One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
LA's historic Japanese American paper priced out of Little Tokyo
The nation's last remaining Japanese American daily newspaper The Rafu Shimpo is moving from downtown Los Angeles to Montebello.
(
Anne Cusack
/
Getty images
)
Topline:
It's an end of an era for the country’s only Japanese American daily newspaper. After 122 years in Los Angeles, the Rafu Shimpo is leaving for Montebello.
Listen
0:42
L.A.'s historic Japanese American paper priced out of Little Tokyo
Why now: Publisher Michael Komai said in a Rafu Shimpo story announcing the move that rising rents and gentrification have made it impossible to stay in L.A.'s Little Tokyo — a neighborhood now listed among America’s most endangered historic places.
Same mission: Despite the move, Komai said, the Rafu will continue to serve and represent the Japanese American community with the same dedication it’s shown in coverage through two global pandemics and wars that included chronicling Japanese American incarceration during World War II.
Where the paper is going: Its new location is 1300 W. Beverly Blvd. in Montebello.
Go deeper: Preservation Group Says 'Endangered' Little Tokyo Needs Support
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
