The National Japanese American Historical Society, Inc. (“NJAHS”) was established forty years ago in 1981, as “Go For Broke, Inc.,” to tell the story of the famed Japanese Americans who fought in World War II in Europe and in the Pacific. In 1983, the organization changed its name, broadening its purpose to collect, preserve, interpret, and share the Japanese American experience for national and global audiences. Today, through exhibitions, programs, and productions, NJAHS strives to be a catalyst for change through cross-cultural awareness – by learning from the past and influencing the future.
In 1997, NJAHS relocated to Japantown to better serve the neighborhood community. With planning and revitalization efforts underway, it opened a storefront gallery, store, and archives along the Post Street commercial corridor. In 2013, it opened the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) Historic Learning Center, a $5 million 13,000 sqft. adaptive reuse interpretative center in the Presidio of San Francisco.
“Founded forty years ago upon the principles from which Japanese Americans of WWII fought, sacrificed, and struggled, we love to share with visitors -two special places for everyone to discover ethnic history in a new way. Our exhibits, walking tours, collections, and shops at our Post Street Peace Gallery in Japantown and the MIS Historic Learning Center at Crissy Field, Presidio of SF, both cornerstones of learning on the Japanese American experience.”
Rosalyn Tonai
Executive Director, National Japanese American Historical Society, Inc.
