![]() ![]() ![]() The museum also houses a research center for Japanese Americans to track their ancestors’ path to citizenship, gift shop, tea shop and garden, and rotating exhibits. JANM is home to a large collection of camp artifacts depicting life inside the prison camps Japanese Americans on the West Coast were forced to live in during the Second World War. The museum itself is located in Little Tokyo, steps from the Japanese Village Plaza and dozens of shops selling everything from mochi ice cream to beauty products and home decor. ![]() The Swarovski encrusted Hello Kitty figurine was too much to resist for a sparkle loving Sansei. When the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Los Angeles announced a special exhibition celebrating the 40th birthday of Japan’s favorite cartoon girl (or cat for people who haven’t quite grasped Sanrio’s explosive declaration), I had to see what the fuss was about. As a Keroppi frog fan, I never was too keen on Hello Kitty. Growing up around Sanrio in the 1980’s and 90’s it was impossible to avoid from the local store in the mall, to the closet full of goodies that the first generation friend of grandma had for visiting children. There’s always the prevailing assumption that anyone with Japanese blood, particularly Japanese females, loves Hello Kitty. Growing up Japanese American is a unique experience with numerous facets. ![]()
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