New Year’s a Comin’ 1e

Japanese American National Museum, Gift of George Teruo Esaki (96.25.8)

This object is part of the story , which is about Community & Culture.

Community & Culture, New Year's A-Comin'

As evidenced by the artifacts seen here, mochi and the communal process of making it represent very strong cultural traditions.

This is one aspect of their culture that Japanese American inmates, despite the harsh conditions in which they lived, could not give up. These artifacts show how traditions expressed in actions and art help to maintain community and culture.

  • Which aspects of your family’s or community’s culture do you maintain?
  • In what ways do you achieve this?