Posting this for a friend and didn't know where else to post this but being that some of us know this is where the culture we know as imports evolved and where one of the best events (Nisei Showoff) is held, may soon be no more:

Greetings.

This message is being sent in the state of urgency and necessity, for part of Japanese American history will die without your support.

The message below is from the Nikkei youth. Please read:

Friends...we, the Japanese American community, needs everyone's help!

As you may already be aware, several recent property transactions have put the future of Los Angeles' Little Tokyo in jeopardy. Japanese
Village Plaza was sold to American Commercial Equities in late July,
and on August 17, the New Otani Hotel and Weller Court Shopping Mall were bought by 3D Investments—the SAME company that bought the large chunk of San Francisco J-Town from Kintetsu Enterprises last year.

While neither of these companies are inherently bad, it is also clear
that neither company has a strong tie to Little Tokyo. With only
three Japantowns remaining, there exists a critical need to maintain
Little Tokyo as an important historic cultural neighborhood. When a
company decides to purchase a main commercial and gathering area of Little Tokyo, they should also take the initiative to develop the
properties in a responsible manner with community input.

Little Tokyo community members have a history of being actively
involved with the changes in Little Tokyo, and we are proud of our
community's achievements. It's time again to make our voices clear -
Little Tokyo is our home. Little Tokyo is our history. Little Tokyo
is our future. And the people who share that home should have a say in what happens to it.

Please sign the following petition.

http://www.petitiononline.com/jtv1/petition.html <http://www.petitiononline.com/jtv1/petition.html%20>

Doing so will send a message to 3D Investments and American Commercial Equities that they can not buy and develop land in our neighborhood without taking into consideration the wants and needs of the existing community.

Further, it will also ensure that the Kajima Corporation is held responsible for their secretive sale to 3D Investments. Although their
transaction may be completed, they have not heard the end of this from the Little Tokyo community. Third, it will reinforce to Jan Perry
(Little Tokyo's City Councilwoman) that there is broad support to
maintain active community involvement in determining the future of
Little Tokyo. Finally, it will put current property owners and
potential buyers on notice that our community is organized and not
afraid to take action to ensure that they act responsibly and remain
sensitive to the historic and cultural importance of Little Tokyo.


thank you for your time.

respectfully,
Darren Hideo Okino

Please send this to everyone you know.
The more support we have the better chances we have at saving our history.

“My life is not my life, but the life of others, sacrifices, patience and kindness.” --Socho Koshin Ogui