Read on Twitter
My concerns were deleted from Insta so just want to make sure they were heard: Ur moving into a historically POC neighborhood of people who have been displaced b4 bc of white fear. How are you planning to support my community & engage meaningfully w/ our history beyond donations? https://twitter.com/MokuyobiThreads/status/1357425597148844037
U told me ur not a gentrifier so now you have to prove that bc shutting down valid criticism isn't doing it. Here's to hoping u use LT artists for your "Little Tokyo designs" & do some research & see us as a vibrant community & not a "kawaii" place to be commodified for ur profit
Oh also, @MokuyobiThreads ? Little Tokyo =/= Japan. We have our long term connections with Japan AND ALSO our own vibrant history of resistance and power and culture and business. These reductionist excuses of "U.S.-Japan" relations are tired and simply inaccurate.
P.S. For what it's worth... this isn't an attack. But I have seen people and places I care about in this neighborhood pushed out again and again by "well meaning" new businesses and every thing I have seen abt this company's response in the last 24 makes me feel VERY nervous.
just learned that Little Tokyo Cosmetics (50+ yr old legacy business in LT that was the first place in the US to carry Shiseido) just closed bc the landlord of the SAME PLAZA that @MokuyobiThreads is moving into (which Mokuyobi said was "affordable") refused to renew the lease
and Footland (which was across from the spot) closed earlier!! so total bullshit to say that an empty spot =/= undesirable and therefore fine to move into and gentrify which is what @MokuyobiThreads was implying!
going to keep adding to this thread but this post has a lot of helpful deleted screenshots and background info (ty LT artists <3) https://www.instagram.com/p/CLC199dj8ji/?igshid=1f9n75g73g8ft
also they opened up comments again on insta and are "apologizing"
also they opened up comments again on insta and are "apologizing"
Also, I changed my mind, @MokuyobiThreads. Don't make Little Tokyo merch at ALL unless you show that you can really and truly respect us. Still donate your profits though! And the name/logo need to go.
Okay finally....here are some Little Tokyo businesses and orgs to support w/ ur $$ instead of white gentrifiers!
- Little Tokyo Community Council (a glue that holds together orgs & businesses & people in order to support this vibrant home for so many): https://littletokyola.org
- Little Tokyo Community Council (a glue that holds together orgs & businesses & people in order to support this vibrant home for so many): https://littletokyola.org
- Nikkei Progressives ( @nikkeiprogress - many of the folks that brought this shit to light are part of NP - based in Little Tokyo, NP works for liberation and justice and solidarity within our community and beyond): http://nikkeiprogressives.org
- Bun-kado (a legacy business that has been open for SEVENTY FIVE years and sells many gorgeous gifts): https://www.instagram.com/bunkado_ltla/
Rafu Bussan (another 60+ y.o. legacy business where you can also get those bright colored clothing and beautiful home goods - open by appointment atm for COVID safety!): https://www.instagram.com/rafubussan/
Anzen Hardware (again, legacy business - do you need literally anything for your house or garden?? Anzen has it. I especially love getting seeds there + they sharpen knives and copy keys!) https://www.yelp.com/biz/anzen-hardware-los-angeles
Want to get educated & also get items that are selected to reflect our community's values?? Check out @jamuseum store! I know firsthand how lovingly http://janmstore.com is curated so shop now!
(also yes the formatting of this thread is a mess & it bothers me too)
(also yes the formatting of this thread is a mess & it bothers me too)
How could I forget @japangeles?! Want to see what meaningful engagement with the community/neighborhood looks like while also making really fking cool clothes? Get your Little Tokyo merch from Japangeles!! https://www.japangeles.com/
Want cute colorful things?? Blooming Art Gallery has so much fun stuff, including those super intricate pop-up greeting cards (and then you can get a drink from @CafeDulceLA after) https://www.yelp.com/biz/blooming-art-gallery-los-angeles
Popkiller for cute clothes and funky designs from a Japanese owned business! https://www.popkiller.us/
Okay hi everyone who is here, I’m going to end this with saying DONATE TO THE LITTLE TOKYO SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF FUND TO SUPPORT BUSINESSES IN THIS 130 YEAR OLD NEIGHBORHOOD WHO BRING SO MUCH VIBRANCY AND LOVE TO THIS PLACE I LOVE https://littletokyola.org/gofundme
