This year, LTSC worked with Setsuko Hayashi-san, a long-term Casa Heiwa resident in Little Tokyo, to design a Nengajō (New Year's card). She used two traditional textile techniques to design the card: beeswax-dyeing, in which wax from bees is melted and used, and Katazome, in...
2022 marked twenty years since the passing of Judy Nishimoto Ota, a trailblazer at Little Tokyo Service Center (LTSC) who helped shape the organization into the esteemed affordable housing developer it is today. “Have you ever imagined riding on the back of a wild bull?...
This November marked the one year anniversary of Little Tokyo Flea Market (LTFM), a vintage clothing swap held on the first Saturday each month at Terasaki Budokan’s outdoor plaza. Since the market’s launch, Tatsu, LTFM’s organizer, has helped foster significant growth for the event through...
LTSC partnered with Main Electric ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday to provide meals and supplies to LTSC residents. This partnership is Main Electric’s most recent philanthropic venture as part of their larger company-wide initiative called Main Cares. "We want to be someone that inspires other...
As new business owners, Yuka Mizusawa and Malina Huang struggled in the early days of acquiring their legacy small business, Little Tokyo Florist. With help from LTSC small business counselor, Mariko Lochridge, the duo were able to create a business plan, apply for government assistance...
Crowds gathered at Terasaki Budokan, on October 15, 2022 for the fifth annual Straight Outta Little Tokyo (SOLT) fundraising event. The evening boasted a variety of intergenerational live performances and activities, successfully raising $25,000 to go towards Budokan's operations. “Seeing over one thousand people attend...
“When you can relate to someone else’s experience through humor, it can be so powerful,” said Derek Mio, organizer of the popular BudoComedy Show at Terasaki Budokan. In reaction to recent violence directed towards the AAPI community, Mio sought to bring people together in a...
Homelessness, LA’s most urgent crisis, is still on the rise. This November Angelenos have the chance to vote yes on Measure ULA, generating crucial funds for affordable housing and protection for low-income families and seniors. This is why LTSC is proudly supporting Measure ULA on the...
Suehiro Cafe, one of Little Tokyo’s oldest legacy businesses, celebrated its 50th anniversary this year. To commemorate the major milestone, LTSC’s Small Business Counselor, Mariko Lochridge, helped foster a collaboration between Suehiro and a younger Little Tokyo retail business, CRFT by Maki. Together, the businesses...
Across four weeks, Terasaki Budokan hosted its second annual basketball, volleyball, and martial arts summer camps, bringing in about 70 youth campers. With sneaker squeaks and laughter echoing throughout the gymnasium floor, campers had a fun time making new friends while learning fundamental sports skills....
