Little Tokyo Community Profiles - 2010

April 26, 2010 - June 28, 2010

In the Spring of 2010, Discover Nikkei partnered with Professor Morgan Pitelka of Occidental College and his students taking the seminar “Japanophilia: Orientalism, Nationalism, Transnationalism” on a meaningful community-based documentation project. The students interviewed owners of five long-time Little Tokyo businesses to write ten articles and create five albums in the Nikkei Album. Articles will be posted one each week on successive Mondays.

This project is a follow-up to the 2009 Little Tokyo Community Profiles series.

Stories from this series

Early History of the Rafu Shimpo

May 17, 2010 • David Wagner

The Rafu Shimpo has been in print for over 100 years. During the course of that time, it has gone through many hardships caused by both economic and social troubles, yet still runs to this day. After an interview with Michael Komai and reading the Rafu Shimpo’s 90th anniversary issue, I have written a concise history of the Rafu Shimpo from its beginning up to its initial closing during World War II. Before the Rafu Shimpo had come to fruition …

California generations immigrants immigration Issei Japan Japanese language newspapers Little Tokyo Los Angeles media migration newspapers Nikkei media Rafu Shimpo (newspaper) United States

Mitsuru Grill, 316 First Street

May 10, 2010 • Stephanie Varela

Mamoru Hanamura sips his tall water glass full of hot, red tea, exhales slowly and says, “They used to teach me so many things. When I had a problem, I always had somebody.” Speaking of past friends, mentors and fellow members of the Issei generation, his gaze shifts towards the window that faces out onto First street as he mentions that many of his past customers and neighbors have passed away now. Yet Hanamura remains optimistic. After 34 years running …

business California economics food Little Tokyo Los Angeles management restaurants United States

Rafu Bussan Inc: A Long-Lasting Gift for Little Tokyo

May 3, 2010 • Janelle Curtis

One of the most historical landmarks in Little Tokyo is Rafu Bussan Inc., a large, beautifully arranged store that stocks fine, embellished merchandise including grand vases, decorated kitchenware, traditional dolls, delicate hashi (chopsticks), and many other items that exemplify Japanese gifts. Located on 2nd Street in the district, the store has a rich history that displays the dedication and passion for serving the Little Tokyo community. Starting from peddler roots over 50 years ago, Yukio Tanaka and Junichi Onishi as …

business California economics Little Tokyo Los Angeles management Rafu Bussan United States

Koraku Restaurant: Making it in America

April 26, 2010 • Jacy Yoshimoto

Situated on East 2nd St. in Little Tokyo, Koraku Restaurant’s bright orange and white signs, with their bold, black letters and Japanese characters, are difficult to miss. While its first two characters are in hiragana, the last character of the restaurant’s name is the Japanese kanji symbol, which stands for “joy” or “relief”. In Japanese, the word “kouraku” itself means “outing” or “pleasure trip”. With its laid-back atmosphere and friendly staff, not to mention its delicious food, Koraku definitely lives …

California food generations immigrants immigration Issei Japan Japanese food Koraku Restaurant Little Tokyo Los Angeles migration noodles postwar ramen restaurants Shin-Issei United States World War II

Authors in This Series

Janelle Curtis @curtisj

Janelle Curtis was born in Colorado and is currently an Occidental College student graduating in the class of 2011. Her mother is Japanese American and her father is African American. She is double majoring in Economics and Asian Studies with an emphasis on Japan.

Updated April 2010

Jonathan Gartrelle @jgartrelle

Jonathan Gartrelle is 21 years old, African American. He is a Junior majoring in Japanese and Chinese Language at Occidental College. He is a New York City Native. He works at the Daycare Center during the week, and this summer he will be interning at The Asia Society in NYC. He would classify himself as an avid fan of Japanese culture. He has traveled to Japan four times, once with a school and three times independently. He has studied the language for six years, three in highschool and three in college. He hopes to live overseas in Japan after school and study the language more intensely.

Updated June 2010

Alexander LaRose @adlarose

Alexander LaRose is a sophomore Economics major at Occidental College, who is also pursuing a minor in Asian Studies. Last summer he completed a research project on the Japanese economic crisis of the 1980's and 1990's under the guidance of Occidental professor Dr. Morgan Pitelka. Alexander's academic interests lie in both economics and history. Studying the confluence of economic and historical events is of particular interest to him.

Updated May 2010

David Minguez @minguez

David Minguez was born and raised in Los Angeles County, and is a junior at Occidental College majoring in Asian Studies. Outside of class David is a part of the Occidental track and field team as a pole vaulter, 400 hurdler, long jumper, and Javelin thrower. David is also an avid food lover and in his free time enjoys cooking and eating.

Updated May 2010

Vedette Philip @Vedette

Vedette is currently a Junior majoring in Asian Studies at Occidental College. Originally from New York, she traveled across the country to California to experience something different, then later studied abroad in Japan to experience something new. Adventurous and seemingly carefree, she's fascinated by nature but abhors the insects involved with the matter. She is set to graduate May 2011.

Updated June 2010

Katrina Senn @katrinas

Katrina Senn, 21, is currently a senior at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California. A bi-lingual French and English speaker, Katrina is an Asian Studies major studying Japanese language and culture. As a student, she studied abroad for one year at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan, where she plans to return next year on the JET Program.

Updated May 2010

Kent Taroh Tonozuka @ktonozuka

Kent Taroh Tonozuka, 22, is a senior at Occidental College majoring in Asian Studies with an emphasis on Japanese Language. He is a Nisei Japanese American born and raised in San Francisco. He has recently studied abroad in Kyoto and hopes to return there soon. Kent aims to pursue a career in Japanese to English translation but is also interested in writing short stories in Japanese.

Updtaed June 2010

Stephanie Varela @stephvarela

Stephanie Varela is a senior English and Comparative Literary Studies major at Occidental College and a native Angelino who specializes in Nabokov studies. Although she hasn’t had previous experience with Asian Studies, she has thoroughly enjoyed her experiences working with the Japanese American National Museum and the businesses of Little Tokyo.

Updated April 2010

David Wagner @tomatohead213

David Wagner was born and raised in Los Angeles. During middle school and high school, he moved around to many different neighborhoods. After graduating high school, he came to Occidental College, where he is currently working on his Asian Studies major.

Updated May 2010

Jacy Yoshimoto @yoshimoto

Jacy Yoshimoto is a sophomore currently attending Occidental College and plans to major in East Asian Studies. Next year she hopes to study abroad in Japan. Jacy is from Kaneohe, Hawaii and a graduate of Iolani School.