University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s will receive the collections of the Hawaiʻi Tenri Library—one of North America’s largest Japanese-language community libraries—after its closure on December 13, 2025 after more than four decades of serving �鶹��ý’s Japanese-language readers. The collections will be processed and made available for research and learning.

Japan studies librarian, Mitsutaka Nakamura, was invited to speak at the closing ceremony, reflecting on the library’s legacy and its continued impact through preservation and access.

“I have lived in the United States for the past 20 years—on the East Coast, the West Coast, and in the Midwest. Yet I have seldom seen a library serving the local community so dedicated to Japanese-language resources,” Nakamura said. “While it is painful to see the library close, I am confident these materials will continue to serve UH and our community for many years.”

A legacy of Japanese-language collections

When the library opened in 1980 on Nuʻuanu Avenue, it welcomed about 100 guests, including the Consul General of Japan and UH faculty specializing in Japanese literature. Over time, its holdings expanded to nearly 50,000 volumes, with monthly patron visits peaking at around 700. An extended closure during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with demographic shifts and a declining number of Japanese-language readers, ultimately led to the decision to close.

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The University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� is giving readers and researchers a window into �鶹��ý’s Nisei experience by acquiring the archives of Milton Murayama (1923–2016). Murayama, a Maui-born Nisei author, playwright and MIS veteran, captured the struggles and triumphs of Japanese American families through his novels and plays.

, available in the library and online, includes drafts of novels, short stories and plays, unpublished works, correspondence, photos and other materials.

Murayama is best known for his novel tetralogy All I Asking for Is My Body (1975), Five Years on a Rock (1994), Plantation Boy (1998) and Dying in a Strange Land (2008), which fictionalize his family’s emigration from Japan and life on a Maui sugar plantation.

“We were honored to partner with Dawn Murayama [the author’s wife] in preserving Milton Murayama’s tremendous legacy, which will enrich the social, intellectual and cultural fabric of our community for generations to come,” said Leilani Dawson, manuscript collections archivist.

Dawn Murayama donated his papers along with a gift to support the archive’s work.

“My late aunt dedicated her life to her husband’s work. She wanted to be sure it was preserved and made accessible to future writers and researchers,” said grand-nephew David Wakukawa. “It’s important because it brings to life the Japanese American immigration experience of coming to �鶹��ý.”

Project archivist Tiffany Zarriello spent months processing, digitizing and organizing the collection. “Throughout this project, it has been an absolute joy and privilege to get to know Milton Murayama through the documents he’s left behind,” she said. (.)

The collection is now available online, with some materials requiring library access. Contact archives@hawaii.edu for details.

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The Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu honored the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s (CJS) and our with the Commendation of the Consul General, recognizing the lasting impact they contribute to Japan-�鶹��ý relations and cultural understanding.

CJS, founded in 1986, has been a driving force in advancing Japanese studies across UH. The Center has grown out of more than a century of Japanese language and culture instruction at the university. Today, it connects 29 full-time faculty members and 11 language instructors, and supports the offering of more than 100 courses each year that explore Japan through disciplines ranging from sociology and law to theatre and history.

“We study and teach about Japan in order to prepare the next generation for their futures spending time in Japan, working with Japan, helping us understand Japan, and for that, especially drawing upon UH’s remarkable strength in language and cultural instruction,” said Mark Levin, director of CJS and a professor at UH’s Richardson Law School.

Former CJS directors attended the special ceremony, including Patricia Steinhoff, Robert Huey and Mary McDonald, alongside former associate director Gay Satsuma. Their decades of leadership have helped shape the program’s national reputation and global reach.

Preserving Chadō

The UH ����ԴDz� Way of Tea Club was also recognized for its work preserving and teaching the Urasenke Chadō tradition, a refined practice of preparing and serving Japanese tea. Beyond its ritual, Chadō embodies the values of harmony, respect, purity and tranquility that have influenced Japanese art, architecture, philosophy and business.

