IRENE HIRANO TO TRANSITION POSITION; AKEMI KIKUMURA YANO NAMED NEW CEO FOR NATIONAL MUSEUM

Irene Y. Hirano, President and CEO of the Japanese American National Museum, has announced that she would conclude her tenure in June 2009 after 21 years of service to the institution. Hirano was appointed Executive Director in April 1988 and named President and CEO in 1999.

In order to ensure an effective transition and to support the institution’s highest priority, Hirano will continue to serve as President and devote her attention to launching the National Museum’s third major fundraising campaign, "Securing the Future."

At its January 25, 2008 meeting, the Board of Trustees appointed Akemi Kikumura Yano, Ph.D., as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the institution, effective February 1, 2008. Kikumura Yano, currently Senior Vice President, brings years of museum, academic, and development experience to her new role.

Prior to joining the Museum fulltime in 1989, Kikumura Yano—who received her Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of California at Los Angeles—taught anthropology and ethnic studies at the University of Southern California and UCLA. She has received national and international awards and recognition for her research and writing published in English and Japanese. Among her many contributions to the Museum, she curated several exhibitions, including the Museum’s inaugural exhibition, Issei Pioneers: Hawai’i and the Mainland, 1885-1924. She oversaw the development and implementation of the Museum's National Partnership Program which included projects such as From Bento to Mixed Plate: Americans of Japanese Ancestry in Multicultural Hawai’i. She directed the International Nikkei Research Project, and established the global award-winning Discover Nikkei Web site.

Hirano was hired as executive director in 1988 as the National Museum was preparing to restore a former Buddhist temple as its original site. She oversaw the successful opening of the historic building in 1992 and the construction and opening of its state-of-the-art Pavilion in 1999. During her two-decade tenure, the National Museum concluded two major campaigns and effectively launched its mission to preserve and share the Japanese American experience through landmark exhibitions and groundbreaking programming.

"Irene has done a tremendous job in shaping the Japanese American National Museum into the world-class institution it is today," stated Ernest Doizaki, Chairman of the Board Trustees. "The leadership of the National Museum is extremely grateful for her dedication to the institution and we are pleased that she has agreed to take a principal role in our next major campaign. We also want to congratulate Irene and U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye on their recent engagement and their marriage later this spring."

Located in downtown Los Angeles’ historic Little Tokyo, the Japanese American National Museum was founded in 1985 with the mission of promoting understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by preserving and sharing the experience of Japanese Americans. It has members in all 50 states and 16 different countries.

"After 20 years as President and CEO, I feel it is time to transition leadership of the Museum. This year marks the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. During the past twenty years, we have seen remarkable changes in the knowledge and understanding of the role that Japanese Americans have played to shape a diverse America."

"We had a dream to build an institution to be the caretaker of the Japanese American story, especially the World War II experience, and share it with a national and international audience. I have been proud to work with an extraordinary team supported by so many generous members and donors around the country and in Japan. Together we have made this dream a reality. This is the right time to make organizational changes that will successfully take the National Museum into its next phase."

Hirano's current civic roles include Chair of the American Association of Museums and serving on the boards of the Ford Foundation and Kresge Foundation, and Sodexho Corp. Business Advisory Board.

"We are extremely pleased that Akemi accepted the position of CEO for the Japanese American National Museum,” stated Doizaki. “Akemi’s vast experience with the National Museum in several different leadership capacities gives us the best person to assume leadership of the institution. She will ensure that we maintain the highest quality of programs, continue to be visionary and groundbreaking in our work, and will lead us strategically into the future."

Kikumura Yano’s senior management team will include Chief Operating Officer (COO) Miyoko Oshima, who joined the National Museum in July 2007 (she previously served as President of Southern California Grantmakers and Director of Programs for the Tides Foundation and Tides Center); Yuko Kaifu, Vice President, former Consul with the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, who joined the National Museum staff in July 2007 to direct the Museum’s U.S.-Japan programs and projects; and John Esaki as Director of Programs who has been on staff since 1999.

Said Kikumura Yano, "I look forward to working closely with our outstanding Board, staff, volunteers, and supporters to engage and attract new audiences, members and donors through innovative programming. We will continue to strengthen our mission-driven activities to document, interpret and preserve the Japanese American experience and, more importantly, its relevancy to the issues of today and tomorrow. Our programming will keep its focus on the Nisei Legacy, Education, and Arts initiatives, as well as establish long-term plans for our National Center for the Preservation of Democracy and International Programs. I am honored and privileged to succeed Irene as CEO and build upon all of the many achievements that the National Museum team and 'family' have accomplished."