As LA’s Little Tokyo neighborhood celebrates its 140th year, there are concerns that it may not survive another 140. NBC Los Angeles' Gordon Tokumatsu reports.
It’s not like there isn’t a reason why lol I love LACITY proves it’s incompetence each year. Since the water wars the city has been to big to manage. Even if change is done it could take months (if it even gets through) because of bureaucratic push back between the city councils. For example what interest does Arleta have in improving this area? Doubt most visit there throughout the year. Easy way to lose a vote. Why would San Pedro vote in programs to help the Valley? Doubt most know it even exists. Meanwhile neighboring cities go along doing what they can because autonomy and smaller compared to LACITY. Just admit it, it’s time to break up LACITY! 0-0
@@shaggydawg5419 It’s more on the walls and the posts then streets but I know what you mean. I’m putting together a portfolio of pictures of public urination.
It's sad that all these Asian and other ethnic towns in LA are being erased and gentrified. I don't want overpriced hipster coffee shops and dispensaries in every street corner.
Same thing is happening on Olvera Street. The city LOVES to talk up these places, throwing in buzzwords like “historic,” “cultural,” “diversity,” giving out recognition awards, and encouraging others to “Go Metro” to take you there) but then they disappear and won’t lift a finger to actually help these businesses out. Instead, they make it harder on these legacy businesses to adhere to new, overreaching regulations (when they should be grandfathered it at this point).
It's not "overreaching regulation" ..they literally said the reason was higher rent & property prices that were forcing family businesses and residents out. Did you not watch the video?
@dostoveskiee We live in these communities. We know that it’s regulation that drives up commercial rent. The cities also demand new taxes and fees from landowners related to homeless housing and cleanup, but they fail to actually do anything about the homeless or the mess.
It baffles me that ppl refuse to see the connection between high rents in general and ppl not being able to afford to live in homes and thus becoming homeless. A lot of tone deaf ppl refusing to look at the causes and instead blame the victims. Cost of living has increased, but not pay, and ppl aren't able to spend as much eating out. These businesses need assistance as well as our middle and lower class.
@@carolyn888 baffles me that people forgot we shut down the world economy and forced everyone to stay indoors, wear masks and get an unregulated vaccine…… Then scratch their heads wondering why crime, inflation and homelessness has risen. It’s a clown show 🤡
Exactly, I live in torrance and have not visited down town in almost 20 years. Full of homeless and drug addicts. Last time traveled through that area I was stopped at a light an a man was defecating on the sidewalk out in the open.
2:26 even places like this in us and internationally where japanease growing their population outside of Japan faster then despite japanease popaultion chrisis
@@Icarus975 there's some apartments to I wanna say the left of the metro station. There's some older ones across from the newer apartments where I'm positive most of the local Lil Tokyo residents live.
Goes to Los Angeles and expects to see more japs than Mexicans who are Native American who lived in all of the American continent and Spanish who were the first europeans to arrive in what is Los Angeles and named it as, you want to see japs go to Japan.
I was born in L.A. I had to leave 18; years ago because of the economy I could just imagine how it is now. My favorite places to eat was in little Tokyo the food is fantastic. I hope and pray that everything goes well for the people who live and work there.
The LA Metro Regional Connector subway that opened in June 2023 has brought a lot more people to Little Tokyo with the new Little Tokyo station. It's right across the street from the Japanese museum. It's in a great location.
@@TheMandellaEffectbruh18 years ago I lived in Stockton right after the Bay Area and it was ghetto as fuck…I love my smaller whiter town and I’m Hispanic, 18 years ago I was 22 😂
Little Tokyo must be protected. I spent a great amount of my childhood here. Unfortunately, gentrification is pushing out those long time small businesses.
@@VoltairesRevenge why they dont invest affordable housing like nyc? only nyc has it, pay by 30 percent income , free water, light, gas,, many rooms..... lowest is $200 hhahahah
This sudden price uptick in LA strangely and subtley happened starting in 2012. First the San Fernando Valley (specifically North Hollywood then gradually westward to Van Nuys, Panorama City etc). Once landlords realized Hipsters/ and foreigners alike started moving into town in droves, the rent began rising: 10%, 15%, 25%. Btw, these markup tactics came from San Francisco just so you know. Anywsy, after Don the Con Trump moved into the White House in 2017, rent in LA virtually became the same as San Francisco. Literally Jumped up 350%. Unheard of!!! And despite COVID causing a minor exodus, These stingy Property owners are continuously Price Gouging a market that isn't even in demand. If they keep this up, Then interest rates will Never come down. I hate the Fed Reserve, but for once.. Jerome Powell is doing what's necessary because he knows it's not just ByeDumb or Drumpfs fault, nor exclusively big corporations; today It is from the bottom sector, Civilian Greed. Lack of math, lack of morality. Copycat Sheeps who raise prices because their alibi is inflation and supply & demand, when they have no idea how it actually works. Many businesses don't even have logistics issues and supply is ample, but will lie about it just so they can milk the cash cow Forever.. Jerome Powell won't say it but this is exactly Why interest rates will not come down. When a recession occurs (we're in it right now), Prices are supposed to go down- including rent, food, and energy... But it's artificially not thanks to uneducated greedy selfish morons who have no idea how economics work. Good luck fools, Interest rates will not come down... Not only that, You'll not be able to leave the country with the loot (if that's your filthy plan all along).
