Democracy Downtown

We can thank the Japanese American National Museum for the latest gem in downtown's revitalization. The $10.5-million, 33,600-square-foot National Center for the Preservation of Democracy opened last month in Little Tokyo to foster education and dialogue on civil rights and democratic values. Located in a former Buddhist temple adjacent to the museum and designed by local architect Brenda Levin, the nonprofit center features a sleek glass-and-metal exterior and a new 200-seat lecture hall and theater. We got educated with Irene Hirano, a native Angeleno who is president of the museum and center.

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How did the Japanese American National Museum create the center?

The museum was provided with a federal appropriation. The University of Colorado Press recently published a book called "Common Ground: The Japanese American National Museum and the Culture of Collaborations," which chronicles our work with diverse institutions in partnership projects. The history of Japanese Americans is a lesson in the abridgment of civil liberties yet [also in] the strength of American democracy, which allowed for a mistake to be acknowledged by the government.

The new center occupies Little Tokyo's old Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple. Is there symbolism in that choice?

The former temple was built in 1925 and served as a community gathering place as well as a religious entity. When Executive Order 9066 required Japanese Americans to leave their homes [during World War II], many had to report to the temple building to be boarded on buses and later transferred to internment camps. The temple housed the belongings of some of these families. After World War II, some families lived in the temple building until they found housing. In 1987, the building was given to the museum.

The center takes the experiences of Japanese Americans during World War II as a jumping-off point for multicultural discussion. How does the Japanese experience parallel that of other groups?

The current display, "Fighting for Democracy" in the National Center's Hirasaki Hall, chronicles seven individuals of different ethnicities who were denied equal rights before World War II, yet their service during World War II led to the desegregation of the Army following the war. The passing of Rosa Parks and former Congressman Ed Roybal demonstrates how ordinary individuals give voice to democracy every day.

What is distinct about L.A. as a project location?