August 2017 Issue

Terasaki Budokan Groundbreaking

On August 3, 2017, LTSC began a new chapter in the campaign to bring a multipurpose sports facility and community center to Little Tokyo. A large crowd of supporters, funders, lenders and elected officials gathered on the future site of Budokan for the long awaited groundbreaking ceremony.

The event featured stirring words from numerous contributors to the project, taiko and ukulele performances and an aikido demonstration by Consul General Akira Chiba.

“Today is truly a remarkable occasion,” said LTSC Executive Director Dean Matsubayashi, “an achievement, a celebration and a major milestone in our long journey to build a community recreation center in Little Tokyo.”

Budokan construction will begin in late-September and completion of the project is expected in 2020. LTSC continues to seek contributions to stay on target. The organization will shift into phase two of its fundraising, an endowment campaign to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the facility.

Please click here to support Budokan.

Mitsubishi Solar Panels

Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc. pledged to donate a solar power system to LTSC for Paul I. Terasaki Budokan. The system will provide the new multipurpose sports facility and community center with a sustainable power source as well as significant cost savings.

Over the course of 25 years, the panels are expected to produce over 1,600 megawatt hours of electricity. It is estimated that the energy produced from the solar installation will save LTSC more than $366,000. From an environmental stewardship standpoint, use of the solar panel system equates to cutting 751 tons of green house gas emissions, removing 143 cars from the road, or planting nearly 17,500 new trees.

GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles, a green technology nonprofit, analyzed the Budokan solar power options. Their technical analysis was essential to moving forward the rooftop solar design, which will offset a significant portion of the electricity consumed by the building.

11th Annual Sake and Food Tasting Event

Last month, LTSC held its 11th Annual Sake and Food Tasting Event “Sake at First Street North, Little Tokyo.” Over 800 guests enjoyed sake from various regions of Japan and delicious cuisine at First Street North, a historic block that LTSC deems critical to the future of the Little Tokyo neighborhood.

LTSC’s signature event raises funds for a broad array of the organization’s programs that promote “positive change for people and places.” This year’s event featured small plates from 15 top Los Angeles restaurants and over 50 types of sake.

Photos from “Sake at First Street North” can be viewed on LTSC’s Facebook page.

Thank you to supporters, participants and volunteers for another successful event.

+LAB Installation

Guests at LTSC’s Annual Sake and Food Tasting Event were treated to an impressive multimedia display on the topic of Little Tokyo’s First Street North. Home to several iconic businesses and institutions, the First Street North block is now threatened by impending development.

+LAB, LTSC’s creative community development project, collaborated with yaknowlike studios and Form follows Function to complete an installation to draw attention to the important community issue and inspire guests to re-imagine First Street North. The installation included a video loop, shown on a 16 feet by 9 feet screen, and an LED floor, designed to encourage guests to view and interact with the film. In addition, the installation featured a series of large glowing orbs, which served to illuminate campaign messages.

CHAMPs mentors

An LTSC program that links up youth with UCLA mentors celebrated its 20th anniversary in July. The Casa Heiwa Angelino Mentorship Program (CHAMPs) serves youth ages 5-18 years old, living at LTSC affordable housing apartment buildings in Little Tokyo and Temple-Beaudry community.

CHAMPs mentors guide and build relationships with young students through various activities, including college visits, barbecues, and visits to local landmarks.

Twenty-five current and former mentors, including pioneers of the program, attended the event. They joined current and former program participants for the opportunity to catch up, share great memories and talk about how the program has touched their lives.

Olympic Day participants

Olympic Day participants

Over 50 students from LTSC affordable housing units participated in Olympic Day events at Will Rogers State Beach. The events were organized by the LA84 Foundation, a leader in supporting youth sport programs and public education about the role of sports in positive youth development, and the LA 2024 bid committee. LA84 and the LA 2024 bid committee invited youth to participate in activities designed to promote LA’s (now successful) bid to host the Olympics. Around 30 Olympic athletes joined youth in various sporting activities and also served lunch to participants.

LTSC TTS Summer Edition

Living in a diverse society often forces us to discover who we really are and wrestle with questions like “Why do I behave this way?” or “Why do I think in that particular way?” The summer 2017 installment of the LTSC’s Social Services newsletter Through the Seasons explores culture and identity. Read more on page 1.

First Street North rendering

LTSC and Go For Broke National Education Center are partnering to build 149 units of affordable housing in Little Tokyo for veterans, working families and homeless families. Go For Broke National Education Center’s mission is to raise awareness about the WWII American veterans of Japanese ancestry in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, the most decorated unit for its size and length of service in the history of American warfare. The Go For Broke Apartments is a component of the Sustainable Little Tokyo community vision for First Street North. In addition to housing, the project will have commercial spaces, exhibits, community areas and retail spaces.

