FAMILY CELEBRATION OPENS NATIONAL MUSEUM’S MORE THAN A GAME EXHIBITION March 4, 5

LOS ANGELES—More Than a Game: Sport in the Japanese American Community, the new exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum, opens with a sport-filled family festival on Saturday, March 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday, March 5 from 12 noon to 3 p.m.

Paying tribute to the 70-year old history of Japanese American basketball leagues will be the National Museum’s first Intergenerational Basketball Free Throw contest. Called “Basketball’s Family Feud,” parents and grandparents will be able to team up with children to shoot as many free throws as possible in 30 seconds. “We’re getting quite a few calls from interested families,”said John Guzman, Development Associate. “They tell me they’re practicing!” The contest will be held on the Plaza between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and 12 noon and 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Headlining Saturday’s activities will be a demonstration at 11 a.m. by U.S. Olympic Judo Team members Sandy Bacher and Amy Tong. Bacher and Tong, both Japanese Americans, will represent the U.S. in the 2000 Summer Olympic Games in Sydney. Also at 11 a.m., former LPGA golfer Gail Hirata will be on hand to demonstrate key elements from her popular golf clinics for kids. Aikido and Iaido, Japanese swordmanship, will be demonstrated by the Aikido Center of Los Angeles at 1 p.m. “Guys, Like Me,” a performance by Calvin Jung on his story of being an all-American athlete while reinforcing the traditions of his Chinese culture, is planned for 12 noon and 1:30 p.m.

On Sunday, a panel discussion “First in Their Sport: Pioneering Japanese American Athletes” will be held at 1 p.m. in the National Museum’s Aratani Central Hall. Wat Misaka, the first Japanese American to play professional basketball when he joined the New York Knicks in 1947 and Fuzzy Shimada, who was inducted into the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame, will share the struggles and triumphs of their journeys to become the first in their respective sport. Also, a fencing demonstration by the members of the Southern California Division Fencing Clubs will be held at 12:30 p.m.

The More Than a Game exhibition will include three video productions, two produced by the National Museum’s Media Arts Center. Crossover, takes you on a fast-breaking journey into the world of the Japanese American basketball leagues with fresh, fun and informative takes on the phenomenon that has captivated players, parents and coaches of all ages and generations. Top of Their Game, profiles well-known and little-known Japanese American athletes from diverse sports, different eras and generations including Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi, football stars Johnnie and Chad Morton, baseball great Wally Yonamine and more.

The third video production, Youth LA: What’s Your Sport?, features seven unique documentary pieces produced by Los Angeles-area high school students on a wide range of sports related topics: gender roles and stereotypes in sports, the influence of sport on youth street fashion, local enthusiasm and more. The three videos will run continuously in the Hirasaki Theater Gallery on both days.

Visitors will have the opportunity to fold “sumo wrestler” origami figures in the National Museum’s Legacy Center. A special free drawing for a basketball autographed by legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden and Always Dream book signed by Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi will be held both days. All kids under 18 wearing a sport uniform will be admitted to the Museum free of charge and the first 500 kids each day will receive a free gift.

The More Than a Game: Sport in the Japanese American Community exhibition tells the story of one particular group of Americans and the important impact and influence of sport on building their community. From initial immigration in 1885 through incarceration during World War II and the triumph of the 1952 Olympics where four Japanese American won a total of seven medals, the exhibition covers many unique and, often untold, stories.

For more information on the More Than a Game exhibition or Family Celebration, please call 213.625.0414.

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