Consul General Yoshinori Kodama praised the Center and the club for its dedication to bridging Japan and �鶹��ý. He also paid tribute to the late Daisōshō Genshitsu Sen, the 15th-generation Grand Master of Urasenke, whose guidance deeply shaped both organizations.

Accepting the commendation on behalf of the club was UH ����ԴDz� lecturer and Way of Tea instructor Akiko Ono, who continues to share the spirit of Chadō with a new generation of students.

A new training program for subject librarians in Japanese and Asian studies has been established at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s , made possible through a generous donation from the .

Through the new agreement, one library science master’s degree graduate will be hired each year for the next decade as a full-time, nine-month librarian faculty member. Mitsutaka Nakamura, Hamilton Library’s Japan Studies librarian, will supervise the program, with librarian emerita Tokiko Y. Bazzell advising.

“This is an amazing opportunity for Hamilton Library to make a lasting impact on the field of area studies librarianship, specifically Japanese studies,” said University Librarian Clem Guthro. “Bringing aspiring Japanese studies librarians here to Hamilton will be a game changer.”

While focused on Japanese studies, trainees will also gain experience from Hamilton’s area specialists in China, Okinawa, Korea, the Philippines, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Russian Far East.

“Hamilton Library plays a central role in the intellectual life of the University of �鶹��ý, and the Uehiro Foundation highly values its Japan Collection for contemporary and historical research,” the foundation stated. “We look forward to seeing future leaders emerge from this program who will advance the library’s mission and continue the collection and digitization of Japanese historical materials.”

The Uehiro Foundation has partnered with UH for more than 20 years, supporting the East-West Philosophers’ Conference, the Uehiro Academy for Philosophy and Ethics in Education, and the Uehiro Center for the Advancement of Oceanography.

UH vice president of advancement and CEO Tim Dolan added, “The Uehiro Foundation’s visionary investment ensures that future generations of librarians will receive the training and mentorship they need to thrive in the field. This program not only strengthens UH ����ԴDz�, but it also expands the pipeline of professionals advancing Japanese studies librarianship worldwide.”

A personal mission

For Nakamura, who came to librarianship after careers in finance and film/TV, the program is also personal. During his own career transition, he struggled to find relevant internship opportunities, which motivated him to create similar opportunities for others.

His mentor at Columbia University offered advice that still guides him. “First you land the position. Then from day one, you should start training the new generation who will replace you in the future. Otherwise, your position will vanish after you leave.”

The first appointment will begin in July 2026, with the job posting expected in early 2026. Applicants must hold an American Library Association-accredited master’s degree in library sciences or equivalent, demonstrate strong communication skills in Japanese and English, and show a career focus in Japanese or Asian studies librarianship. For more information, email Mitsu Nakamura at japancol@hawaii.edu.

Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki paid a special visit to the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz�’s on August 31, during his trip to Honolulu for the 43rd Annual Okinawan Festival and the 125th anniversary of Okinawans in �鶹��ý.

Accompanied by his wife, Chieko, and an entourage, the governor toured exhibits throughout the library and viewed rare materials from the Hawaiian Pacific, Maps, Hawley and �鶹��ý Karate Museum Collections. He expressed particular interest in the karate holdings, reflecting the deep cultural ties between Okinawa and �鶹��ý.

“It was a great honor to welcome Gov. Tamaki, his wife and the delegation from Okinawa to Hamilton Library to see our Okinawan collection,” said University Librarian Clem Guthro. “Our connection to the local Okinawan community and to Okinawa is long standing and represents our rich shared history. We will continue to build on our shared collaboration and know that our collection will help build understanding of Okinawan history and culture here, in Okinawa, and with the global diaspora.”

Tamaki thanked Guthro and presented him with a traditional Ryukyuan woven textile and 2026 Okinawan calendars. In return, Guthro gifted the governor an executive notebook embossed with the Hamilton Library logo.

The visit was coordinated by Okinawan studies librarian, Lynette Teruya, who prepared a presentation in Japanese.

