The Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) will celebrate the 101st anniversary of the old Japanese Union Church building at 120 Judge John Aiso St. in Little Tokyo on Sunday, March 10, beginning at 1 p.m.?
The program will kick off with the unveiling of a City of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument plaque.
Twenty-five years ago, the renovated church was converted to become the Union Center for the Arts. This 25th-anniversary milestone will also be commemorated with an open house and visual displays of vintage photos and videos of the historic site.
LTHS is partnering with the Union Center for the Arts (East West Players, Visual Communications, LA ArtCore, and Tuesday Night Project) as well as Little Tokyo Service Center and the Japanese American National Museum on the program, historic photos and videos.
The Japanese Union Church of Los Angeles was established Feb. 7, 1918 through the merger of three congregations, the Los Angeles Presbyterian Church (est. 1905), the Los Angeles Congregational Church (est. 1908), and the Japanese Bethlehem Congregational Church of Los Angeles (est. by 1911). By combining resources, it was hoped that a larger church with expanded programs could be created to better serve the community.
Rev. Giichi Tanaka was appointed as the first pastor of the church. By 1920, the need for a new church building had become apparent, and a building program was initiated. Three years later, on March 25, 1923, the new church building at 120 N. San Pedro St. was dedicated. In the years that followed, the Union Church benefited the entire Japanese American community through its many programs.
LTHS welcomes all members of the community and supporters of Little Tokyo to the 101stanniversary celebration of Japanese Union Church and the 25thanniversary of the Union Center for the Arts. Light refreshments will be served.
Everyone is invited to attend; however, an RSVP would be appreciated at the following link: https://forms.gle/A7b8SPiHGE36GfEc6