[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 79 (Wednesday, June 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1239]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1239]]
    RECOGNIZING THE JAPANESE AMERICAN CULTURAL AND COMMUNITY CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 15, 2005

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
outstanding work of Little Tokyo's Japanese American Cultural and 
Community Center (JACCC) located in my congressional district. This 
year, the JACCC is celebrating its 25th anniversary of presenting, 
propagating, communicating and promoting Japanese American arts and 
culture.
  The JACCC is the realization of a dream of visionary Issei and Nisei 
(first-generation and second-generation) Japanese American pioneers to 
create a permanent cultural center for all generations to enjoy. Its 
beginnings are rooted in the 1971 redevelopment of Little Tokyo, when a 
citizen's advisory committee made the cultural community center an 
essential component of a new Little Tokyo.
  As one of the leading arts organization in Los Angeles and the 
nation, the JACCC has successfully introduced Japanese and Japanese 
American arts and culture to diverse audiences for 25 years.
  The JACCC opened its doors in 1980 and was completed in 1983. The 
five-story Center building houses the George and Sakaye Aratani/Japan 
America Theatre; the JACCC plaza designed by Isamu Noguchi; the award-
winning James Irvine Japanese Garden; the George J. Doizaki Gallery; 
meeting and conference rooms; and nonprofit community tenant offices.
  One of the largest ethnic cultural centers of its kind in the United 
States, the JACCC has presented throughout the United States over 250 
premiers of Japanese art, over 100 premiers of Asian American artists, 
and more exhibitions of Japanese performing arts than any facility 
outside Japan. It is the most active facility in the United States for 
the exhibition of Japanese contemporary design. It is also home to a 
variety of cultural, educational, and community organizations.
  The JACCC also presents annual events celebrating the traditional 
holidays of New Year's and Children's Day. These celebrations preserve 
traditions inherited from Japan and define uniquely Japanese American 
traditions and values to younger generations. To ensure the 
continuation of the next generation of Japanese American artists and 
audiences, the JACCC has developed artist-in-residency and artist 
resource programs, which provide support services such as rehearsal and 
workshop space.
  As part of the JACCC's 25th Anniversary celebration, the Shochiku 
Grand Kabuki Chikamatsuza troupe will provide four special performances 
of the Grand Kabuki of Japan. This troupe, based in Osaka, Japan, is 
led by Living National Treasure Nakamura Ganjiro III and features a 
cast of 45 actors and musicians. It will be the first full-scale 
company of the Grand Kabuki to tour the United States in nearly ten 
years.
  I congratulate the JACCC on the occasion of its 25th anniversary, and 
I commend them for the outstanding work they do to ensure that 
Angelenos and all Americans benefit from the beautiful Japanese culture 
and Japanese American history.

                          ____________________