Japanese American Basketball Leagues
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Licensing |
Map of SF Japantown After Redevelopment
The purpose and role of the the J-Leagues were pretty clear-cut up until redevelopment came in (1970) and evicted many JA families.
"Most of these kids didn’t have the size or speed or whatever to play in their high school. If the kid was going to stay active in sports, it was going to be in the community. They wouldn’t otherwise have a chance to play.”
After redevelopment, the Japanese community and J-Leagues as well, undergo many changes. The community faces the idea of having many JAs living outside the community and interracial marriages.
"It used to be that the church was the hub, but the church dropoff has been huge! Plus a lot of people have moved out of the city and that makes a huge difference." -Donna Kimura, former president and girls commissioner of the BCSFYAO.
Based on this original
Map of Japantown 1970 |