Little Tokyo
From OSWIKI
Little Tokyo is an ethnic Japanese American district in Manhattan and one of only four official Japantowns in the United States. Founded around the beginning of the 20th century, the area, sometimes called Lil' Tokyo, J-Town, 小東京 (Shō-tōkyō), is the cultural center for Japanese Americans in New York.
Little Tokyo is a shining jewel of Japanese culture in Manhattan. It boasts not only Japanese dining, shopping and flavor, but things imported directly from Japan. Walking along the streets let you feel as though you have stepped out of the US and into Tokyo. The neighborhood is located between the Upper East Side and Harlem, only a few blocks, but a very different world.
The Japanese American Cultural & Community Center is located in Little Tokyo, as well as the Japanese American National Museum. East West Players, one of the nation's first Asian American theatre companies, specializing in live theater written and performed by Asian American artists, is located in Little Tokyo, performing in the David Henry Hwang Theater. There is also the Aratani/Japan America Theater, which features plays and musical performances.
The Nisei Week festival is held every August, and includes a large parade, a pageant, athletic events, exhibits of Japanese art and culture, a taiko drum festival, the Japanese Festival Street Faire, a car show, and other events. A queen and court will be selected.
Areas inside of Little Tokyo
- Naiku - A Shinto Shrine
- Biiru Resutoran
- Himeru Niwa
- Taki
- Mizu Shōbai
- Izakaya
- The New York Japanese School - Nihonjin gakkō
Note: This is a creation for OS, Little Tokyo is not an actual neighborhood in NYC, but instead was created as a nod to our former setting of Tokyo.