LTSC is fortunate to have Capital One as a partner on this project. Capital One is committed to working with its nonprofit developer partners to create affordable housing and provides philanthropic support, loans and technical assistance. LTSC is a recipient of this support and was awarded the 2017 Capital One Blueprints to Buildings Fund grant. The award includes a cash grant and access to a line of credit to help move the affordable housing project towards completion.

LTSC would like to thank Capital One for its support of this important project in the heart of Little Tokyo.

Events

10/14 – Annual Asian Small Business Expo
11/6 – Terasaki Budokan Toyota Raffle 

Green Tip

Hold your next event close to public transportation and encourage your guests to take the train or ride their bicycles.

Donors

Thank you to all our supporters for your contributions last month!

July Donors
Anonymous
Caitlin Antos
Elizabeth Frank
Akemi Fujimoto
Hiroshi and Misako Fujisaki
Yoshiko Hayashi
Holly Services, Inc.
Takahiro Ide
Marie Imwinkelried
Lily Ann Inouye
JACL Chicago
Japanese Career Women’s Network
Betty Jung
Jessica Kanai
Mark Kawauchi
Iku Kiriyama
Yuet Lui
Nobuko Marcial
Gary and June Masada
Mayumi Masaoka
Robert and Teresa Matsushima
Flo Mikawa
Victor and Meriko Miyamoto
Sandie and Dean Mochinaga
Trisha Murakawa and Warren Wong
Tatsuo Nagashima
Daryl Narimatsu
Takashi and Suzuko Oda
Mike Okamura
William Ota
Kyoko Otonari
Sam Otsuji
Yosuke Ouchi
Bruce and Diane Shimano
Tokiko Sugimoto
Shigeko Tada
Robert Takemoto
Eri Tsujii
Keith Umemoto
Hiroshi and Yoshiko Yamaguchi
Don and Marilyn Yamane
Sandra Yamane
Gerald and Anne Yee
Nolan Young
Kaori Young

In Honor of Estella Uchizono’
David Chris Hoshimiya

In Memory of Kaye Shoda Ishida
Patricia Ishida-Witscher and John Witscher

In Memory of Hisako Kanow
Minako and Gerald Iseda

In Memory of Henry and Ida Kubota
Dianne Hamano

In Memory of Judy Nishimoto Ota
Kaz Ota

In Memory of Jeannette Kyoko Sanderson
Emily & Dan Weaver

In Memory of Toyoji Sugita
Lillian Sugita

In Memory of Chor Chai Tan
Marie Tan and Gregory Tan

Budokan of Los Angeles Donations
Melissa Altamirano
Anonymous
Akemi Arakaki
Peter Enzminger
Jerry Fukui
Terry and Gayle Hara
Clara Harada
Tiffany Hashimoto
JD Hokoyama
Scott Ito and Nan Lee
Patricia Kasahara
Jane and Harry Kawahara
Richard and Misa Kawano
Steve and Delcey Kawasaki
Robert and Teresa Matsushima
Akiko and Michael Lazare
Dale Minami and Ai Mori
Adina Mori-Holt and Whitman Holt
Ken and Priscilla Mui
Mike Murase and June Hibino
Michael, Margie and Katherine Odanaka
Lisa Okamoto
Ann Otoide
Akira Sansui
Sugimoto Family Foundation: George, Ruri, Lisa, Nathan
Chieko Tamura
Frank Tanji
Dean Toji
Ray and Estela Uchima
Janice Harumi and Chao M. Yen
Toshie and Syed Ahmed
We Are One
Kimberly and Damon Wong

In Honor of The “Has Beens”
Joe and Chizuko Yamagawa

In Honor of The Ito Family
Lisa Okamoto

In Honor of Bill Watanabe
The Durfee Foundation

In Honor of Bill and Ruth Watanabe
Mabel Fujita Harman

In Honor of the Jason and Janice Yamada Family
Margaret and Ken Shimada

In Memory of Mr. Tak Hamano
The Moriguchi Family, Uwajimaya, Inc.

In Memory of Philip Ito
David and Tram Kumamoto
Kristin Kumamoto
Adina Mori-Holt and Whitman Holt
Lexi Nagai
Jim and Adrienne Nishimoto

In Memory of Monica Quan’
Adina Mori-Holt and Whitman Holt

Joyce and Randy Takahashi
Jeanne Wada

In Memory of Toshiyuki and Beatrice Taga
H. Chris Taga

In Memory of John “J.T.” Tamaki
Anna Mae Tamaki

Vehicle Donations
Ching-Hua Chen
Johnny Fukuoka
Myron Gee and Ann Ogawa Gee
Louise Jeung
David and Donna Uyehara

In-kind Donations
Baby2Baby
Adina Mori-Holt and Whitman Holt