Tulare County Museum to Debut New Japanese Exhibit

Tulare County’s History of Farm Labor & Agriculture Museum will debut a new exhibit on Saturday – “Perseverance in Strength – Japanese Experiences in Tulare County.

The public is invited to attend a reception to honor the opening of the new exhibit from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the museum, located inside of Mooney Grove Park in Visalia. Admission to the park and the museum is free.

“Like all immigrants who came to the San Joaquin Valley to farm and earn a decent living, the Japanese played a significant role in agriculture,” said Allen Ishida, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “I would like to extend an invitation to the public for this important event.

The program will feature a “Taiko,” or drum, solo by Don Yamakawa, speakers Robert Ishida, Frank Abe, and Larry Ishimodo, Obon Dancers from the Visalia Buddhist Church, and a martial arts demonstration from the Central California Kendo Federation.

At the conclusion of the program, attendees will be able to tour the exhibit, view a video documenting the Japanese Experience in Tulare County, or watch a tea ceremony. The tea ceremony, or Chanoyu, will be performed by Kay Tokumoto with guest Mrs. Hirabayashi.

Tachibana is scheduled to cater the event and the menu consists of:  Futomaki, California rolls, gyoza, edamame,  and kappamaki.

The exhibit will include photos and artifacts for the local Japanese community that will bring awareness to the culture during the past century, documenting initial migration, early farming, World War II and through the present.  The exhibit will be on display through December 2012.

The exhibit and reception is sponsored by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, the Tulare County Historical Society and the Tulare County Office of Education. 

For more information, please call: 559/733-6616.