Join the Museum of Modern Art Wakayama and the Japanese American National Museum for “Transbordering: From Wakayama to California” on Saturday, Jan. 18, from 1 to 6:30 p.m. at JANM, 100 N. Central Ave. in Little Tokyo.
This transnational symposium will bring together scholars from the U.S. and Japan to discuss transpacific migration and the preservation of Nikkei history. The event will begin with opening remarks from Kristen Hayashi of JANM and Kanae Aoki and Iichiro Okumura of MOMAW.
The symposium will feature two sessions, “Transpacific Migration and Cultural Connections,” followed by “Preserving Nikkei History in Wakayama.”
This event will be presented in English in person and English and Japanese virtually.
Organized by Executive Committee for International Exchange Programs on Migration Studies in Wakayama (administered by MOMAW). Supported by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan.
Free but registration required. Go to: www.janm.org/events/2025-01-18/transbordering-wakayama-california
Schedule
1 p.m.: Opening remarks, Ann Burroughs, president and CEO, JANM
1:10 – 2:15 p.m.: Session 1, “JANM and MOMAW: Transcending Borders to Further Research”
- “The Highs and Lows of Issei Experience: Art and Class Consciousness in the Los Angeles Novels of Nagahara Shōson,” Andrew Way Leong, Ph.D., assistant professor of English, UC Berkeley
5 p.m.: Closing remarks, Masako Miki, director of external relations, JANM
- “Tracing Wakayama to California through JANM’s Permanent Collection,” Kristen Hayashi, Ph.D., curator and director of collections management and access, JANM
- “From Collecting Modern Art to Expanding into Migration History Studies,” Ichiro Okumura, educator in chief and curator, MOMAW
- “From California to Wakayama: Exploring Migration History Through Art,” Kanae Aoki, Ph.D., curator, MOMAW
2:15 – 3:30 p.m.: Session 2, “Preserving Nikkei History in Wakayama”
- • “Migration and Wakayama: Initiatives of the Institute of Kishu Economic and Cultural History,” Etsuko Higashi, professor of Wakayama University, director of Center for Tourism Research, member of Institute of Kishu Economic and Cultural History
- “About the Emigration Archive in Wakayama Civic Library,” Haruna Higuchi, deputy director, Wakayama Civic Library, librarian in charge of Emigration Archive
- “The Henry Sugimoto Collection at Wakayama City Museum: Paintings Conveying Camp Scenes,” Natsuko Yamashita, curator, Wakayama City Museum
- “Taiji on Distant Shores,” Hayato Sakurai, curator, Taiji Historical Archives
4 – 5 p.m.: Session 3, “Transpacific Migration and Cultural Connections”
- “A Spiritual Battle for Issei Souls: Street Preaching in Early Little Tokyo,” Emily Anderson, Ph.D., project curator, JANM
- “The Highs and Lows of Issei Experience: Art and Class Consciousness in the Los Angeles Novels of Nagahara Shōson,” Andrew Way Leong, Ph.D., assistant professor of English, UC Berkeley
5 p.m.: Closing remarks, Masako Miki, director of external relations, JANM