Uploaded May 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In “The Unsung Great: Stories of Extraordinary Japanese Americans,” scholar and journalist Greg Robinson reveals the diverse experiences of Japanese Americans and explores a wealth of themes, including mixed-race families, artistic pioneers, mass confinement, civil rights activism, and queer history. On June 12, 2021, Robinson spoke more to his process uncovering these stories and, in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride month, focused on the chapter on the often unheard stories of queer Nikkei people throughout time. He was joined in discussion by other scholars and experts of LGBTQ Nikkei history, Jonathan Van Harmelen, Randall Kikukawa, and Tina Takemoto.
Drawn primarily from Robinson’s popular writings in the San Francisco newspaper “Nichi Bei Weekly” and Discover Nikkei (https://DiscoverNikkei.org) a community-based international website project of JANM, “The Unsung Great” offers entertaining and compelling stories that challenge one-dimensional views of Japanese Americans.
“The Unsung Great” is available at the JANM Store:
janmstore.com/products/the-unsung-great
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Programs like this are made possible by the generous support of JANM’s members and donors. Become a member (janm.org/membership) or consider making a tax-deductible gift so that we can continue to present more programs and exhibitions like these: janm.org/donatenow. Your support makes a difference. Thank you!
Japanese American National Museum
100 N. Central Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
janm.org
Stay connected with us!
Follow JANM on Instagram: instagram.com/jamuseum
Follow JANM on Twitter: twitter.com/jamuseum
Follow JANM on Facebook: facebook.com/jamuseum
In “The Unsung Great: Stories of Extraordinary Japanese Americans,” scholar and journalist Greg Robinson reveals the diverse experiences of Japanese Americans and explores a wealth of themes, including mixed-race families, artistic pioneers, mass confinement, civil rights activism, and queer history. On June 12, 2021, Robinson spoke more to his process uncovering these stories and, in honor of LGBTQ+ Pride month, focused on the chapter on the often unheard stories of queer Nikkei people throughout time. He was joined in discussion by other scholars and experts of LGBTQ Nikkei history, Jonathan Van Harmelen, Randall Kikukawa, and Tina Takemoto.
Drawn primarily from Robinson’s popular writings in the San Francisco newspaper “Nichi Bei Weekly” and Discover Nikkei (https://DiscoverNikkei.org) a community-based international website project of JANM, “The Unsung Great” offers entertaining and compelling stories that challenge one-dimensional views of Japanese Americans.
“The Unsung Great” is available at the JANM Store:
janmstore.com/products/the-unsung-great
---
Programs like this are made possible by the generous support of JANM’s members and donors. Become a member (janm.org/membership) or consider making a tax-deductible gift so that we can continue to present more programs and exhibitions like these: janm.org/donatenow. Your support makes a difference. Thank you!
Japanese American National Museum
100 N. Central Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
janm.org
Stay connected with us!
Follow JANM on Instagram: instagram.com/jamuseum
Follow JANM on Twitter: twitter.com/jamuseum
Follow JANM on Facebook: facebook.com/jamuseum




![Barbara Kawakami: A Textured Life
“Barbara Kawakami: A Textured Life” (2010) is a portrait of Barbara Kawakami who─after growing up on a plantation and working for over three decades as a seamstress, and entering college for the first time at the age of 53─went on to uncover the lost history of Hawai`i’s early Japanese picture brides. The film was produced as part of the 2010 Japanese American National Museum exhibition, “Textured Lives: Japanese Immigrant Clothing from the Plantations of Hawai`i [https://janm.org/texturedlives]. Directed by Akira Boch. Produced by John Esaki.
─ JANM 30TH ANNIVERSARY DIGITAL FILM FESTIVAL ─
Friday, July 29, 2022
5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (PDT)
Now at 100, she is still a noted author, historian, and storyteller who has dedicated much of her life to researching and sharing the untold stories of Issei women working on plantations in Hawai`i. Join us on Friday, July 29 at 5 p.m. (PDT) for a discussion and Q&A on Kawakami’s research, storytelling, and legacy with Fay Toyama (Educator and Barbara Kawakami’s daughter), John Esaki (Executive Producer), and Dr. Akemi Kikumura Yano (Former JANM President and curator).
More details: https://www.janm.org/events/2022-07-29/janm-30th-anniversary-digital-film-festival-barbara-kawakami-textured-life
Purchase the DVD, “Textured Lives: Stories from the Plantations of Hawai`i” at the JANM Store (includes bonus content): https://janmstore.com/products/textured-lives-stories-from-the-plantations-of-hawaii-dvd
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The JANM 30th Anniversary Digital Film Festival (JDFF) highlights works produced by the Emmy Award winning Frank H. Watase Media Arts Center through virtual screenings and live Q&A sessions with those involved with the films. This program is part of our 30th Anniversary Celebrations.
Programs like this are made possible by the generous support of JANM’s members and donors. Become a member (https://janm.org/membership) or consider making a tax-deductible gift so that we can continue to present more programs and exhibitions like these: https://janm.org/donatenow. Your support makes a difference. Thank you!
Japanese American National Museum
100 N. Central Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
https://janm.org
Stay connected with us!
Follow JANM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamuseum/
Follow JANM on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jamuseum
Follow JANM on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamuseum Barbara Kawakami: A Textured Life](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jTjQ-EwrCcE/mqdefault.jpg)





