by Darlene Coleman
The Western Edition recently had the opportunity to speak with Richard Hashimoto, president of the Japantown Merchants Association (JMA). Mr. Hashimoto is a Fillmore native, and has lived in the Western Addition community all of his life. He spoke of JMA’s mission with regard to the future of Japantown.
JMA was founded in1965. Its purpose has always been to increase the number of visitors to Japantown as well as to ensure the economic viability of the community. Hashimoto says that JMA encourages visitors to shop and experience the culture, and the gifts that this experience provides.
Several festivals are held in Japantown throughout the year, the main one being that of the Cherry Blossom Festival, now in its 42nd year. This festival was initiated by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce to celebrate the opening of the Japantown Center in 1968. There is also the Nihonmachi Street Fair which is the celebration of all Asian-American culture and has been observed for over 30 years. The fair is a two-day event which includes showcasing the talents of various Bay Area musicians. Non-profits in the community are allowed booths to raise much needed funds. Other entertainment and food are also available.
The current issues with regard to pedestrian inaccessibility and neighborhood connectivity between the communities of Japantown and the Fillmore Jazz District are of concern to JMA. Hashimoto says that JMA supports the Geary Street bus/rapid transit system that is available. However, the issue of pedestrian inaccessibility and community connectivity has been brought to the attention of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. Hashimoto says that two of four new designs being considered for renovation of Geary allow pedestrian friendly access to and between both communities. JMA is supportive of this connectivity, which would bring the communities back together as they had been prior to redevelopment of the area in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. Hashimoto says that it is hoped that the planned renovation will also allow for more business interaction, and even possible consolidation, between the two communities. Hashimoto expressed that redevelopment actions of the past that separated the two communities have proven to be a detriment to both. He expressed that there is hope for improved outcomes for both with regard to reconnection.
Accomplishments for JMA that Hashimoto listed include being able to present and celebrate the many activities of the Japanese culture with regard to art, dance, singing, food, and other aspects of the culture in general.
Part of the direction for the future of Japantown includes making the attempt to restore as much as possible the size and number of residents of Japantown, which was once a total of approximately thirty square blocks and the largest Japanese-American community in the US; it is now comprised of only nine square blocks. Hashimoto and JMA would like to see expansion of the community in the future.
SF’s Japantown is the first and original Japanese-American community in the US. It is now one of three of the last such communities in this country. Los Angeles (now the largest) and San Jose are the others. Japanese-American communities once also existed in places like New York City and Seattle, but they are no more.
For more information concerning JMA visit sfjapantown.org.
