Picture Perfect Day for a Rafu Shimpo Legend

The Little Tokyo and Boyle Heights communities come together to salute retiring photo editor Mario G. Reyes.

By ELLEN ENDO
RAFU CONTRIBUTOR

It was an eclectic group of people, to say the least.

There were friends from high school, a Nisei Week queen, a film-maker, a City Councilmember, Manzanar Committee members, community organization representatives, and an assortment of past and present Rafu Shimpo staff who came together for one purpose only: To express their admiration and respect for Rafu photo editor Mario Gershom Reyes.

Reyes, who began in the newspaper’s mailroom, working closely with then-publisher Akira Komai, was guest of honor at a retirement party held May 14 at St. Francis Xavier Japanese Catholic Center.

Party organizers anticipated a low-key event with about 30 people, but as word of the gathering spread, the guest list more than doubled.

The retirement party “brought together all sectors of the JA and Little Tokyo community,” as Little Tokyo Service Center’s Mike Murase put it. “Mario is a humble and compassionate human being and that came through in what he saw through the lens and in how many people admire him as a person.”

One of those admirers is Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León, who appeared at the event. In August 2022, de León honored Reyes with a City Council proclamation, noting that he immigrated with his family from Mexico City at the age of four. Eventually, the family settled in Boyle Heights, where Reyes attended Roosevelt High School.

Reyes began working in the mailroom at The Rafu while he was a senior at Roosevelt High School. With characteristic determination, he resolved to become a photographer. Primarily self-taught, it wasn’t long before this tall Latino in cargo shorts and a vest became a familiar figure at Japanese American community events.

“(Rafu Shimpo) wasn’t just a job for Mario, it was a calling,” stated de Leon. “Mario’s work was more than a collection of photographs. It is a vibrant chronicle of our city’s history because Japanese American/Little Tokyo history is Los Angeles history. It’s California’s history. It’s America’s history.”

Former co-worker Robert Carrillo started as a delivery boy and eventually was promoted to full-time mailroom worker. He and Reyes met in high school. Carrillo remembers him as “so kind, and so full-hearted.”

In a film, entitled More Than a Thousand Words, directed, produced and edited by Stephen Nagano in 2012, Reyes recalls giving himself the title “photo editor” because it impressed people.

During the 1980s, Reyes began to organize and catalogue the news-paper’s vast collection of photos. His system, which is still utilized today, makes it possible for Rafu’s photographic files to be accessible to future generations.

Darlene Kuba, who heads the Little Tokyo Nutrition Services program, helped organize the event and served as emcee. Carol Tanita of Rafu Bussan managed the party details, and catering was by Eric Hayashi of Cherrystones. 1963 Nisei Week queen Helen Funai Erickson represented every Nisei Week queen and princess that was ever photographed by Mario and his predecessors.

Speakers included former Rafu editor Naomi Hirahara, current senior editor Gwen Muranaka, and representatives from the offices of State Assemblymember Miguel Santiago and U.S. Congressman Jimmy Gomez.

Former Japanese section editor Yukikazu Nagashima commended Reyes for his “spot on” photographs that captured the precious moments that have become part of the community’s history.

Bruce Embrey of the Manzanar Committee expressed appreciation for Reyes’ frequent treks to the national historical site to commemorate the annual pilgrimage.

Others on hand to recognize Reyes were individuals from the Little Tokyo Historical Society, Japanese American Cultural & Community Center, Little Tokyo Business Association, Japanese American National Museum, Nisei Week Foundation, and Rotary Club of Little Tokyo.

What began as a retirement party became a symbolic group hug, To which Mario, who is regaining his strength after suffering a stroke last year, responded, “I’ll be back.”