Opening Up Shop in Little Tokyo

On the Impact of the Camp Experience Coming into Japanese Culture and Heritage “I had no idea about studying law…” “How did I end up going to law school?” Opening Up Shop in Little Tokyo The Other Two JA women lawyers in Los Angeles—Chiyoko Sakamoto and Madge Watai On Generational Differences in JABA’s Early Years The Founding of JABA: Getting Judges Appointed “If I hadn’t gone to that meeting…” On Hon. Edward Kakita and JABA’s early efforts JABA: On Engaging Students and Community On the Importance of Role Models On Getting the Call from J. Anthony Kline On Being a New Judge and a New Mother On Justice Todd’s Daughter, Mia Doi Todd On Justice Todd’s Involvement with the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center On Working in the Appellate Court

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I felt very connected to Little Tokyo. I had been going there all my life, I had spent time working there. And so I rented space in Little Tokyo, and opened up my practice, I sent out announcements to all my parents’ friends and all my grandparents’ friends. And then I waited for people to come. And, you know, I was able to make a living doing that. It seems incredible at this point, people just don’t do those kinds of things anymore, but a lot of—there were a lot of people in small private practices in 1970 when I started. There were, you know, there were a handful of Japanese American lawyers—a few in the South Bay, mostly in Little Tokyo. There was a firm in the Crenshaw area, but they moved to Little Tokyo as well. So, there was this little community. Everyone knew each other, and so many people (other lawyers) gave me work. You know, they just gave me cases—probably things that they didn’t want to do—but I was able to start a practice and make a living doing that.

Date: July 10, 2012
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Lawrence Lan
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum; Japanese American Bar Association

community law little tokyo