Established in 1884, Little Tokyo endured over a century of adversities, including the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, demolition and construction, gentrification, and urban renewal. The neighborhood is central to the Japanese American community, which fought to designate one block of the commercial corridor as a National Historic Landmark in the 1990s.  Today, Little Tokyo is home to over 400 small businesses, including about fifty legacy businesses, but the community continues to fight to preserve its neighborhood. 

With other partners from the Sustainable Little Tokyo coalition, the Japanese American National Museum and Little Tokyo Community Council led a joint effort to receive the designation. Organizations like the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, JANM, the Little Tokyo Community Council, and the Little Tokyo Service Center form the Sustainable Little Tokyo coalition to shape a community vision that protects the neighborhood’s culture, residents, and businesses. Residents, business owners, and supporters also seek a voice in infrastructure projects to prioritize Little Tokyo’s culture and preservation. 

Attention, support, and investment in initiatives like the LA Legacy Business program, the Little Tokyo Community Investment Fund, and a potential cultural district program could help protect the people, places, and institutions that make Little Tokyo distinct and irreplaceable.