My early J-Town memories
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These are some of the sites that still exist in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo that I have fond memories of while growing up. Actually, we never used the name Little Tokyo in reference to the area. Saying it still feels unnatural to my mouth. To me, in my heart it will always be J-Town. For me J-Town represents family. Go through this collection, and you'll get a sense of why... [note: I'll be adding more to this collection over time. I need to go take some more photos and go through older ones to scan] *You can read about some of my other J-Town memories in my article: A Yonsei's Reflections...on J-Town Memories
Slides in this album |
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Little Tokyo TowersWhen I was about 4 or 5 years old, my paternal grandmother moved from Silver Lake to Little Tokyo Towers. It's a senior housing complex on Third Street. They live independently in small apartments. I remember visiting her and going up the elevator. I can't recall exactly what floor she …
Conservancy Walking Tour: Little Tokyo Towers |
lthistory
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JACCC and the James Irvine GardenFrom Little Tokyo Towers, we would take my Oba-chan out to dinner. We would walk through a shortcut path that passed by the JACCC's Japanese garden. I've actually only been inside the garden a few times, but I've passed by it a lot, and since it sits a little below …
James Irvine Garden |
jdecker
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JACCC PlazaWe would walk across the JACCC Plaza past the Isamu Noguchi sculptures. Actually, growing up, I didn't know the plaza was designed by Noguchi. I just thought that they were really cool rocks. I wonder what Noguchi would think to know that people don't recognize them as art and that …
Isamu Noguchi sculptures |
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JVPAfter walking through the JACCC Plaza, we would cross Second Street at the crosswalk and head through the Japanese Village Plaza (JVP). They have a variety of shops and restaurants. Many have changed owners over time, but there's a few that have been around for a long time.
LTHS Walking Tour: JVP |
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MikawayaThis is one of the stores that have been at this location for quite a while now. Mikawaya sells manju and other Japanese sweets. They're also really busy on hot days because they have shaved ice. One of my cousins has worked at Mikawaya for a long time now. I …
Mikawaya in the Japanese Village Plaza |
vkm
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YaguraAt the end of JVP (or at the beginning if you're walking through from First Street) is the yagura, or fire tower. I'm pretty sure it's purely decorative, but it is very iconic.
Japanese Village Plaza Fire Tower in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo |
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Aoi RestaurantI don't remember us going to eat anywhere except for Aoi Restaurant on First Street. I've been going there since I was a little kid, and it always feels a little like coming home whenever I step inside. I couldn't even think of trying to figure out how many meals …
Aoi Restaurant |
Oshogatsu 2021
My Collection of Daruma
Seattle Japanese Garden
Mitsuwa Natsu Matsuri 2007
Kubota Garden
Exploring My Family "Garden"
My early J-Town memories
My Hinamatsuri
My Oshogatsu 2007
National Cherry Blossom Festival 2005
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