Little Tokyo History

 

 

 

 LA Herald Examiner (June 17, 1942):

“Little Tokio [sic, although commonly used then], the once teeming business center in the heart of the city, today is undergoing an amazing transformation with Nipponese vestiges disappearing rapidly and a new life beginning to unfold. Formerly a beehive of thousands of busy shoppers, the huge Tomio department store on East First Street has its last sale as Americans take over the district.”

"The Ginza Market was another business located in the Tomio building which stood at 314 E. First Street. The building was substantially altered in later years." (See current photo of Mitsuru Grill and Eigikutei)

The media apparently did not elaborate on why Nipponese were "disappearing rapidly." And to refer to "Americans" taking over, as if there weren't plenty of American citizens within the Japanese community.