GORDON YAMATE NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

Attorney Gordon Yamate of San Jose assumed the position of Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Japanese American National Museum recently.

Formerly Vice President and General Counsel of Knight Ridder until its acquisition in June 2006 by the McClatchy Company, Yamate worked as a partner at McCutchen, Doyle, Brown and Enersen (now Bingham McCutchen). He is active in charitable endeavors, including as a member of the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley FACES (which runs programs formerly operated by the Silicon Valley regional office of the National Conference of Christians and Jews), an organization dedicated to the elimination of bias, bigotry and discrimination. Mr. Yamate also chairs the In-House Counsel Committee of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

Akemi Kikumura Yano, National Museum President & CEO, stated, "We are pleased to welcome Gordon as Chair and know that he will provide the continued support and direction needed to help the Museum in the fulfillment of our mission."

Yamate succeeds Ernest Doizaki, Chairman of American Fish & Seafood Co., who completed four years (two terms) as board chair for the National Museum.

The National Museum is currently celebrating its 25th Anniversary since its incorporation in 1985. Formed through the merger of a band of World War II veterans and a group of Little Tokyo businessmen led by Founding President Bruce Kaji, the Museum has been dedicated to preserving the first-person stories of the people who lived through historic times while providing the context and perspective to better understand and appreciate that history.

The Japanese American National Museum is the only national nonprofit museum dedicated to the preservation and sharing of the Japanese American experience as an integral part of U.S. history. Founded in 1985, it has welcomed new audiences through its exhibitions, public programs and special events.