The new museum is being built on the site of the old one.

by BARBARA HIURA
Hokubei Mainichi

SAN JOSE — The new and expanded Japanese American Museum of San Jose (JAMsj) is beginning to take shape, with most of the outside framing completed.

The building being constructed on 5th Street in Japantown will replace the former home of Dr. Tokio Ishikawa, which housed the museum for eight years. The home was razed last December.

“We’re right on target,” said Jimi Yamaichi, project supervisor for JAMsj. “We’re pushing hard to have it completed for its grand opening sometime in mid-January.”

Yamaichi is at the site every day starting at 7 a.m., when he lets the construction crew in.

“I have to make sure that all the details are followed and that they are doing what is in the plans,” he explained.

He hopes that the roof and windows will be done by September. “It should be completely enclosed by then.”

Yamaichi is also overseeing the conversion of the Boys and Girls Club on 4th and Jackson into a youth/senior center to be operated by Yu-Ai Kai. That project is expected to be completed by January or February.

For more information on the museum, call (408) 294-3138 or visit www.jamsj.org.