Uyeda Department Store
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These are a collection of pictures about the Uyeda Department Store and the current owner Satoru Uyeda. His father founded the business in 1945 following the family's release from the Manzanar internment camp. It has been an integral part of the community for the last 60 years. In the early years of the store, it was a hub where Japanese-Americans would come from far and wide to buy their Japanese goods--from toys to hardware to clothing. In other words, it was a Japanese version of Target. Satoru took ownership of the business in 1992 following the passing of his father. Today, the store specializes in Japanese ethnic goods and caters to a more specific audience.
Slides in this album |
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Satoru with Maneki Neko and DarumaThis is Satoru Uyeda standing at the front counter with several Maneki Neko and Daruma dolls. The Maneki Neko is a good luck charm and the Daruma doll is a wish doll. The Maneki Neko with the left paw raised--as is the case with all the cats in the picture--is …
Satoru with Maneki Neko and Daruma |
gmoran
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Original Sign - JapaneseThis was a sign that hanged in the store when Satoru's father was the owner of the store. In Japanese, it says, "Anything that you need, you can buy it here" followed by "Uyeda Department Store".
Original Sign - Japanese |
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Front of the StoreThis is the front of Uyeda Department store with a few of the clothing items available for purchase in the window.
Front of the Store |
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Hanging wall scrollThis is an image of a sampling of the objects that are found in the back of the store.
Hanging wall scroll |
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Original Sign (English)This is the original sign that hung outside of the store when it opened in 1945.
Original Sign (English) |
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JubanPerhaps the item in most abundance in the department store was kimono. Both men's and women's kimono litter the store and this is an example of the kind of variety one can find in the store itself. |
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Japanese DollThis is an example of one of the many Japanese goods to be found in the Uyeda Department store. This item was not for sale and was part of a small collection located on the bottom floor. In the early days of the department store, this floor would have housed …
Japanese Doll |
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Example of table from original storeExample of table from original store [unpublished] This is one of the original tables that Satoru's father had in his store when he opened it in 1945. An example of how it would have looked in the store can be seen elsewhere in the collection.
Example of table from original store |
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Volunteer of the Year 2008 AwardThis is the award presented to Satoru for his part in the neighborhood watch and other activities that have contributed to increases in safety that Little Tokyo has seen over the last 10 years.
Volunteer of the Year 2008 Award |
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Golden FanThis is an example of the items available for sale in the department store. There are many uniquely Japanese items in the store, but this fan--on display in the front of the store--is perhaps the most visually arresting.
Golden Fan |
Part of these albums
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Little Tokyo Community Profiles
mpitelka
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Uyeda Department Store 
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