LANDMARK DESIGNATION & PRESERVATION
Preserving and recognizing Little Tokyo sites as integral to a rich and complete heritage.
In order to protect and preserve Japanese American history, LTHS works consistently with the City of Los Angeles, the California State Office of Historic Preservation, and the National Park Service. It is an intensive process of research, presentation, and discussion - all well worth the effort to give our history the care and value it deserves.
MAP OF DESIGNATION SITES COMING SOON
Former Japanese Hospital
Aoyama Tree: Designation
Designation as City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #1131
National Register Eligible
PROJECT COORDINATORS: MIKE OKAMURA & KRISTEN HAYASHI
LOCATED: 101 S. Fickett Street, Boyle Heights/Los Angeles
For early Issei immigrants, access to medical care was limited. Denied medical care from mainstream hospitals, Pre-World War II Japanese Americans suffered a disproportionate number of deaths such as in the influenza epidemic of 1918. The Japanese Hospital opened in the Boyle Heights neighborhood near Little Tokyo in 1929 after five Issei doctors, denied L.A. County papers of incorporation to lease land to build, sued the State of California through the state courts and finally won before the United States Supreme Court in the Jordan vs. Tashiro case. The Cultural Heritage Commission, the L.A. City Council's Planning and Land Use Committee, City Council, and Mayor Eric Garcetti approved the HCM designation in November 2016. The HCM #1131 plaque and dedication event are being worked on now.
RELATED GALLERIES AND NEWS
The Finale Club
PROJECT COORDINATOR: MIYA IWATAKI
LOCATED: 230 1/2 East First Street, Los Angeles
(Koyasan Buddhist Temple)
Designation as City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #920
PROJECT COORDINATORS: DEANNA MATSUMOTO
LOCATED: Atrium between JANM and Geffen Contemporary
The Little Tokyo Historical Society successfully nominated the 60-foot Moreton Bay Fig Tree (Ficus macrophyllia) on the campus of the Japanese American National Museum as the City of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #920 in 2008. Named the Aoyama Tree after Reverend Shutai Aoyama, it represents the founding of Koyasan Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo, one of the oldest and largest Buddhist temples in Los Angeles. Koyasan Daishi Mission was located at this site (now a City parking lot) prior to moving to North First Street in 1940 and becoming Koyasan Buddhist Temple.
RELATED GALLERIES & NEWS:
Aoyama Tree: Landslide 2010
Cultural Landscape Foundation Nomination
PROJECT COORDINATORS: DEANNA MATSUMOTO
LOCATED: Atrium between JANM and Geffen Contemporary
The Little Tokyo Historical Society successfully nominated the Aoyama Tree as a candidate for the Landslide initiative, sponsored by The Cultural Landscape Foundation based in Washington, D.C. This initiative spotlights at-risk trees, parks, gardens, cultural features, and landscapes throughout the United States to honor and help preserve our nation’s landscape heritage. Out of over 100 submissions, the Aoyama Tree was one of 12 sites selected to represent historic trees-at-risk in the United States. The Aoyama Tree will also be featured in The Cultural Landscape Foundation's calendar and showcased throughout the country in a traveling exhibit. For more information on the Aoyama Tree and this preservation award, please visit the Landslide initiative's website. A press release is also available on The Cultural Landscape Foundation's website.
Related Historic
Preservation Projects
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK SITE
Little Tokyo Historic National Landmark District
Little Tokyo Historic National Landmark District is a historic Japanese commercial district in downtown Los Angeles, California. Before World War II, Little Tokyo was the largest Japanese community in the United States. This District represents the oldest commercial and cultural center of historic Little Tokyo (1905- 1942). It is the second largest of 11 National Landmarks in the City of Los Angeles. The California Art Council selected Little Tokyo National Historic Landmark District in 2017 as one of 14 California Cultural Districts.
CITY OF LOS ANGELES / HCM DESIGNATED SITES
Sakai-Kozawa Residence/Tokio Florist & Pole Sign - HCM #1198
Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple - HCM #313
Japanese Union Church of Los Angeles - HCM #312
Tuna Canyon Detention Station - HCM #1039
Manzanar - HCM #160
Holiday Bowl - HCM #688
Hauerwaas-Kusuyanagi Residence - HCM # 990
Griffith Park Interment Site - HCM #942
Ethel Guiberson/Hannah Carter Japanese Garden - HCM #114
ASIAN AMERICAN HISTORIC CONTEXT STATEMENTS AND SURVEYS