Commemoration of the 130th Anniversary of Little Tokyo, 1884-2014
Throughout 2014, the Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) will observe a year-long celebration of the 130th anniversary of Little Tokyo, which had its origin in 1884 with the establishment of a humble restaurant, Kame, at
340 East First Street.
To celebrate the rich historic and cultural heritage and legacy of historic Little Tokyo, we invite organizations and individuals who are passionately interested in the past, present and future Little Tokyo to co-partner in developing anniversary presentations, oral histories, community photo share activity, exhibitions, and intergenerational activities. Planning meetings are the 1st Saturday of the month at 11:30 AM-12:30 PM and are open to the public.
LTHS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization that focuses on researching and discovering the historical resources, stories, and connections of sites, buildings, and events related to Little Tokyo as an ethnic heritage neighborhood. LTHS is committed to documenting and verifying history of locales, sites, and buildings, as well as preserving and sharing the history and personal stories of Little Tokyo and its residents.
For more information about the 130th Little Tokyo birthday observance including volunteering, membership, and donating, please visit www.littletokyohs.org or contact Michael Okamura, President, at littletokyohs@gmail.com or 626-840-8409.
Image: Joe and Elmer Suski stand with their "bowl" haircuts, circa 1920. Joe and Elmer played with one of the first organized sports leagues in Little Tokyo called the Oliver Club, established in 1917 by Nellie Grace Oliver. Digitized by the Little Tokyo Historical Society.