Little Tokyo by the view of a Brazilian Nikkei
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I stayed in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA for 3 weeks, where I had the experience to volunteer for the Japanese American National Museum. Thank you, Los Angeles! It was an unforgettable experience. I wish I could stay longer! Photos: Silvia Akioka
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CrosswalkThe crosswalks in Little Tokyo are decorated with these fans.
Crosswalk |
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Products made in JapanIt seemed to me that there is more diversity of Japanese products than in Brazil , certainly due to the shorter distance between the countries. |
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ManzanarI'm not a historian nor have detailed knowledge about the history of Japanese immigration. Being in California, I found that there was a place called Manzanar , which is the best known of the ten concentration camps. More than 110,000 Americans Nikkei were incarcerated at Manzanar during World War II.
Manzanar |
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Ellison OnizukaEllison Onizuka was the first Asian American astronaut to reach the space . He died at 40 years only, during the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger in January 1986. In honor of Onizuka, a monument, there is a replica of the Space Shuttle Challenger, and a street named Onizuka … |
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Japanese food restaurantsLike Liberdade neighborhood in Sao Paulo, we can find many Japanese restaurants here. Some adapt more to their regional taste, others are considered to be more traditional Japanese taste style. |
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AOI restaurantIn some restaurants in Little Tokyo , the service is in Japanese language, sometimes mixed with English, depends on the customers! The AOI was the first Japanese restaurant I went on my visit to Los Angeles. Surely this restaurant reminded me of Liberdade, in Sao Paulo. Its environment and the … |
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Pork bowlThis is the pork bowl meal of AOI restaurant. It was the first time I ate pork bowl with hidden vegetables.
Pork bowl |
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RamenIt is inevitable to compare the Japanese food in Japan I ate with elsewhere. This is the ramen of Daikokuya, a restaurant in Little Tokyo, always full and long line. I did not like the noodles and the egg yolk was fully cooked. Nostalgia for Ippudo in Fukuoka, the Hakata …
Ramen |
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Exotic mixturesAnywhere in the world, there are interesting food mixtures. Here in Little Tokyo, is not different. Take a look to this Japanese burrito! |
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ObentôGreat that I can eat bento, onigiri and drink Calpis in Little Tokyo!
Obentô |
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About Little TokyoLittle Tokyo in Los Angeles, is one of the three districts of the Japanese American community, considered official in the United States. The other two are also in California, in San Francisco and in San Jose. The Japanese American National Museum is in Little Tokyo. |
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Japanese Village PlazaThis is the entrance to the Japanese Village Plaza at 1st Street. |
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TanzakuIn the Japanese Village Plaza in Little Tokyo, there is a small tree with hanging requests and acknowledgments. This is a Japanese custom typical of Tanabata event, the festival of stars, which occurs between July and August, depending on the region.
Tanzaku |
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Japanese American National MuseumThis is the building of the Japanese American National Museum. |
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FamilyMartThe Japanese FamilyMart is a chain of convenience stores, but here in the United States, the stores are called " Famima!". In Little Tokyo, I saw two convenience stores trying to imitate the FamilyMart, but the layout is totally different! FamilyMart original colors are green, blue and white. Look at …
FamilyMart |
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Daimaru HotelThis little hidden door in the 1st Street in Little Tokyo is the hotel Daimaru. The hotel has no website, I didn´t find photos of the dependencies on Internet and I had to call to find out about the price and to make a reservation because there was no email … |