Aihara & Associates Insurance Services: Two Generations of Business in Los Angeles's Little Tokyo Community
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In September of 2005, Aihara & Associates Insurance Services returned to its original home in Little Tokyo after a five year hiatus in Pasadena, California. The business, which was established in 1948 by Nisei World War II veteran Luis K. Aihara, is a prominent example of the dedication of Japanese American business owners to the community of Little Tokyo. The company, an original tenant of the Kajima building on 1st Street to which it returned in 2005, was one of the first insurance companies to provide coverage to Americans of Japanese descent in an era dominated by post-war racism.
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Organizers of Western Pioneer Insurance Company, 1949Luis K. Aihara, pictured in the upper left hand corner, was one of twenty-two gentleman to join the Western Pioneer Insurance Company organization.
Organizers of Western Pioneer Insurance Company, 1949 |
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Yamaha news article, 1964Aihara Insurance Agency Inc. insured many Japanese companies, including Yamaha International Corp. before it went national. Featured in this news article, Luis K. Aihara (far left) presents the Safety Performance and Top Design Award to Yamaha International Corp.
Yamaha news article, 1964 |
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The 1974 NAC Honor Agency AwardsGeorge Omatsu and Sam Mano of the Aihara Insurance Agency, pictured in the left-middle photo, received a regional Honor Agency Award on behalf of the company for the year 1974.
The 1974 NAC Honor Agency Awards |
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Continued Success, 1974In 1974 The Rafu Shimpo Los Angeles Japanese Daily News recognized the continued success of Luis K. Aihara and the Aihara Insurance Agency, Inc.
Continued Success, 1974. |
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Aihara Insurance tops U.S. Producers, March 8th, 1975The Independent Insurance Agents Association of California honored the Aihara Insurance Agency for the greatest gain of National Automobile Club (NAC) new memberships in the metropolitan Los Angeles area for the year 1974.
Aihara Insurance tops U.S. Producers, March 8th, 1975 |
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Aihara Insurance Agency Employees, May 10th, 1975Luis K. Aihara, pictured on the right, with colleagues.
Aihara Insurance Agency Employees, May 10th, 1975 |
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Luis K. Aihara, 1985Founder of Aihara Insurance Agency Inc., Luis K. Aihara sits at his desk in the business’s second location on First Street in Little Tokyo. The business is still located in the Kajima building today.
Luis K. Aihara, 1985 |
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Doug Aihara, 1985Doug Aihara began working with his father, Luis K. Aihara, in the late 1980’s in the life and health insurance sector of the Aihara Insurance Company.
Doug Aihara, 1985 |
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Doug Aihara, 2009Doug Aihara, son of founder Luis K. Aihara, is currently President of Aihara Insurance Agency Inc.
Doug Aihara, 2009 |
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Aihara Insurance Agency, Inc., 2009Today the Aihara Insurance Agency is in the Kajima building, suite 900, on First Street in Little Tokyo. Luis K. Aihara was an original tenant when the building was built in 1968.
Aihara Insurance Agency, Inc., 2009 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License
Album Type
community history
brittanddeb
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更新日 6月 28 2021 1:49 a.m.
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Little Tokyo Community Profiles![]() |
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