Little Tokyo

Location

Little Tokyo is presently situated adjacent to the civic center and skid Row district of Downtown Los Angeles.

History

Little Tokyo started around 1885 when a seaman from Japan opened a restaurant.By 1906 after the San Francisco earthquake many Japanese moved to Southern California because its climate and agricultural land, and the constant flow of laborers from Japan which they were coming with the illusion of growth, wealth and education building their Little Tokyo communityJapanese were subject of constantly racial discrimination having a hard time finding a good job.Dec 7, 1941 World War II with the Japanese, United States started segregating Japanese families sending them to concentration camps.Japanese Community started dissipating and by 1942 Little Tokyo was a ghost town.

African Americans came to California to work at the cotton fields, and not being able to find a place to live they moved to Little Tokyo, becoming “Bronzville”.After the war Japanese returned to Little Tokyo rebuilding their community, and African Americans left the area moving to different parts of LA.

Agriculture

Sports

Then and Now

Now• The demographics of Little Tokyo are changing• Currently Little Tokyo’s residents aren't predominantly Japanese

Americans • Causes: New modern housing projects in Little Tokyo’s district• The new housing projects attract foreign investors’ and residents • These new settlers bring their diversity to Little Tokyo• However their presence causes a shift in traditional delicacies • For example some Japanese pastry shops that once sold rice

cakes now primarily sell Italian Gelato • Local businesses have adjusted to the demands that their new

consumers have

• The transformation has caused a lot of anxiety for Japanese American residents that are accustom to traditional Little Tokyo

• Cultural community leaders remain very vigilant of the change • Japanese American residents in Little Tokyo fight hard to preserve

their culture• One way they do that is by organizing a traditional event called

the Nisei Week Festival• Its is a nine day event that displays Japanese heritage and

traditions • The festival takes place in Los Angeles California every year since

1934• It is one of the longest running ethnic festivals in the United States • Visit Niesiweek.org for more information about the festival +

Why is this important ?