“I am grateful to the Okinawa Prefectural Government for arranging to have Gov. Tamaki and some of the other officials come to visit our library,” said Teruya. “We got to share some of the most valued treasures in the Okinawan collections at Hamilton Library, and they were genuinely interested in our collections.”

A wooden model of a Kabuki theatre scene, gifted to the University of �鶹��ý in 1939 by Japan’s Shochiku Company, is now on permanent display at UH ����ԴDz�’s . The intricate model, depicting a scene from Kanadehon Chushingura, was celebrated at a reception on August 18, following its restoration.

The gift was originally secured by Gregg Sinclair, founding director of UH’s Oriental Institute, to promote cultural awareness. Built by Kabuki-za Theatre master carpenter Genjiro Hasegawa under the direction of Shochiku founder Takejiro Otani, the model represents a long-standing bond between UH and Japan.

“This beautiful model was made and gifted to us, along with a Kabuki actor doll, with the promise of perpetual display on campus in summer 1939,” said Mitsutaka Nakamura, Japan studies librarian at Hamilton Library. “This combination of the Kabuki theater model, case and stand symbolizes our enduring bond between Shochiku and UH, and Japan and �鶹��ý as well.”

The model has been displayed and stored in various places over the years, but time took its toll. With support from UH’s Department of Theatre and Dance, artist Meg Hanna-Tominaga restored the piece, which now sits on a handcrafted monkey pod stand and is protected by an acrylic case.

Related UH News story: Rare kabuki master class hits �鶹��ý

Shochiku honorary chair Nobuyoshi Otani praised UH for keeping its promise of preservation: “We hope that you will continue to protect the display as a testament to the cultural exchange fostered by our predecessors.”

Kabuki master Ichikawa Monnosuke VIII also joined the celebration, praising UH students’ dedication during a Kabuki workshop and showcase.

“For the next 100, 200, 300 years, I hope that Kabuki here at the University of �鶹��ý will continue,” he said. “Let’s keep doing this!”

Kuchi-e prints are a distinctive genre of Japanese woodblock illustrations that were inserted inside of popular literary magazines during the Meiji and Taishō periods, reflecting the rich cultural landscape of late 19th and early 20th-century Japan. The has recently acquired a unique collection of more than 200 Kuchi-e prints, generously donated by Nanako Yamada, a scholar and collector based in Honolulu.

The Yamada Collection showcases works by renowned ukiyo-e artists such as Hanko Kajita and Toshikata Mizumo, who used traditional techniques to produce stunning frontispieces for early modern magazines, most notably Bungei Kurabu.

An avid collector, Yamada is the author of nine books on Kuchi-e, including Woodblock Kuchi-e Prints: Reflections of Meiji Culture.

Finding a new home

In addition to the woodblock prints, Yamada has also donated dozens of accompanying literary magazines, particularly issues of Bungei Kurabu. These magazines were designed to attract readers, especially women and young adults, with the Kuchi-e illustrations serving as a captivating intersection between visual art and modern Japanese literary history.

“The images by some of the most talented artists of the Meiji-Taishō period, representing iconic scenes in magazine-serialized novels, functioned to draw readers into the tales and fuel their imaginations,” explained Andre Haag, professor of Japanese literature at UH ����ԴDz�.

The Yamada Collection also highlights the meticulous technique of inserting frontispieces into each novella, which has broader implications for fields such as bookbinding and museum studies. Graduate students across the departments of the will be able to utilize the collection as a new resource for their research this fall.

After considering various possible homes for her rare and unique collection, Yamada chose UH ����ԴDz� Library due to the expertise and dedication of Mitsutaka “Mitsu” Nakamura, Japan studies librarian, and Sachiyo Kawaiʻaeʻa, Japanese cataloger.

“The research value of these prints is immense,” said John Szostak, professor and Japanese art historian at UH ����ԴDz�. “Ms. Yamada did an excellent job in gathering prints by prominent artists and kept them in wonderful condition.”

