The Project

The Japantown Mural Project is a celebration of the vibrancy of San Jose's historic Japantown neighborhood through artworks by 50 local artists. The environment is a barren, undeveloped plot of land that once served as the City of San Jose's Maintenance Yard. Chain-link fencing is now covered with more than 60 large mesh panels of color. It stretches a quarter of a city block along 6th and Jackson Streets in the heart of Japantown.

The subject matter is highly interpretive, including personal and commissioned works, and encompasses a wide variety of mediums and aesthetics. It also includes references to the site's former life; 100 years ago, it was one of San Jose's very first Chinatown settlements known as 'Heinlenville.' A majority of the artists maintain art studios in Japantown, have displayed their artwork in neighborhood galleries, or consider this wonderful place their home.

The Japantown Mural Project is truly representative of its own unique community and will be enjoyed and appreciated for years to come.

Painting Miro

Painting Miro

by Jerrold Hiura

Jerrold Hiura

The Artwork
I like Miro a lot. This is a small acrylic painting inspired by diligence and focus, though it was more fun to do than outcome driven.

Biography
Originally from the Bay Area, Dr. Jerry attended UC Berkeley before venturing out to Boston to obtain a Master’s Degree in acrobatic flying at Harvard University. After a stint with Cirque Du Soleil, he completed his dental program at Washington University, before coming back home to the Bay.

Dr. Jerry is very passionate for the art of dentistry and the many friendships he has forged with his patients over the past 120 years. He is actively involved in the arts community and has started his own theater company, Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS). Although active in arts, he will only perform Shakespeare at home for an audience of one: his wife. Also an accomplished author, he has published a book of Haiku, Japanese poetry, that has been on the New York Bestselling List for the past 60 years!!

When Dr. Jerry is not working, or participating in the many organizations he is associated with, he enjoys rescuing animals and taking long walks on the beach with his lovely wife, Lucia. He is also an amateur weight lifter and semi-pro golfer.

Sponsored By

Japantown Community Congress of San Jose · Office of the Consulate General of Japan · Wesley United Methodist Church
Jack's Bar & Lounge · Dr. Stephani Nguyen of Japantown Dental · Kay's Shiseido · Dr. Jerrold Hiura & Lucia Cha

Contemporary Asian Theater Scene · Japantown Neighborhood Association · Union Bank of California · Chris & Minako Tsuji

Japanese American Museum of San Jose · Yu Ai Kai Senior Center · Banana Crepe · Halcrow Partners · Pan Pacific Bank · Alex Alsorady & Darcie Kiyan
Sophie Horiuchi Forrester · Helen Hayashi · Roy & PJ Hirabayashi · Aggie Idemoto · Reiko Iwanaga · Jeanne Katsuro · Tamon Norimoto · Kristin Okimoto
Jeffrey Oldham · John Ristow · Rev. Gerald & Kathy Sakamoto · Victoria Taketa · Leah Toeniskoetter · Joe Yasutake

With Thanks

Japantown Community Congress of San Jose · The City of San Jose Arts Commission · Dr. Jerrold Hiura · The Rast Family
Corinne Okada Takara · Ruth Tunstall-Grant · Cherri Lakey · DJ Ashford
Empire Seven Studios · The Arsenal · Sign-a-Rama of Downtown San Jose

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