It's WAY better than it was in the 90s and early 00's, it's been gentrified so much since then, half of Spring Street and Broadway buildings were EMPTY, and all those apartments and condos south of 8th towards the arena did not exist!
Landlords love consistent tenants. It means they will get money. The price increases are simple responses to the owners’ own rising costs due to rising taxes, regulations, and new fees. CA voters think that when their favorite politician promises to “stick it to the landlords and corporations” that this won’t affect them somehow. What you’re seeing is just the results of that Leftist mentality: higher cost of living. If you just let people trade as they please you’d get an equilibrium between responsible owners and tenants, but it’s Cali so we never learn.
The problem is that these businesses aren't making money because the area is unsafe. And that's because Democrat policies do nothing to punish drug addicts and criminals.
@@d_all_in B.S. You likely do not even live in California. I know that these businesses are going out pf business because a tiny burger stand has to pay 30k a month on rent. Just from the way you frame your answer, I know that you personally do not know the facts and that you are listening to right wing propaganda and are pulling your so-called "facts" out of your nether regions!
I've been in LA for over 20 years and Nijiya, Marukai, Mitsuwa on westside is closer for me so barely go there. I love some of the little Tokyo stores but the parking is always the biggest hesitation. Almost impossible to find a street parking. I usually shop at Marukai and park there w validation. They used to have Mitsuwa at that building I was going there more often. Kouraku's tenshin fried rice is the best. Hope they will find a way to survive but need more parking structures.
Take the Metro. If you're on the Westside drive to the closest E Line station that has a parking lot and take the E line to the Little Tokyo station. It's a one seat ride now ever since the Regional Connector opened. I do the same thing, but from East LA. It's very convenient. You could use the opportunity to check out the other two new Regional Connector stations at Historic Broadway and Bunker Hill/Grand Ave.
I haven't visited in a while but I was always happy to see the ceramics shop on the first floor, and I hope they're still there. Probably been there longer than 20 years, maybe closer to 30 years.
They should relocate to Torrance or San Gabriel. Don't putt up with incompetent politicians who don't appreciate your contributions to the economy. Even K-Town is going downhill with all the smash and grabs and tents and crime
Both communities in Torrance and dtla co exist. And this is not a political problem. This is a problem with greedy landlords and high rent- which is still a problem in Torrance/San Gabriel
I moved out of Central LA back to the SGV and I don’t go back often. If I crave Japanese food I usually drive to Torrance so I can enjoy the beach rather than homeless people. Had 2 very crazy encounters with homeless in Little Tokyo.
I use to go to Little Tokyo every chance I got growing up in Los Angeles. There are many great restaurants, bakeries, and things to do & see. But I had to move out of California, prices on everything went sky-high, and with the high crime, high taxes, high rents, freeways that go nowhere. I remember, we use to call them parking lots. Because there's too many cars in California and your going no where come rush hour. It's not the California I remember growing up... 😞
That’s not what inflation is. Inflation is only caused by adding too much currency to the money supply. In 2021 we added trillions more digitally, on top of what was added due to the pandemic stimulus. Or do you think that corporations stop being greedy when inflation is low, and then get greedy again when it goes up?
Chain restaurants charge $14 for a 2 piece chicken meal that barely qualifies as a "meal". I can't begin to imagine how much its for rent on a studio apartment...
Just a block over is skid row, could understand why it's trying to stay alive. Should just relocate to another city where it's cleaner & less homeless.
Property owners pay huge taxes. Property owners have lost so much money by not being able to evict non paying tenants. Too many people, too few places to live in. Illegal immigration spiking up housing demand doesn't help.
Save the Enclave! Spend your money in Little Tokyo! Go to museum walk the strip buy from little book stores and eat at coffee shops and restaurants you never tried before spread the wealth around the neighborhood. Demand protection the US Gov destabilized the neighborhood when they put its citizens in Concentration camps LA gov should give special protection status to linage owned shops restaurants and housings.
Koreans in KTown don't have this problem because Koreans own a lot of the properties there and KTown LA is nearly thirty or forty times the size of Little Tokyo LA
And K-Town has only been around since the 70s where Little Tokyo has been around since the early 1900s. Koreatown is huge because Koreans open every single business you can think of even pizza parlors, burger and taco joints, sushi restaurants, Brazilian BBQ and many other ethnic restaurants.
