News

Asian Reporter, May 3, 2021

The Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO), previously known as the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, is scheduled to open this month at its new location at the Naito Center in northwest Portland. The move to the new building and subsequent reopening of the museum were delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A grand opening celebration is scheduled for Thursday, May 6 at 5:00pm. The event will be held virtually because of pandemic precautions. The online celebration will feature a sneak peak of the exhibits as well as special guest appearances and performances, including Portland Taiko and multi-instrumentalist Kishi Bashi. Members of the community who would like to participate should sign up at https://grandopening.jamo.org

May 6 holds significance to Portland’s Japanese-American community because in 1942, Portland declared itself the first major city on the west coast to be “Jap free,” as all people of Japanese ancestry had been forcibly removed the day before and were incarcerated in repurposed animal stalls at the Portland Assembly Center.