Cruising J-Town Exhibit Opens at Art Center in Pasadena

The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in Los Angeles, in partnership with ArtCenter College of Design, will present Cruising J-Town: Behind the Wheel of the Nikkei Community from July 31–November 12, 2025, in the Peter and Merle Mullin Gallery at ArtCenter’s south campus in Pasadena.

The exhibition celebrates Southern California’s love affair with the automobile through the eyes of Japanese Americans by exploring the community’s influence on car culture in the United States over the past century.

The exhibition will feature more than 100 objects, including rare photographs and home movies; memorabilia from car clubs, service stations, race car drivers, and collectors; concept car designs; plus five classic cars that embody the exhibition’s themes of speed, style, work, and community.

Takeo “Chickie” Hirashama, the renowned Nisei racing mechanic, with George Takei at Ontario Speedway, 1965. George is wearing the mechanic’s shirt for his character, Kato, from the film Red Line 7000. Image from Japanese American National Museum.

Nadine Sachiko Hsu’s 1989 Nissan 240SX from the Drifting Pretty racing team.

The Atomettes’ Karlene (née Nakanishi) Koketsu and Sadie (née Inatomi) Hifumi sitting in the backseat of Susan Uemura’s Bel Air enroute to San Francisco, 1956.

Car designer Larry Shinoda with his Chopsticks Special IV, mid-1950s, Los Angeles.

Larry Shinoda, sketch for Corvette Stingray II, 1988.

Photo of (left to right) Kyle Kobayashi’s Toyota Celica, Bob Nishida’s Toyota Corolla, Rodger Fujimoto’s Celica, and Ron De Torres’ Volkswagen Jetta, taken at Fukui Mortuary, Little Tokyo, 1987.

Left to right: David Eguchi, Tod Kaneko, Darryl Kim, and Paul Katata, working on a supercharged, pro-street Chevrolet Vega in the garage of Glen Kuwata. Torrance, California, 1982.

Car club jackets from the Paladins, courtesy of the Nagai Family; the Apostles, courtesy of Howard Isasaki; and the Shogans, courtesy of Roy T. Yanase, D.D.S.

Family car and baggage being searched upon arrival at Santa Anita temporary detention center, Los Angeles County, California.

George Nakamura’s early 1940s roadster, “The Meteor.”

Brian Omatsu’s 1951 Mercury Coupe, the “Purple Reign.”

Brian Omatsu’s 1951 Mercury Coupe, the “Purple Reign.”

Brian Omatsu’s 1951 Mercury Coupe, the “Purple Reign.”

Kirk Shimazu’s Ford F-100 pickup truck.

Tod Kaneko’s 1973 Datsun 510.

Max Balchowsky's Ol' Yeller II. The actual race car is now owned by Ernie Nagamatsu, who still races vintage motorsports into his 80s.

George Nakamura’s early 1940s roadster, “The Meteor.”

Tod Kaneko’s 1973 Datsun 510.

Diorama of a Japanese gardener's van.