@@chasedownblocks1736, not just that but Koreans have been emigrating to the US in large droves since the 1960’s while most Japanese stayed since Japan was experiencing an economic boom
@@blackbelt2000 , South Korea is also facing the same economic stagnation with its low birth rate but there’s a sizable Korean community in the US which is why many are still emigrating; the networking is easier
For me, when the shabu shabu house, which I’ve gone to for decades, closed down as owner retired, I haven’t been to little tokyo since and frankly not sure when will visit again
Originally they were closing down, I spoke to owner before he did, but had a friend that recently stopped by and looks like it will be under new management now with remodeling going now, so gonna check in couple of months myself
oh shut the fk up. It doesn't matter who who is in office. Once you realize any leader, regardless of the political, social, religious, or ethnic background, NONE of them do any help for the people. NO politician is good. NONE OF THEM.
@83delgado then you'd be surprised to find out most of us aren't governor Gavin Newsom. You're acting like if I could just get up, put away my phone and get rid of skidrow and homeless 😂
@@bloodshotred6334 I can smell salty Democrat voters in the comments. This state is giving alcohol and drug kits to the homeless and creating a problem.
Little Tokyo and even Chinatown have not been represented by Japanese and Chinese for over 40 years. These areas had deteriorated near downtown long ago. The residents and business had located to South bay and San Gabriel Valley respectively. I am not sure downtown still attracted tourist with all the homeless.
Best and safest way to visit is parking in the Music Center ($10 Disney Hall garage) and walk 20 minutes to Little Tokyo and see the sights along the way. Bunker Hill area is also relativesly clean and safe for walking/hiking.
Last time I took my teen daughters there for the stores.... My daughters were creeped out by all the "zombies" laughing ranting walking up and down those streets , plus one decided to squat and go bathroom in middle of the streets ... And that was and will be the last time we ever go there
Little Tokyo should be the last thing to leave LA. I went to Chinatown and Koreatown, but little Tokyo was the best one out of the three. Getting rid of little Tokyo is like getting rid of the whole point of LA which was it was a melting pot of all different cultures and had all the movie stars. Get rid of little Tokyo and you’re getting rid of the cultural part which is the best part.
I’m an LA resident. It’s the result of where they are situated. For example Koreatown sits in the middle of the city, one of the busiest areas on any given weekday. Weekends are busier. Your argument that it was a melting pot is a bit inaccurate. Most of the big commercial areas of LA are a melting pot. Chinatown abuts big pockets of Mexican/Latin markets and businesses. koreatown, similar. Little Tokyo abuts one of the biggest, if not the biggest homeless communities in America. It’s near the arts district but that’s a different vibe and bit separated. As for your but about movie stars, have 0 clue what you’re saying. I’ve never seen a celebrity down in Little Tokyo but then again, they’re everywhere here. You can run into one and wouldn’t even bat an eye.
I'm a lefty generally speaking, but we can't take care of ALL of the homeless that come to LA. Seriously, if you go volunteer more than half the homeless are from out of STATE.
It’s statistically much less than half who are from out of state. And that’s consistent with the population of LA generally. Tons of people move here to CA to follow their dreams.
Gee. I wonder why small businesses are failing in California. And on top of that, it's in LA. Surely has nothing to do with years of compounding bad policies causing a domino effect of unsustainability.
I wonder who will rent those new shops that the restaurant owners are getting evicted from. Can't imagine them finding new tenants anytime soon because who can afford to move in apart from big business, but than how will those big business get customers if everyone is moving out.
Little Osaka in West LA, Gardena and North Torrance still have vibrant Japanese business districts. Little Tokyo is challenged due to the prevailing street conditions downtown.
As rents go up, the businesses that survive would tend to deal in high value but compact items like designer eyewear. There can only be so many eyeglass stores in JTown. I suspect some businesses might migrate to Sawtelle. Their existing customers would not follow them to Sawtelle but they possibly can attract a new clientele there.
This Tokyo haven't had developed unlike real Tokyo, because of the government, but had gotten increased the tax and rents. Hope customers will come back.
No bathrooms, and everything is expensive in that Little Tokyo plaza. Plus those restaurants are all filled with waiting lists. I tried to din at the restaurants but didn’t want to take an hour to two hours to be seated
I live in LA. Dont let the size fool you, but LA has been so stagnent for yrs. Yes, there is construction going on but theres really no population growth. Either remodels, rehabs, flipping, expansions or tearing down one to build another but the population, as big as it is, seems to remain the same.
