The Little Tokyo Historical Society held its 2025 Shinnenkai on March 1 at the Japanese American National Museum’s Democracy Lab.
LTHS President Mike Okamura gave an overview of the organization’s activities over the past year. Vice President Miya Iwataki served as emcee.
The main speaker was Kristen Hayashi, director of collections management and access at JANM, who gave a presentation on “Preserving Family Artifacts.”
Jeffrey Gee Chin announced the publication of a new edition of “A Rebel’s Outcry,” a biography of Issei civil rights leader Sei Fuji.
Artist Nancy Uyemura discussed her 2024 exhibition at LA Artcore in Little Tokyo.
Bill Watanabe showed a replica of a recently installed sign designating Kouraku as the nation’s oldest continuously operating ramen restaurant.
David Nagano talked about the Koban on First Street, which serves as Little Tokyo’s visitor center.
Iwataki gave an update on Imagine Little Tokyo, the annual short story contest, which will be held again this year.
Jerry Nakafuji gave a membership pitch and the toast was led by Yukio Kawaratani and Hal Keimi.
Lunch was curated by Far Bar. The event also included a raffle.
The Shinnenkai was followed by a screening of Sessue Hayakawa’s 1919 silent film “The Dragon Painter” in the Tateuchi Democracy Forum.
–J.K. YAMAMOTO