Plans for digitization, public display

Plans to digitize the Kuchi-e collection are currently being explored through grant opportunities aiming to make the collection accessible to a wider audience. Nakamura was recently awarded the 2024 Karl Lo Award and will receive $7,000 from the to assist with the digitization project.

In the near future, the collection will also be exhibited in the library’s galleries for the public to visit.

The Yamada Collection is housed in Hamilton Library’s Asia Collection. to view the collection.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa welcomed a delegation of 30 distinguished lawyers, executive leaders and their spouses from the (JFBA) on July 22.

Professor Mark Levin, director of the UH Mānoa and director of the ‘s Pacific-Asia Legal Studies Program, led the tour of the campus with discussions that focused on the UH law school’s international programs.

“We are fortunate to have had a longstanding relationship with JFBA that has helped to provide opportunities for collaboration and learning on both sides,” Levin said. “Our programs that bridge borders help prepare our students for a rapidly changing world where international knowledge is critical.”

The group included former JFBA President Attorney Motoji Kobayashi, and many recent vice presidents from 2022–2024, including all six of the women in the class of 2022–23, which was the largest group of women leaders in the organization’s history.

UH law school’s and programs for foreign-trained lawyers, along with the Visiting Scholars program, have many graduates and current students from Japan. They come to �鶹��ý to study law in the U.S. at a school that values Japanese legal studies and is located close to Japan.

Since 2002, the UH law school has welcomed a number of JFBA working delegations, with sessions looking at the structure of legal education in the U.S., the U.S. jury system, �鶹��ý’s trust law systems and other topics. However, this was the largest JFBA group to visit the campus—bringing attention to the �鶹��ýlaw school’s engagement with Japanese law and society in faculty research, student scholarship and pedagogy.

About 850 students packed the Campus Center Ballroom at the to soak in a diverse selection of traditional and contemporary elements of Japanese culture. Organized by the Japanese section of the (EALL), the annual Nippon Culture Day event on October 20 featured a plethora of educational workshops for �鶹��ý high school and college students, such as origami (paper folding), calligraphy, gift wrapping, Okinawan language, hanafuda playing cards, manga/anime drawing, and traditional kimono and 13-string koto (zither instrument) demonstrations.

“Most workshops offer hands-on ‘make and take’ sessions that students won’t be able to experience in the classroom,” said Yumiko Tateyama, a Japanese language instructor at EALL. “We hope that the students will take with them a newfound knowledge of the historical roots and meaning behind traditional arts and crafts that are presented.”

The event is co-sponsored by the and the and also spotlighted tea ceremony and ikebana (flower arrangement) activities for attendees.

Traditional cards, reigi lessons

Nippon is the Japanese word for Japan, and Kaito Yamanaka, a junior at UH Mānoa majoring in Japanese and economics, hopes to make a living there after college. This year, Yamanaka volunteered at the karuta exhibit. The ancient card game traces back to 16th century Japan and requires players to match cards associated with short poems or phrases recited during the game.

“I’ve played karuta since I was small, so I enjoyed teaching it to others and seeing them have fun with the game,” Yamanaka said.

One of the newest workshops featured at this year’s event focused on reigi, which is the Japanese words for etiquette and manners. Organizers invited Keiko Okawa, a consul from the Consulate-General of Japan in Honolulu, to shine light on a critical custom— bowing.

“I told the participants that the key to a proper bow is breathing. Thus, you can put your heart to your movement. You inhale as you bow, pause to exhale, and then inhale again as you rise,” Okawa explained. “I believe that learning how to bow properly will be helpful to you when you travel to Japan and want to express your sincere gratitude to someone, or when you work for a Japanese company.”

Okawa also taught students other protocols practiced in Japan’s professional sector, including how to properly present a business card.

Local companies and organizations such as Hawaiian Airlines and Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa were also present at the event to provide students the opportunity to network and learn about future career prospects.

EALL is housed in the UH Mānoa .