TATEUCHI FOUNDATION NAMES DEMOCRACY FORUM

In ceremonies held in October, the Japanese American National Museum officially unveiled the new name for its Democracy Forum, part of its National Center for the Preservation of Democracy: the Tateuchi Democracy Forum.

The Tateuchi Democracy Forum was officially opened in ceremonies held with the National Museum’s Board of Trustees and a representative of the Atsuhiko & Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation, located in Seattle, Washington. The Tateuchi Foundation seeks to promote and improve international understanding, knowledge and the quality of relations between Japan and the United States.

Administrator Dan Asher represented the Tateuchi Foundation, including Ina Goodwin Tateuchi and her late husband Atsuhiko, at the ceremonies. The new name was unveiled by Asher, National Museum Trustee Board Chair Ernest Doizaki and National Museum President and Chief Executive Officer Akemi Kikumura Yano. Also in attendance were former Museum President and CEO Irene Hirano Inouye, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Norman Mineta and George Takei.

"Conversations with Norman Mineta and George Takei", a new series premiered by the National Museum, was the inaugural program in the Tateuchi Democracy Forum under its new name. Former Secretary of Transportation Mineta and famed actor Takei talked about their lives, including growing as Japanese Americans, their experiences during World War II, and crucial moments in their lives.

To name the Forum, the Tateuchi Foundation donated $2 million. It also donated additional funds to create a public program series that promotes better relations between the United States and Japan. That series will begin in 2010.

For more information, call the Japanese American National Museum at (213) 625-0414 or go to www.janm.org.