The Venice Japanese Memorial Marker Committee invites you to the VJAMM Dedication Ceremony and fundraiser on Thursday April 27, 2017.
Event Details:
- VJAMM Dedication Ceremony at the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevards. Dedication ceremony will begin at 10 am and end at 11:30 am.
- After the ceremony is the VJAMM fundraiser at Hama Sushi! 100% of the profits from their famous lunch bento boxes, and 10% of all sales at dinner will go to VJAMM.
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View full details below!
About VJAMM: The Venice Japanese American Memorial Monument (VJAMM) Committee, an ad hoc group comprised of former internees and concerned citizens, has been working together since 2010 to build a permanent memorial to honor the Americans of Japanese descent forcibly removed from Venice, Santa Monica, and Malibu and incarcerated at the War Relocation Authority camp at Manzanar for the duration of World War II.
The Venice Japanese American Memorial Monument (VJAMM) will be installed on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevards. The 9′ 6″ tall solid black granite obelisk marks the spot where some 1,000 persons of Japanese ancestry from Venice, Santa Monica, and Malibu lined up with only what they could carry in April, 1942. Buses transported them directly to Manzanar.
Here is a message from VJAMM Committee member Phyllis Hayashibara.
After more than a decade of planning, fundraising, and complying with required reports and permit applications, the Venice Japanese American Memorial Monument has been installed and will be dedicated on Thursday, April 27, 2017 on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevards. Dedication ceremony will begin at 10 am and end at 11:30 am. Keynote speaker will be Warren Furutani, community activist and Manzanar Pilgrimage pioneer.
Additional speakers: Jim Smith, former Free Venice Beachhead Collective; Ruth Galanter, retired Los Angeles City Councilmember, District 6; Joel Jacinto, Commissioner, Board of Public Works; Zev Yaroslavsky, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, District 3 (retired); Rachel Zaiden, Senior Field Deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl; Len Nguyen, Senior Field Deputy for Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin; Kevin McKeown, Councilmember and former Mayor, City of Santa Monica; Jeff Burton, National Park Service, Manzanar National Historic Site; Dr. Jimmy Hara, born in Gila River WRA Camp in Arizona; Dr. Thomas Yoshikawa, former incarceree at Manzanar WRA camp in California.
VJAMM Committee members will also participate in the program. Phyllis Hayashibara will emcee the program and introduce Brian Maeda and read his quote for the VJAMM. Brian Maeda will introduce the other authors of the quotes, all former Manzanar incarcerees, and will read their quotes: Arnold Maeda, Mae Kakehashi, Amy Ioki, and the late Yosh Tomita. Emily Winters and Suzanne Thompson will explain the VJAMM design, and the Education and Maintenance programs, respectively.
6th annual VJAMM Fundraiser at Hama Sushi in Venice will follow the ceremony. Special BENTO lunches have SOLD OUT, but pre-ordered lunches may be picked up between noon and 2 pm at Hama Sushi. Esther Chaing, proprietor of Hama Sushi, donates to the VJAMM Committee 100% of the profits of the Bento lunch, and 10% of all dinner sales, from 6:30 to 10:30 pm. Since 2012, Chaing has donated to the VJAMM Committee over $15,000.00.
The VJAMM Dedication souvenir program was made possible in part by a grant from the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs, with the support of Community Partners.
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For more info on Venice Japanese American Memorial Marker (VJAMM), visit VeniceJamm.org or contact Phyllis at [email protected]
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View last year’s 2016 VJAMM at Hama Sushi event photos by Venice Paparazzi
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2016 Article by Alex Stowell.
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Hama Sushi‘s Esther Chaing hosted the 5th Annual Venice Japanese American Memorial Monument (VJAMM) fundraiser on April 27, 2016 at Hama Sushi. 100% of the profits from their famous lunch bento boxes, and 10% of all sales at dinner went to VJAMM. Over the past 5 years, Esther has raised $14,536.43 for VJAMM. Hama Sushi’s donations help make it possible for VJAMM, a nine foot six inch tall solid black granite obelisk with a three foot by three foot base, to be installed on the northwest corner of Venice and Lincoln Boulevards. This marks the spot where some 1,000 persons of Japanese ancestry from Venice, Santa Monica, and Malibu, lined up with only what they could carry to an unknown destination for an unknown duration of time, over several days in April, 1942.
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Hama Sushi’s Esther Chaing, and Venice Arts Council/VJAMM committee member Suzanne Thompson
Phyllis Hayashibara, retired teacher, Venice High School, VJAMM Committee member
Becky Dennison, Executive Director of Venice Community Housing Corporation
Scott Pine, Venice High School alum, UCLA
Mark Antonio Grant, former Special Assistant to the LA City Councilmember, 11th District
Len Nguyen, Senior Deputy, LA City Councilmember Mike Bonin, 11th District
Emily Winters, Venice Arts Council, VJAMM Committee member
Nikki Gilbert, Venice High School Alumni Association, VJAMM Committee member
Hama Sushi’s Tony
Bruce Embrey, Manzanar Committee
Ruth Galanter, former LA City Councilmember, 6th District
David Williams, Williams Monument Company, Arvin, California
Brian Maeda, Filmmaker and VJAMM Committee member, www.wesaidnono.com
Hama Sushi’s Bento Box lunch included chicken teriyaki, cucumber salad, edamame, vegetable tempura, plus water or salad.
Thank you Esther and Hama Sushi for everything you do for VJAMM, and the Venice community! Stop by Hama Sushi, and say hit Hama Mama’s Esther!
About Hama Sushi: Located on the former Grand Canal in historic Venice Beach, California Hama was founded in 1979 and was one of the first authentic Japanese sushi restaurants in the United States. A decade ahead of the sushi craze, many Southern California residents can trace their first sushi experience to a table in our restaurant. Today people from all over the country travel back to Hama to eat at our sushi bar once again.
From our nightly last call theme song, to our birthday traditions, both regulars and first-time guests feel right at home the second they sit down. Attracting a large and diverse clientele, at Hama you are as likely to have an A-list celebrity seated next to you as you are a local surfer right off the beach.
Hama is also about more than great food and fast and friendly service; it is about treating you, our customers, as honored guests and making your dining experience a cherished memory for years to come.
For regular menu, catering, special events and/or to book a reservation, visit www.hamasushi.com
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View all 100+ 2016 VJAMM event photos!
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For more info on Venice Japanese American Memorial Marker (VJAMM), visit VeniceJamm.org
