Licensing

Shaping Japanese American Community

Japanese Communities:
Since the immigration of the Japanese to the U.S., the formation of Japanese communities has continued to take place across the country. Today, such communities include: “Little Tokyo” in Los Angeles, and Japantown or Nihonmachi in San Francisco and San Jose. These communities which was once home to great numbers of Japanese Issei and Nissei, has now taken on more of a historical and cultural role within the Japanese American community. It is events such as Nissei Week and the Cherry Blossom Festival that keep these communities stay active and will help continue the traditions once implemented by the issei generation.

Famous Japanese Americans:

Artists- Henry Sugimoto (painter), Isamu Noguchi (artist)
Actors/Performers: East West Players, Pat Morita (Karate Kid), George Takei (Start Trek series)
Athletes: Tommy Kono (Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting- 1952, 1956), Kristi Yamaguchi (Olympic gold medalist in figure skating-1992), Bryan Clay (Olympic gold medalist in decathlon- 2008).

Politicians: Daniel Inouye (served as Senator of Hawaii), George Ariyoshi (served as Governor of Hawaii)