JANM Marks 10 Years of Pavilion
By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS
RAFU STAFF WRITER
Sunday, May 3, 2009

Irene Hirano recognized for work as museum’s first executive director.

Photos by MIKEY HIRANO CULROSS/Rafu Shimpo
Irene Hirano, former executive director of the Japanese American National Museum, speaks at the 2009 gala on Saturday in Century City.

Art Nerio receives a lei onstage after being introduced as a a major donor to the museum.

Mineta

On Saturday, the Japanese Ameri­can National Museum marked a decade since opening its signature Pavilion facility at its 2009 Gala Din­ner and Silent Auction at the Century Plaza Hotel.

The event, attended by more than 1,000 patrons, volunteers and guests, was also an occa­sion to honor a host of major donors who helped to build the mod­ern, iconic building at the intersection of First Street and Central Avenue. It is also one of the museum’s major annual fundraising functions.

The evening also brought recogni­tion for Irene Hirano, JANM’s first ex­ecutive director who left her post after 20 years to become the wife of Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii in 2008.

Among the attendees were Los An­geles City Councilmember Jan Perry, Japanese Consul General Junichi Ihara and former U.S. Secretary Norman Mintea, who asked which generation would be the next to step up and guide the Japanese American community through coming challenges.

“The story of the Issei is complete. The story of the Nisei is approaching its final chapter,” Mineta commented. “It is now time for us to take control of our lives, our country and our community.”

Bryan Takeda of the Nikkei Fed­eration thanked museum donors for their vision and commitment and offered an an­swer to Mineta’s question.

“It will be this generation that will help to lead our community and shape our future,” Takeda vowed.

One of the honored donors, actor George Takei, could not attend the dinner due to his work­ing on a project in Ottawa, Canada. The “Star Trek” legend sent wishes by way of a video message, which included him “beam­ing out” at the end.

“It’s hard to believe that ten years have passed since we first opened the door to this building,” Takei said in the message. “In that time, we’ve filled the galleries and the halls here with unique, engaging and enriching exhibits and public programs.”

He added that he takes pride in having his name attached to the Pa­vilion’s volunteer lounge.

Hirano, who took the stage with her husband, explained that the museum is more than its three buildings, that it is about the stories that are at the heart of the mission of the institution. She then thanked past trustee chairs she had worked with as well as donors, but offered special appreciation for those working at the ground level.

“At the heart of the museum have been the volunteers, many of whom are here this evening,” Hirano said. “If we added up the number of hours that they have dedicated, the number of miles that they have driven back and forth from their homes to the museum, the number of people that they have shared their stories with, we might be able to add ourselves to the Guinness Book of Records. For you I will be forever grateful for your bringing the museum to life, for making the institution more than just a building, but a place of heart and a place of home for so many of us.”

After offering gratitude for her fam­ily’s support, Hirano saved a few heart­felt words for her new husband. “Little did I know, 21 years ago, that my next chapter in life would be in partnership with someone that I had the honor in working with, as the chairman of the Board of Governors, who I used to call “Senator,” who I used to call “Chair­man,” and now I just call “Dan.”

When Inouye stepped up to the microphone, he introduced him­self as Irene’s husband, eliciting chuckles across the ballroom. In his comments, the 84-year-old senator revealed that earlier in the evening, a couple walked past him and the woman whispered the gentleman, “He’s using a cane.” He felt the need to explain that he injured the knee last year, while practicing steps for the inevitable dancing that would take place at his wedding.

“The moral of this story,” he joked, “is to act your age.”

Inouye, who initiated JANM’s Bid For Education program, which funds student visits to the museum, reiterated his belief that education is the cornerstone of the museum’s survival.

Mitch Maki, dean of the College of Professional Studies at Cal State Dominguez Hills, then took the stage to solicit pledges for the Bid For Edu­cation. With the persuasive electric­ity of an old-time auctioneer, Maki garnered at least three $10,000 dona­tions on the spot, along with dozens of pledges in small amounts.

The gala was hosted by former CNN news anchor Sachi Koto and included a drawing for two round-trip domestic first class tickets on American Airlines as well as a raffle for a 2009 Lexus hybrid sedan. The raffle raised more than $147,000 for JANM.