Basketball As Cultural “Linchpin”: With Japanese American families no longer…

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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