I've been getting my hair cut at City Hair since I came out to LA at the turn of the century and would be devastated if they had to leave the area because of this. Fugetsudo is also my mother's main place to get mochi when she visits. 🥺
Yes, it has changed , I remember 1980 there wasn’t much but the people made the place beautiful . The small business are now closed with new hello kitty or some trendy new stuff. The people are what make it. Frank Martinez. Downey California 😅
my father was one of the original investors, he wanted this to be built in Costa Mesa, where all the Japanese people live, and with the rising rents all the business will flee
I don't see how Costa Mesa is any more sustainable, people pay thousands just to rent a room out there. And whenever I've been it's majority white americans and foreign europeans living there. The asian community of OC is based in Irvine.
Watch the video? It's funny that video excluded the rising crime rate and homelessness in that particular area, yet they want you to focus on the finances.
@@Dtitilator They excluded that because its the direct thing that matters. You bring up "homelessness and crime rates" because they tend to affect property prices but in this case greater economic forces are pricing these people out. Your comment clearly makes no sense because the retailers and restaurants arent leaving due to their choice but because of being priced out. How about you try having a theory which matches the data.
They've been building lots of housing in Little Tokyo but it's not enough. There simply isn't enough housing in the area so the long-time residents are forced to compete with vacancies with new arrivals. They could pedestrianize some of those horrendously wide streets that cut through Little Tokyo and build high rises on that land.
Everyone is being priced out of their Cultural, Historic Communities all over the country. Little Havana is suffering from displacement and gentrification and those of Cuban descent are being pushed out, just like the Japanese of Little Tokyo and or the Latinos of Echo Park, Highland Park, and I'm sure China Town and many others all over the country are feeling it as well. These small businesses don't make that much money, but it was enough to make a comfortable life for their families. Most if not, all didn't have and don't have the money to own the land. And over time companies that don't give a damn about the Culture took over and like always have put dollars before history. I've always loved J-TOWN. I may not be Japanese but even in the 90s I used to think this place must be protected.
I went to that museum once. Said donations are welcome. The guard made people donate before they walked in. We had no money so we just left. Not gonna get shook down at a museum.
Brings tears to my eyes 😢 I use to visit little Tokyo anytime I could as a youngster… even though it’s just a few blocks long I loved what it had to offer.. hopefully when I come back to California, Little Tokyo will still be intact 😊
i drove one block over from japan town not knowing it was SKID ROW. Always have GPS on and avoid sketchy places. The homesless were throwing rocks at my car
Some of the best Japanese food I’ve had was in Little Tokyo. There are still some old business there including my eye doctor, I hope they can make it and stay.
please PLEASE don’t let anything happen to Little Tokyo it’s my favorite place in the whole city. been hanging out there since 2012, idk what i would do if anything ever happened to it
I'm still unable to make sense of both gentrification and homelessness increasing in the same neighborhood. Do the wealthier newcomers expect the homeless folks simply to leave?
The middle class is leaving or becoming poor due to CA politics. Mid-level business owners were the most likely to leave the State due to its draconian Covid rules (which baffled Adam Silver and were not based on anything other than Newsom’s hatred for small business owners, the driving demographic behind the recall attempt.) When there’s no upper-middle class, you have to sell to the rich, and rich people like getting prime real estate at a relative bargain. They don’t mind homeless people because they rarely have to interact with them and their homes have walls and gates.
Most people would rather mask the symptoms (harass them, arrest them, drive them just a little bit further away) than deal with the root cause, because if they did, they'd have to accept the reality that their gentrification is actively contributing to the homelss crisis.
There’s no middle class to rent to. The rich don’t mind fewer riffraff around so a stagnating population doesn’t bother them. And the poor people and immigrants filling the gap means cheap labor.
Little Tokyo is disappearing. I went there and asked 'is there anything Japanese in Little Tokyo' anymore? Outloud! I haven't been there in a long time. An employee in Spitz, which is NOT a Japanese restaurant, replied 'of course there and pointed to 'Yoboseyo' across 2nd street, in the heart of Little Tokyo and I told her 'that's Korean!' The caucasian young woman froze. In fact, most of the Asian restaurants aren't Japanese anymore. What's going on?! Gentrification? Cultural appropriation that's distorted, maybe even... whitewashed it I dont know... it's baffling. I remember going there as a child, taken by my dad to see the Japanese parades down 1st in the 70s. In the 80s through the 90s, it was so great, you really felt like you were in Tokyo. Now... !? It's not just geeky manga you know. It's much more. In fact, the Japanese demographic seems to be diminishing across all of Los Angeles. When's the last time you actually ran across a Japanese person, either Japanese American or recent immigrant or tourist. I'm a month late on this video but so glad NBCLA noticed and pointed this. Sad. And one strong element is the gentrification that occurs in Asian communities, even Chinatown. Howlin' Wolf. Oh that's Chinese right? There are other snooty joints where there were Chinese restaurants. I remember going deep into Chinatown with a buddy, after late night office work, and finding these really amazing authentic Chinese restaurants. Gone.
