Basketball As Cultural "Linchpin": With Japanese American families no longer...
Wednesday, Jul 29, 2009 | Updated 7:18 AM PDT
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With Japanese American families no longer living in, let alone visiting, Little Tokyo like they used to, the city hopes to lure back residents to the downtown area with a little b-ball. Specifically, a new gym, a $15 million, 35,000-square-foot center planned for Los Angeles St. near 2nd St. Opening in 3-5 years, the center hopes to attract the region's popular Japanese American basketball leagues. Via the Los Angeles Times: "'Basketball is more than a sport, it's a way of life in the Japanese American community,' said Wesley Tanaka, a 58-year-old Torrance resident whose wife and daughter play in the leagues. 'The gym is a huge deal. It will help revive Little Tokyo.'" [LA Times]
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