve as a vital center for education, memory, and community, preserving the experiences and legacies of Japanese Americans in the Bay Area.
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Japanese American Museum of San Jose on Map
Sight Name: Japanese American Museum of San Jose
Sight Location: San Jose, USA (See walking tours in San Jose)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: San Jose, USA (See walking tours in San Jose)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in San Jose, California
Create Your Own Walk in San Jose
Creating your own self-guided walk in San Jose is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
San Jose Museums Tour
The capital of Silicon Valley, San Jose is full of discovery and innovation. Also, steeped in history 鈥� established since 1777 鈥� the city has born witness to numerous chapters of American past. When it comes to culture, education and recreation, the local museums are a perfect destination for solo adventurers new to the area.
Here, among other things, you can:
- get hands-on with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Here, among other things, you can:
- get hands-on with... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
San Jose Public Art Walking Tour
This walking tour, 鈥淧ublic Art as Resistance in San Jos茅,鈥� highlights the history of resistance and public art in downtown San Jos茅 and begins on the urban university campus, San Jos茅 State University. Starting from the first two works of art on campus, you鈥檒l find that these 12 works of public art are among many in this area. However, this particular walking tour considers how San... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.0 Km or 3.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.0 Km or 3.7 Miles
San Jose Downtown Walking Tour
San Jose is California's third-largest city and the second-largest city in Northern California. From 1849 to 1851, San Jose served as the state's first capital, which is still a local source of pride. The city has formally incorporated in 1850 and has been a center of innovation from the late 19th century, starting with agriculture and food processing.
During World War II, several... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles
During World War II, several... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.9 Km or 1.2 Miles