Tag Archives: San Jose Japantown

Historic Japanese American Farm to become Silicon Valley Housing

Five days a week, I drove past the patch of land owned by the Sakauye family and worked by the Tsukuda family when going to work at my tech job. When I was doing that commute along Montague Expressway in … Continue reading

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The Continued Evolution of US Japantowns

The three remaining historical Japantowns left in the United States have had a difficult time surviving the pandemic and continue to undergo challenges. San Francisco’s Japantown is undergoing a two year renovation of its core Peace Plaza, and merchants there … Continue reading

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Heinlenville Park in San Jose commemorates a Historic San Jose Chinatown

Heilenville Park opened in October of last year in San Jose’s Japantown, but I only recently got around to seeing it for myself this past weekend.  The park is named after the Heilenville Chinatown that was located at the site. … Continue reading

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Exploring the History of San Jose’s Pinoytown

I have been going to San Jose Japantown for most of my adult life, but the only thing Filipino there that I noticed was a small Filipino community center building.  Only after taking a Historical Walking Tour of the area … Continue reading

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History of San Jose Japantown on KQED Radio

When I first moved to San Jose from the East Bay 25 years ago, one very pleasant discovery has been San Jose’s Japantown. As one of the three remaining Japantowns in the US, I always thought it had much more … Continue reading

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Is San Jose’s Japantown Becoming Hawaiitown?

I live close to San Jose’s Japantown, and I have been getting takeout from there for many years.  During that time, I have seen the Soko hardware store (pictured left) closed down and converted to a number of shops.  One … Continue reading

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