Hirano to Step Down as JANM CEO
Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008

Museum exec to wed Sen. Inouye in the spring; Kikumura Yano named new CEO.

Kikumura Yano

Irene Hirano, president and chief executive officer of the Japanese Ameri­can National Museum (JANM), has announced that she would con­clude her tenure in June 2009 after 21 years of service to the institution. She also announced at a Jan. 25 board of trustees meeting that she is engaged to Sen. Daniel In­ouye (D-Hawaii). The couple plans to wed in the spring, it is the second marriage for both of them. Inouye’s first wife, Maggie, passed away of colon cancer on March 13, 2006.

“I am a very fortunate person to know that on May 24 of this year I will become the husband of Irene Hirano,” said Sen. Inouye. “Irene is an extraordi­nary woman, a rare gem in our society. Without question, I am a lucky man.”

Hirano was appointed JANM execu­tive director in April 1988 and named president and CEO in 1999.

“After 20 years as president and CEO, feel it is time to transition lead­ership of the museum,” said Hirano. “This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. During the past 20 years, we have seen remarkable changes in the knowledge and understanding of the role that Japanese Americans have played to shape a diverse America,” said Hirano.

Hirano was hired as executive direc­tor in 1988 as JANM was preparing to restore the former Koyasan temple at 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, JANM concluded two major campaigns and launched its mission to preserve and share the Japanese American experi­ence through landmark exhibitions and groundbreaking programming.

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 the Sodexho Corp. Business Advisory Board.

“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,” said Hirano. “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 will continue to serve as president and devote her attention to launching the museum’s third major fundraising campaign, “Securing the Future.”

“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 of 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 and Sen. Daniel K. on their recent engagement and their marriage later this spring.”

At its Jan. 25 meeting, the Board of Trustees appointed Akemi Kikumura Yano, Ph.D., as CEO of the institution, effective Feb. 1. Kikumura Yano, cur­rently senior vice president, brings years of museum, academic, and development experience to her new role.

Prior to joining the museum full-time in 1989, Kikumura Yano—who received her Ph.D. in anthropology from UCLA—taught anthropology and ethnic studies at USC 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 JANM’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 Discover Nikkei Web site.

“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 Miyoko Oshima, who joined the 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 JANM 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.

“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,” said Kikumura Yano. “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. ”