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Hey SoCal! Every day, hundreds of tourists visit the small neighborhood in the depths of Downtown Los Angeles known as Little Tokyo. This Japanese American haven brings many forms of its Asian culture to the people of Southern California, through food, media, and clothing. We sent our photographer Jason Kentaro to capture some of the common views and attractions the area has to offer, such as the local Buddhist Temple, the Japanese American National Museum, and the central square, subtly designed to resemble a Zen Garden. Enjoy the visuals!
For more exploration of LA’s iconic enclaves, dance through K-Town with Mike Ciriaco‘s coverage of What the Float:
And later this year, Little Tokyo will hold its 80th Nisei Week, a week of Japanese American celebration, showcasing Japanese cultural events, food, and music. The event runs from August 13-21 after two years of hiatus.
Please read this excerpt from the Nisei Week website:
Dear Nisei Week Friends and Family,
On behalf of the Nisei Week Foundation, welcome to the 80th Nisei Week
Japanese Festival! It is with great pride that we present to you the much-anticipated return of our beloved festival to the streets of Little Tokyo.
The past two years marked only the second time that the Festival was not held. The first time was during World War II (1941-1948), when Japanese Americans were unjustly sent to U.S. incarceration camps. During both these times, Little Tokyo was affected by economic uncertainty as well as political and racial turmoil.
Over the last two years, Little Tokyo showed its resolve as our community rallied around each other creating programs to feed those affected by the shutdowns, offering grants, increasing patronage to our local businesses, and continuing to take a stand against hate, bigotry, and injustice.
As we gather, let this year’s Nisei Week be a memorable celebration as we emerge from these challenges. May our community and the Festival continue to persevere.
A special thank you goes to all of the sponsors, volunteers, community members, and board members who have worked tirelessly to bring Nisei Week back in-person for your enjoyment. We hope you all have a wonderful time and please remember to support our local businesses while you are visiting.
Thank you for your support and enjoy the 80th Nisei Week Japanese Festival.
Welcome back!
Time to connect with culture, SoCal!
