The Japanese American Association of New York (JAANY) was founded in 1907 by Dr. Toyohiko Takami as the Japanese Mutual Aid Society (Nihonjin Kyosaikai). Takami was a prominent physician who wanted to provide social services and aid to the Japanese and Japanese American communities.

In 1914, Dr. Takami, Dr. Jokichi Takamine, and other community leaders formed the Japanese Association of New York, Inc. (New York Nihonjinkai) to expand upon the original goals of serving the Japanese expatriate and immigrant community. It was disbanded during World War II. The New York Committee for Japan Relief (Nihon Kyuen New York Iinkai) was formed and worked with L.A.R.A. (Licensed Agency for Relief in Asia), established by the American Friends Society, to collect and send food and clothing to Japan in the aftermath of the war. They also helped Japanese Americans and Japanese relocate and settle in the greater New York area after they were released from concentration camps across the United States.

JAANY also has an archive of over 100 years of community history, including photographs, such as Crown Prince Akihito’s visit to the US in 1953 and Nikkeijinkai/JAA News from 1978. The archive consists of historical materials donated by individual members. These materials are being digitized in collaboration with the Digital Museum.