Established in 2018, Sawtelle Japantown Celebration is back again as an annual not-for-profit grassroots community event to celebrate the anniversary of Feb. 25, 2015, when the Los Angeles City Council officially recognized the petition request from the West Los Angeles community to rename the area Sawtelle Japantown — to join Little Tokyo, San Francisco and San Jose as one of four remaining Japantowns in the U.S.
Sawtelle Japantown Celebration is a vital reminder of the important need to appreciate the history and legacy of a long-standing ethnic minority community.
Since its establishment in 2018, Sawtelle Japantown Celebration (SJC) continues to grow and celebrate community — from Sawtelle, Little Tokyo, Santa Monica, Westwood, Cheviot Hills, Mar Vista, Culver City, Del Rey, East Los Angeles, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Torrance and Gardena.
Students from Nora Sterry Elementary School and LAUSD’s first Japanese Dual Immersion Program in Region West contributed to the design of the SJC 2023 banner, which is now their legacy to the community and is currently on display at Hashimoto Nursery on Sawtelle Boulevard.
Sawtelle Japantown Celebration 2024 merchants continue the community appreciation and celebration of front-line workers — firefighters, police and police staff, and medical workers.
This year’s 10-day celebration begins Friday, Feb. 16, and includes Japantown Lectures presented by UCLA Research Professor Paul Ong and UCLA graduate students Aliya Glatt, Xinyuan Li, Leo Wing and Haiyi Zheng, followed by a special giveaway; the Spin Giveaways at Nijiya Market Sawtelle on Saturday, Feb. 24, and at Marukai West Los Angeles on Sawtelle Japantown’s ninth anniversary on Sunday, Feb. 25; and the return of the Mini Cream Puff Giveaway on Feb. 25.
Feb. 16-25:SJC 2024 merchant promotions at multiple locations. Merchant promotions require a paper or digital version of SJC 2024’s The List that can be accessed via the QR code or at https://SawtelleJTown.org. Special front-liner promotions for police, firefighters and medical workers also require ID and The List.
Saturday, Feb. 17, 1:30 to 3 p.m.:SJC 2024 Japantown Lectures at LAFD Station 59 Training Facility Community Room, 2117 Butler Ave. at Mississippi Avenue.
“Before and After Internment,” presented by UCLA Research Professor Paul Ong, director, UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. Presentation of the Japantown project on Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco in collaboration with the UCLA Asian American Studies Center.
“Founding a Japantown: Historical Analysis of Zoning and Redlining in Sawtelle,” a group collaboration by UCLA graduate students Aliya Glatt, Xinyuan Li, Leo Wing and Haiyi Zheng. The presentation will be an overview of historic spatial designations of the Sawtelle neighborhood and its effects on the economic, political, and demographic development of the area.
Saturday, Feb. 24, 11 a.m.:SJC 2024 The Spin at Nijiya Market Sawtelle, 2130 Sawtelle Blvd., only while giveaways last. Present a SJC 2024 Merchant/Community Friend receipt for a minimum $10 purchase dated Feb. 16-24 for a giveaway prize.
Sunday, Feb. 25, 11 a.m.:SJC 2024 The Spin at Marukai West Los Angeles, 12121 Pico Blvd., only while giveaways last. Present a SJC 2024 Merchant/Community Friend receipt for a minimum $10 purchase dated Feb. 16-25 for a giveaway prize.
Sunday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.:SJC 2024 Mini Cream Puff Giveaway at Beard Papa’s Sawtelle, 2130 Sawtelle Blvd. Free mini cream puff with a SJC 2024 flyer. Limit one per person per flyer.
For further information on the celebration, email [email protected] or visit: https://SawtelleJTown.org