Based on a 2017 exhibition at the California Museum, this collection of photos explores a now-vanished and mostly forgotten neighborhood. Once the fourth-largest Japantown in the nation, the once-vibrant community was born,out of racism and ultimately was destroyed by it.
Early Japantown,1900-1942
Japanese immigration to the United States began in the 1880s, when Japan began allowing laborers to leave the country. Because of California’s need for manual labor in agriculture and railroad building, the majority of the first generation of immigrants, the Issei, settled here. By the 1920s, Sacramento had the fourth largest Japanese population of any city in the United States. Facing racial discrimination in housing and employment and a language barrier, the Issei settled around a six block area between L and O streets, Third and Fifth streets. This neighborhood became known as “Ofu” (Sakura City) among the Japanese settlers. By 1940, Sacramento’s Japantown had hundreds of businesses that served the needs of the residents and people from surrounding areas. It offered religious services, classes in traditional flower arrangement, tea ceremonies, dance classes, cultural celebrations, and sporting events. Japantown cultivated a sense of place for the first generation and planted the roots for a lively Nikkei (Japanese American) culture in Sacramento.
Japan Alley (c. 1910s) by Unknown photographerOriginal Source: Center for Sacramento History
Japan Alley business with residence above. In Japantown's heyday, colorful lanterns set the scene in Japan Alley as musicians played the shamisen (a Japanese stringed instrument) to accompany singers late into the night.
Japan Alley (c. 1930s) by Unknown photographerOriginal Source: Center for Sacramento History
Japan Alley (located between 3rd and 4th, L and Capitol) was the heart of Sacramento's Japantown.
As of 2020, the former heart of Japantown is a one-block vacant lot.
Aokihara’s Jewelry Shop (c. 1910s) by Unknown photographerOriginal Source: Center for Sacramento History
Aokihara’s jewelry store at 1125 3rd Street was among many thriving Japantown businesses.
Today the parking garage for Sacramento Downtown Commons (formerly known as Downtown Plaza) stands on the site of Aokihara's jewelry store.
Hamai Kaishundo Drug Store and Print Shop (c. 1918) by Unknown photographerOriginal Source: Center for Sacramento History
This photo shows one of the hundreds of businesses in Japantown. The Hamai Kaishundo Drug Store and Print Shop was located at 1210 3rd Street.
Approximate location where Hamai Kaishundo once stood, now next to Interstate 5.
Sanyo Co. grocery and hardware store (c. 1920s) by Unknown photographerOriginal Source: Steve Koyasako
As in Japan, merchandise often was displayed outside Japantown stores. Here sacks of rice are stacked in front of the Sanyo Co. grocery and hardware store located at 1331 4th Street.
Today the Wells Fargo Center, a 423' foot office tower, stands at the location where the Sanyo Company once displayed its wares.
Kobayashi Fish Market (1939) by Unknown photographerOriginal Source: Alan Kobayashi
Fish was a staple on Japanese American tables. There were several markets to buy fresh fish, as well as bait fish, in Japantown. This photo shows the Kobayashi Fish Market at 1314 4th Street.
Instead of a fish market, now there is an office tower.
Kyotani Liquor Store (1934) by Unknown photographerOriginal Source: Janet Ichiho Kyotani
The owners of Kyotani Liquor Store at 301 Capitol Avenue documented their store's grand opening in December 1934 with this formal photograph.