Editor’s Note: The piece was originally published by DiscoverNikkei.org, a project of the Japanese American National Museum. A maneki neko statue keeps moving mysteriously around a “sort of” Japanese restaurant in Boyle Heights. A music teacher keeps hearing some drumming in Leimert Park, with no visible drummer. A team of kid detectives roams Los Angeles, […]
The changing Seinan neighborhood of southwest Los Angeles
January 1, 2011 by 1 Comment
“Unless somebody records what happened, it will be gone,” explained Ansho Mas Uchima, who along with Minoru Shinmoto co-authored “Seinan, Southwest Los Angeles: Stories and Experiences from Residents of Japanese Ancestry.” For the two friends, life in Seinan before the war that mostly centered on Japanese school and church was filled with the social interaction […]
Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo more vibrant at night than in past years, but there are concerns that businesses are hurting and worries about disruptions caused by subway construction.
January 1, 2011 by 1 Comment
LOS ANGELES — Is Little Tokyo in dire straits? Bill Watanabe, executive director of the Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) and also a member of the Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC), doesn’t think so. “Generally speaking, I think the foot traffic and level of business seem to be going pretty well,” Watanabe said. “Evening events […]
Michelle Obama presents nation’s highest honors to JA National Museum
December 23, 2010 by Leave a Comment
First lady Michelle Obama presented the Institute of Museums and Library Services’ (IMLS) National Medal, the nation’s highest honor for museums, to the Japanese American National Museum (JANM) in a ceremony held on Dec. 17. JANM President and CEO Akemi Kikumura Yano, Board Chairman Emeritus Ernest Doizaki, and community member Paul Takemoto accepted the National […]
Little Tokyo’s Aratani/Japan America Theatre to close for repair in Jan. 2011
October 14, 2010 by Leave a Comment
LOS ANGELES — The Aratani Japan America Theatre of the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) will close for repairs and upgrades on Jan. 31, 2011, the organization said. “Our theatre is nearly 30 years old,” said JACCC Executive Director Chris Aihara, “and there are necessary repairs that we now need to address. It […]
Celebrating 30 years of activism
October 7, 2010 by Leave a Comment
LOS ANGELES — Members and friends of the Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress (NCRR) celebrated the activist organization’s achievements, especially its victorious campaign for redress, during its 30th anniversary party on Sept. 25 in Little Tokyo. The 45 celebrants at the Teramachi condominium complex were treated to a potluck lunch, viewed a video about […]
For UCLA Nisei, ‘a dream deferred has now been achieved’
May 27, 2010 by Leave a Comment
LOS ANGELES — For 48 Japanese American students whose dream of acquiring an education at UCLA was cut short in February 1942, more than two months after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, their dream was finally achieved when they received honorary degrees in a traditional graduation ceremony May 15 on the UCLA campus. Nineteen of […]
DOR Shows Korematsu Case’s Relevance to Today’s Civil Liberties Issues
February 25, 2010 by Leave a Comment
LOS ANGELES — The 2010 Los Angeles Day of Remembrance, held Feb. 20 at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo, featured San Francisco civil rights attorney Dale Minami as the keynote speaker. Minami spoke on Korematsu v. United States and its relevance to current civil liberties issues and the government’s use […]
Japanese American Dies After Alleged Assault in Ventura, Calif.
November 5, 2009 by Leave a Comment
One night in October, Glenn S. Hanamoto walked into the Red Cove bar in Ventura, Calif. to sell hot dogs and was allegedly attacked by skinheads. The next morning he was dead. After leaving the bar on his own power on Sunday, Oct. 18, the 44-year-old Hanamoto told his girlfriend that “some skinheads beat me […]
Reflecting on diversity in video games through the LA Riots
Editor’s Note: An edited version of this post was published in the May 4, 2012 issue of the Nichi Bei Weekly. Who here remembers the Los Angeles Riots of ‘92? I certainly don’t. I was 4 (and now you feel old). LA burned following the acquittal of the four police officers charged in the beating […]