Japanese performance art and traditions accompanied the grand opening of Japanese Hall at the Legacy of the Plains Museum this weekend, with hundreds on hand for the celebration.
In addition to remarks by local, state and international dignitaries Saturday, members of Japanese American families that settled in the area more than a century ago broke open the lid of a ceremonial sake barrel, marking the official opening of the hall and exhibits inside.
Vickie Sakurada Schaepler, a driving force behind the project to save and restore the hall for many years, told those in the crowd it was the end of a long journey that was a labor of love and respect, not only of the Japanese and Japanese Americans, but everyone in the region who supported their communities.
“The most important thing is that we are here for the Issei, the Nisei, and some of the Sansei that passed before us, and we are saving this legacy for our children, because I want my children, and your children, and the people of the valley to know what great support that they received from the people of this area, and of the High Plains,” Schaepler said.
Additional remarks came from Mr. Jun Yanagi, Counsul-General of the Japanese Consulate in Chicago, Governor Jim Pillen, and Dr. Jeffrey Gold, who will shortly become the next President of the University of Nebraska.
Inside the hall, relics and exhibits inside told the story of the Issei Japanese who emigrated to the region, making their marks in agriculture, business and the U.S. military, with many having served in World War II.
Hod Kosman, Platte Valley Bank CEO and an early, staunch supporter of the effort to preserve the hall, told the crowd completion of the exhibit means the family histories and stories within ‘enter the realm of forever’. “It has become and will always be a beacon for history, heritage and tradition, of culture, preservation, teaching and remembering. Each display is a part of someone’s life that all tell a story and chronicle a life journey. Each creates a mental picture of life experiences,” said Kosman. “In these walls are so many voices from the past, they must always be able to speak, and they will never be lost because of this facility.”
At the end of those remarks, Kosman presented a $10,000 donation to Schaepfler. She was also named an Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska by Pillen.
The end of the ceremony was just the beginning of festivities throughout the day, which included performances by the JACL Dance Troupe, Denver Taiko Drum Troupe, Denver Buddhist Temple Minyo Folk Dance Group, Medieval Japanese martial arts by Mugen Dojo, and Tomoko Shepherd of Omaha performing Koto, the national instrument of Japan.
