The area of Downtown Los Angeles known as Little Tokyo (or Lil Tokyo, J-Town or Sho-tokyo) is outlined by Temple Street to the north, Fourth Street to the south, Alameda Street to the east and Main Street to the west.  Little Tokyo of Los Angeles is one of three official Japantowns in the United States.  The ethnic district was settled in the 1880s by immigrants, it flourished with commerce and culture until a three-year internment of Japanese Americans during World War II left it a veritable ghost town.

For a brief time the area became known as Bronzeville, as African Americans moved into the vacated properties, and opened up nightclubs and restaurants - jazz can still be found in a few spots.  Slowly, Japanese residents returned and began to rebuild, but it wasn't long before they were dealt another blow. As part of a massive city redevelopment effort in the 1970s and '80s, much of the historic district was leveled to make way for the encroaching Civic Center and several new shopping plazas and hotels fueled by Japanese corporations. One block emerged unscathed.

Thirteen historic buildings - some of which include old hitching posts for horses - now make up First Street's north block, a quaint collection of sushi bars, bento houses and shops that give a glimpse into the life of a once sprawling community. To commemorate its history, the pavement along this short stretch is engraved with inscriptions commemorating several momentous events. Today, Little Tokyo has become one of Downtown's biggest success stories, with millions of dollars being spent on new residential and cultural projects.

The demographic of Little Tokyo has changed over the years from approximately 30,000 Japanese Americans in its heyday to roughly 1,000 mostly elderly, Japanese Americans residing here today.  Even though it is mainly a work and entertainment district now, it is still the undisputed cultural headquarters for Southern Californian Japanese Americans.  From the Tofu Festival to Nisei Week to a plethora of cultural institutions, this vibrant center of L.A.'s Japanese community is constantly buzzing with activity.