Growing up in Little Tokyo in Los Angeles was a lot of fun. Japanese American and Mexican American children played together in the alleys across the street from the hotels and apartments on Azusa Street located in the heart of Little Tokyo. It ran from San Pedro Street to the garage on the end of the street followed by the Pure Pack building and then Central Street. Azusa Street is still there but long gone are the original buildings. On one side of Azusa Street is the rear of several shops and on the other side is the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center.
In the mid-fifties, roll…