Save Little Tokyo!
Stop the erasure of our historic community!
First Street North is at risk. Located behind Japanese American National Museum, Far Bar, Fugetsu-Do, and more, First Street North is one of the last 3 remaining pieces of land that can be controlled by the community — or sold off to the highest bidders if the city doesn’t hear our voice.
Updates!
Rafu Shimpo articles by Kenji Lui
- "City Council OKs Expansion of Go For Broke Ground Lease"
- "Fate of Little Tokyo's First Street North to Be Determined This Year"
Historic Heart of Little Tokyo
First Street North is home to some of our most important cultural institutions, legacy businesses, and historic sites—and we could lose them all to rising rent and gentrification.
- Little Tokyo Historic District—the only historically designated part of Little Tokyo
- Japanese American National Museum
- Go For Broke National Education Center and Monument
- Union Center of the Arts—home to East West Players, Visual Communications, Tuesday Night Cafe, and LA Artcore
- Fugetsu-Do—est. 1903, the oldest operating business in Little Tokyo
- Two historic trees: Aoyama Tree and sibling tree to Sunny the 150-year old Grapefruit Tree!
- and many more vital cultural and community spaces
Why Little Tokyo Matters
- Little Tokyo is 135 years old, 1 of 3 remaining Japantowns in the nation, and the second oldest neighborhood in Los Angeles.
- LT community has already survived multiple waves of displacement and redevelopment, including the WWII Japanese American incarceration camps.
Our Community Vision
Over 200+ community members created the Sustainable Little Tokyo Community Vision to ensure a healthy, equitable, and culturally rich Little Tokyo for generations to come.
- 200+ units of affordable housing
- 20,000 sq.ft of affordable commercial space & 75,000 sq.ft office space
- 40,000 sq.ft of community & cultural space
- Integrate and expand Go For Broke National Education Center with veteran housing
- 1.9 acres of green space/parks, sustainable building practices
What You Can Do!
- Sign the petition: bit.ly/savelittletokyo
- Write a letter or tag @JoseHuizar and @EricGarcetti
- Educate yourself at sustainablelittletokyo.org/fsn
- Make a friend do the same and spread the word!
- Share your FSN stories, memories, questions, and facts: #MYFSN.
