Japanese American Museum of Oregon

09/04/2026

Howdy Hillsboro! 👋🎉

We are BEYOND excited to announce our next Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony! ✂️🎀 Join us on Friday, September 11th from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM to celebrate a brand new exhibit opening at the FLIP Museum! 🏛️✨

This incredible FREE event is a special collaboration between The FLIP Museum and the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, featuring the amazing new "Revolving Sushi Restaurant and Japanese Oregonian's Farming Legacy" exhibit! 🍣🌾

🌟 VERY SPECIAL GUESTS 🌟
We are absolutely thrilled to be joined for this celebration by Representative Mari Watanabe and WashCo Commissioner Nafisa Fai! 🎤👏

Check out the FLIP Museum's page to see some awesome behind-the-scenes sneak peeks! 👀📸 We can't wait to see you all there! 🙌

09/04/2026

How will you commit to stand for justice?

Learn about Oregonians who have stood up against discrimination, civil rights violations, and inequality in the exhibition Standing for Justice: The Japanese Americans Shaping Oregon.

Celebrate these change makers with us and add your own voice to the exhibit!

The exhibit is on view at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon through October 25.

Learn more and get tickets at jamo.org/standing-for-justice.

09/02/2026

Countdown to the final weeks before the greatest throwback party of the year - Nobi's Night Out in the '80s!

🎟️ Space is limited and tickets are going fast, so don't wait: jamo.org/nobi

Join us for this fundraiser for the Japanese American Museum of Oregon on Saturday, September 19 with food, friends, games, and giveaways, all while supporting community history!

Nobi's Night Out in the '80s
Saturday, September 19, 2026, 6-9 pm
Hōkū Events on Madison
1125 SE Madison St.
Portland, OR 97214

And of course it wouldn't be an '80s party without all the righteous tunes from the decade and a photo booth to capture everyone's sweet '80s style.

Tickets for those 35 and under are only $35!

09/01/2026

For September's Free First Sunday, read history zines from the Smithsonian and learn how to make your own!

This Sunday, September 6, admission to the Japanese American Museum of Oregon is free during open hours, 11am-4pm, including the current exhibition, Standing for Justice: The Japanese Americans Shaping Oregon.

📚Then head back to the museum's library to read mini-comics about Japanese American history, provided by the Smithsonian.

✂️Then use that inspiration to make your own zine! Art supplies and paper will be provided. All ages welcome.

Learn more: jamo.org/2026-september-free

08/29/2026

See you at the Clinton Street Theater on Saturday, September 5 to catch the documentary THIRD ACT!

Third Act Film Screening with Director Tadashi Nakamura
Saturday, Sept 5, 2pm
Clinton Street Theater
2522 SE Clinton St, Portland
Get Tickets: jamo.org/third-act

The Japanese American Museum of Oregon hosts this screening with with Director Tadashi Nakamura. Don't miss this loving tribute to his father, Robert A. Nakamura—known to many as “the Godfather of Asian American media."

What begins as a documentary about his father’s career takes a turn with a Parkinson’s Disease diagnosis, and evolves into an exploration on art, activism, grief, and fatherhood.

08/22/2026

Check out this recently-produced documentary on Minidoka, produced by KTVB Idaho, KGW Portland, and KING Seattle.

You can see lots of Executive Director Hanako Wakatski-Chong in the film, along with Jeanne Shioshi, Karen Hirai Olen, Fujiko Gardner, and others.

Thank you to all of the survivors and descendants who spoke with reporters over the course of filmmaking, and to the Minidoka Pilgrimage Planning Committee for all the work they put in to assist the news crews!

More than 13,000 Japanese Americans passed through Minidoka during ...

08/21/2026

Thank you so much to Jeanne Shioshi and her family for coming into the museum to speak with KGW about her experience during World War II. Jeanne was incarcerated at the Minidoka along with her family during the war. Prior to forced removal, they had been living in Redmond, Oregon.

Jeanne is 103 years old and it is a real joy to be able to speak with her and hear her stories!

Jeanne Shioshi was 19 years old in 1942, when her family was taken along with other Japanese Americans to the remote Idaho internment camp.

08/20/2026

Take this survey before the end of the month...which is just around the corner!

Help shape a future National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture!

We've extended our public comment deadline to August 31. Take 2 minutes to share your perspective today: bit.ly/APAMuseumComments

08/20/2026

As we get ready to celebrate all things ’80s at our Nobi’s Night Out fundraiser, we’re revisiting some community events from the decade 🕶️📼 🕹️🪩 🎶

The community lunch program Ikoi no Kai was founded in 1979 as a safe space for the first generation of Japanese immigrants to eat, socialize, speak Japanese, and access other care services. Since its founding, Ikoi no Kai has established itself as an essential institution for the Japanese American community to stay connected with each other through food and a variety of activities.

In the 1980s, Ikoi no Kai organized excursions for seniors, bringing food and community outside of their usual space and into parks and zoos, as you can see in these photos. Most of these were gifted to the Japanese American Museum of Oregon by Ikoi no Kai’s first site manager, Lury Sato. Although a few may be blurry, we think they capture the spirit of the group outings perfectly.

And we hope you’ll join us for our 1980s celebration on September 19 at Hoku Events! Learn more and get tickets: jamo.org/nobi.

The first 50 tickets purchased by August 21 will be entered to win a special prize, so don't wait!

Images:
1. Laurelhurst Park Picnic, 1986. Courtesy of Ikoi no Kai.
2. Lunch at the Rose Garden, 1986. Gift of Lury Sato.
3. Picnic at Laurelhurst Park, 1981. Gift of Lury Sato.
4. Trip to the zoo, n.d. Gift of Lury Sato.

08/17/2026

Get your tickets by Friday for a chance to win!

Nobi’s Night Out, a 1980s fundraiser for the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, is coming up on September 19.

Be an Early Bird and win a prize – The first 50 tickets purchased by August 21 will be entered to win a Jigglypuff Gold Plated Pokémon Card!

And tickets are only $35 for those 35 years and younger!

Have fun and support community history – get your tickets today at the link in bio or jamo.org/nobi.

Nobi’s Night Out in the ‘80s
Saturday, Sept 19, 6-9pm
Holku Events on Madison (Hoku Events on Madison )
1125 SE Madison St., Portland
$100 per person/$35 for 35 and under

Casino games, silent auction, w**e wall, & photobooth
Heavy hors d’oeuvres and refreshments
‘80s fashion encouraged
Get tickets at jamo.org/nobi