The Little Tokyo Historical Society will launch its first publication, Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo, on Sunday, November 21st, from 1:00 and 3:00 P.M. at St. Francis Xavier Chapel Japanese Catholic Center (Maryknoll), which is located at 222 South Hewitt Street, Los Angeles, 90012. This free event is open to the public and will include a short presentation featuring Little Tokyo icons who will discuss their memories and thoughts about Little Tokyo. Refreshments from some of Little Tokyo’s businesses will follow.

Los Angeles’s Little Tokyo (Arcadia Publishing) provides a broad pictorial view of Little Tokyo’s history, including the themes of work and enterprise, community and traditions, war and the Bronzeville era, sports, and the creative arts. The Little Tokyo Historical Society held photo-sharing days to encourage the public to bring in photographs and stories of Little Tokyo. Historical Society members scanned and digitally archived images taken from the early 1900s through 2010. Most pictures in the book previously have not been shown to the public and provide rarely seen views of people’s lives. Among the images included in the book are photographs from the renowned Toyo Miyatake Studio that Alan and Archie Miyatake generously donated, the Japanese American National Museum, the Los Angeles Public Library, and the newly created Little Tokyo Historical Society Archives.

For information concerning ordering the book, please contact Deanna Matsumoto at deanna.matsumoto@gmail.com. Membership to the all-volunteer Little Tokyo Historical Society (under the umbrella of the Little Tokyo Service Center) is open to any individuals that are interested, and any donations are tax-deductible. For more information please contact Bill Watanabe at the Little Tokyo Service Center, (213) 473-1665 or Deanna Matsumoto, (626) 445-7191.