On Oct. 1, 1979 (10.1), three professional photographers, Tak Nakada, Kaoru Higuchi and Shinji Imoto, met and formed the US 101 Photo Club.
About a dozen professional, semi-professionals, and enthusiasts came together, quickly and immediately hosted a photo exhibit at Union Church on Third Street and San Pedro for Nisei Week.
This continued for years. Then the club moved the exhibit to the Higashi Honganji Temple in Little Tokyo. In 2014, the photo show was relocated to the Little Tokyo Towers.
The goal of the Club was to create images that would be useful to the Little Tokyo and Nikkei communities, as well as to preserve legacies for all time. As part of the club’s vision, in 1992, it hosted annual photo sessions with the Nisei Week Court, and soon after, created portraits of the Nisei Week selectees for showing at the annual festival.
Currently there are 15 members, and all of whom are constantly striving to polish their techniques and further their understanding of the art of photography.
From Nov. 7 to 15, the US 101 Photo Club will host celebrate its 36th anniversary displaying photos at the Doizaki Gallery, Japanese American Cultural and Community
Center, 244 S. San Pedro St. in Little Tokyo. Free and open to the public. Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 12 to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.; closed Monday.
A reception is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 7, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Community Room.