Nihonmachi

Nihonmachi, known Japantown, Japan Center, Little Osaka, is neighborhood Western Addition roughly within confines Sutter Street north, Geary Street south, Fillmore Laguna . It y three Japantowns continental United States — others Los Angeles San Jose. Nihonmachi formed after 1906 San Francisco earthquake . Most Japanese immigrants entered the United States through San Francisco y settled either south Market Street Chinatown . With 1906 earthquake, Nihonmachi, time, became biggest Japanese-American community United States.

When World War II broke , U.S. government Japanese Americans custody interned concentration camps. As y large sections neighborhood remained vacant, quickly filled y thousands African Americans South - industrial j California. Following , Japanese Americans returned, y efforts rejuvenate neighborhood. Most former Japanese-American residents San Francisco chose return after World War II related relocation, biggest Japanese-American community San Francisco today found Sunset neighborhood.

Japantown negatively impacted y redevelopment 1950's widening Geary Boulevard resulting destruction dozens Victorians. During massive redevelopment initiated y Justin Herman Western Addition 1960s through 1980s, large numbers African Americans pushed towards Fillmore neighborhood, towards Tenderloin, south towards Hunters Point where majority city's African American population resides today. Some Japanese returned, followed y Japanese immigrants investment Japanese government Japanese companies. Nihonmachi remains social shopping center city's Japanese-American population.