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ABOUT THE LITTLE TOKYO BUSINESS ASSOCTION
The merchants, businesses and professional people who comprise the Little Tokyo Business Association are dedicated to maintaining a vibrant and vital community. The LTBA works in cooperation with the Community Redevelopment Agency, Los Angeles City Council and other local and statewide organizations to promote Little Tokyo and share its rich and multi-faceted culture.
Little Tokyo Business Association
244 S. San Pedro St., #303
Los Angeles,CA 90012
phone: (213) 620-0570 fax: (213) 625-0943
FRANCES K. HASHIMOTO
PRESIDENT, 1994-present
Membership
130
Email
info@visitlittletokyo.com
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OUR BEGINNINGS
The roots of the Little Tokyo Business Association can be traced back to 1890. The LTBA received its 501.4(c) non-profit designation in 1959 in the state of California.
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ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS
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A.
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Works closely with Community Redevelopment Agency and Little Tokyo Community Development Advisory Committee toward building Little Tokyo into a thriving and vital area for merchants, workers, residents, temples and churches, and other groups.
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B.
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Maintains liaison with city officials and government agencies.
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C.
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Assists the Office of the Consul General of Japan whenever requested.
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D.
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Oversees Little Tokyo’s first official Business Improvement District in cooperation with the Los Angeles City Council to improve anti-crime programs, promote cleanliness, and support business activities by providing marketing support for merchants, professionals, and non-profit organizations.
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E.
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Publishes and distributes 100,000 brochures promoting the Little Tokyo area to other parts of Southern California, including hotels, airports, and tourist centers.
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F.
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Publishes bi-monthly “Little Tokyo page” in The Rafu Shimpo.
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G.
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Established alliance with Pure O2 shopping center in Los Angeles’ sister city, Nagoya, Japan.
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H.
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Organizes annual Hanamatsuri clean-up in cooperation with the Buddhist Federation and supports other clean-up programs in Little Tokyo.
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I.
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Actively supports all Nisei Week Festival events, which LTBA members helped found in 1934.
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J.
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Holds annual golf tournament to raise money for LTBA’s numerous community programs.
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K.
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Co-sponsors public forums, including recent meetings with the Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton and Anti-Terrorism Task Force Director
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L.
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Maintains a key role in the Little Tokyo Community Council.
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M.
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Provides holiday decorations for Little Tokyo area.
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N.
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Meets monthly to discuss community issues.
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O.
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Holds annual New Year party and general membership meeting each January.
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P.
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Sponsors guided tours to educate students and others about the history of Little Tokyo.
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Q.
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Published “100 Years of Little Tokyo in Photographs” in 1984 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the area’s founding.
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R.
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Continues alliance with Pure O2 shopping center in Los Angeles’ sister city, Nagoya, Japan.
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S.
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Supports Little Tokyo events, such as the annual Orchid Show at the New Otani Hotel, Oshogatsu festivities on January 1, and the annual food festival.
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T.
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Supports other community organizations, including the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California, Japanese American National Museum, Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, Buddhist Federation, Little Tokyo Service Center, Little Tokyo Public Safety Association, and the Nisei Week Foundation.
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AWARDS
The LTBA has been honored by virtually every government agency as well as numerous elected officials at the city, county, state, and federal levels.
The LTBA has also been presented with awards from other organizations in recognition of its role in working toward the betterment of the community.
CHRONOLOGY OF THE ORGANIZATION
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1885
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First business established in Little Tokyo a small restaurant near First and Los Angeles Streets operated by an ex-seaman known as Kame.
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1890 - 1915
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Japanese Association of Los Angeles was formed around 1890. Made up primarily of Issei business owners, the association functioned as the local arm of the San Francisco-based Japanese Consulate until 1915.
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1908
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Over 40 businesses were established along the two block stretch on East First Street between Los Angeles Street an Central Avenue. Despite passage of the Exclusion Act of 1924, which restricted all immigration from Japan, Little Tokyo began to thrive. The Japanese Association became the leading community organization.
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1934
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Issei merchants worried that English-speaking Nisei were shopping at hakujin stores downtown and drifting away from their culture. Young members of the Downtown Japanese American Citizens League approached the Issei with the idea of a festival to stimulate business, and the Nisei Week Festival was born. The Downtown JACL Professional and Businessmen’s Association, an off-shoot of the Japanese Association and forerunner of the Little Tokyo Business Association, was designated to guide the festival on behalf of the merchants.
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1947
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After the forced evacuation during World War II, the Japanese resettled in Southern California. The LTBA re-emerged to help develop and revitalize Little Tokyo. Another group, the Los Angeles Japanese American Association was formed in September 1947 to help protect persons of Japanese ancestry.
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1949
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The Downtown JACL Professional and Businessmen’s Association was given the responsibility of re-establishing Nisei Week with the help of all of the other organizations in the community. Proceeds were put into a community center building fund.
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1950
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The Professional and Businessmen’s Association separated from the Downtown JACL and became known as the Little Tokyo Businessmen’s Association.
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1951
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The Japanese American Association and the Little Tokyo Businessmen’s Association merged and became the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Southern California.
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1957
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Chamber of Commerce president Mitsuhiko Shimizu decided to separate the functions of the Chamber and the Businessmen’s Association (which became known as the Little Tokyo Merchants Association.)
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1961
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The Little Tokyo Merchants Association and the Chamber continued to work together to preserve Little Tokyo by convincing government officials to re-zone the area, allowing for residential and other uses.
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1969
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Mayor Sam Yorty officially established the Little Tokyo Community Development Advisory Committee, with LTBA members taking active roles to protect the interests of local merchants.
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1984
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The LTBA published “100 Years of Little Tokyo in Photographs” to commemorate the community’s centennial.
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2001
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The LTBA created a promotional brochure and distributes 100,000 brochures per year to outlying areas, including airports and hotels.
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2003
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The LTBA won approval from the Los Angeles City Council to establish the Little Tokyo Business Improvement District in July 2003 to provide funding for anti-crime efforts, cleanup, and marketing.
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