Is there a Japan town?

[Jack]

This is an out-an-out question, in America theres a place called "China town",
also theres "Little Italy", is there any place as such about Japan.

Im just curious?

oooooh!!
Is there like a sector in japan, which is just an Irish community?
all countries seem to have a little irish community when it comes to St.Patrick's day. Anyone care to comment?

[ArmandV]

There's Little Tokyo near downtown Los Angeles. Gardena (in south central L.A.) is another Japanese enclave. Also, in West Los Angeles along Sawtelle Blvd. between Santa Monica Blvd. and Olympic Blvd. is another Japanese enclave. There's plenty in Los Angeles County.

[Ewok85]

Theres a China Town in Yokohama :D

[GaijinPunch]

Loads of Japanese shops all over Hawaii.

[Dekamaster]

There's a place called Little Tokyo also here in the Philippines. But unlike other Japanese city centers in other countries for which the term "Little" might be a misnomer, ours here is really little. :relief: It just is a circle of ramen shops and groceries. :souka:

[ArmandV]

There's a place called Little Tokyo also here in the Philippines. But unlike other Japanese city centers in other countries for which the term "Little" might be a misnomer, ours here is really little. :relief: It just is a circle of ramen shops and groceries. :souka:

The Little Tokyo in Los Angeles is of several streets.

[nice gaijin]

There is a Japan Town in San Francisco, off of Geary Ave about 10-20 blocks away from Market Street. It's not very big but that's what it's called. Some restaurants, a hardware store, overpriced furniture, a 'hyakkin' and kinokuniya with a few assorted gift and junk shops... I prefer the real thing.

[lastmagi]

Why not a Japantown, you say? Hm... Unfortunately, I can only answer why not a Japantown as opposed to a Chinatown. You probably know already that Chinatowns in America were ultimately formed because of the anti-Asian sentiment during the end of the 19th century, what with the job competition and all between the European Americans and the Chinese immigrants, so at first it would stand to reason that there'd be a Japantown or Asiatown (and no, I don't mean the Asiantown from the Family Guy ;) ). But it was the Chinese who came in a greater number during the 1850s (correct me if I'm wrong); with the degeneration of the Qing dynasty and the need for labor for mining and RR construction, there was a push-pull factor that made Americans temporarily welcome the Chinese and that made the Chinese want to escape the poverty of their homeland.

As far as their urban localization goes, one of the big reasons of why there was a clear-cut Chinese community was due to the "nuisance" zoning laws (like the Cubic Air ordinance) and other practices directed against the Chinese that forced them out of the white communities (and not to mention the overall racism, too). Besides, it was better to pool their resources that way anyway.

Basically, I think it was the timing and magnitude of Chinese immigration that allowed them (well, more like forced them) to establish Chinatowns, though I'm open to other interpretations. I'm not sure what the Japanese or Korean immigrants did, though, so if anyone could fill me in on how they adapted, I'd really appreciate it.

[blade_bltz]

I've been to Japan Town in San Francisco a couple of times...Honestly it's not great other than the Kinokuniya. I recommend a few of the restaurants, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get it. Family members of mine living in SF/Bay area often use the grocery store, however.

Small anecdote: If any of you guys have had the chance to visit Japantown in recent years, you might be familiar with this tiny manju store (that sadly no longer exists) in the basement floor of the Kintetsu building run by this notoriously cranky obasan. My grandmother's best description of the manju lady always used to be "kowai!" Anyway, my mom decided to send me in there by myself when I was a little kid (with very little Japanese) to purchase some manju. That's just plain mean if you ask me. Obviously, I was extremely intimidated. I walk into the store, see a regular old American family shaking their heads and confused, much put off by the lady's incoherent mutterings, frowns, and constant shuffling about. I wait patiently for them to sort out the exchange, and finally it's my turn. Without looking up, I simply point at the manju I want and practically whisper, "Itsutsu kudasai" and then, taking a deep breath, I look up. And to my amazement, I see this scary old lady break out into a wide, toothless grin. She muttered something back in rapid, incoherent Japanese, but the smile was all I needed to understand. My family to this day can't believe it.

[mad pierrot]

There's sorta one in Chicago.

[Buntaro]

There is a small one in Denver, Colorado.

[Jack]

so it would be far to say there is a lot of "little japan" places in America,

[Silverpoint]

In London, most Japanese establishments are centered around Piccadilly. The Japan Centre, the Japanese Embassy and about 4 or 5 Japanese restaurants are located there. That's about as good as it gets though.