The Japanese American National Museum’s showing of “American Heroes: Japanese American World War II Nisei Soldiers and the Congressional Gold Medal” will close on Sunday, June 9.
This will be the last chance in Los Angeles to see the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to the Nisei units of World War II in Washington, D.C. in November 2011. The exhibition will open at the De Young Museum in San Francisco on June 29.
Storyteller Alton Chung will perform his one-man show “Heroes” at JANM on Saturday, June 8, at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. This is the last in a series of events being held in conjunction with the exhibition. Chung tells the story of the heroic actions of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team and Military Intelligence Service.
Chung grew up with the stories, superstitions, and magic of the Hawaiian Islands. Combined with his Japanese and Korean roots, this gives him a unique perspective to tell cultural tales and personal stories with a deep sense of reverence and authenticity. Not only does he breathe life into traditional Asian folktales with sensitivity and deep connection, but he can also touch into the fire of ancient Hawaiian legends and tell them with passion and respect. His passion is telling ghost stories, but he also enjoys telling true stories of Japanese Americans during World War II.
This program is sponsored by the Kazuo and Mary Yamane Family Foundation.
JANM is located at 100 N. Central Ave. (at First Street) in Little Tokyo. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday; 12 to 8 p.m. Thursday. For more information, call (213) 625-0414 or visit www.janm.org.