January 19, 1956 — January 22, 2025
Mario Gershom Reyes was the photo editor of The Rafu Shimpo, Little Tokyo-based newspaper covering the Japanese American community since 1903. During his 40-year career. Mario documented the changes in and around Little Tokyo and the Japanese American community in Southern California. His work serves as a collective memory for the Japanese American community.
Born in Mexico City, January 19, 1956, Mario passed away on January 22, 2025, at his home in Boyle Heights at age 69 after a brief battle with cancer.
Mario a member of Soka Gakkai International – USA (“SGI-USA”), joining in 1983. The SGI is a Buddhist organization that practices Nichiren Buddhism. He was a proud alum of Theodore Roosevelt High School.
During his tenure as photographer for The Rafu Shimpo he covered innumerable events. Some of the most notable are the 1992 Los Angeles civil unrest, the O.J. Simpson trial, the 1994 Northridge earthquake, several presidential elections, COVID-19 pandemic and 30 Nisei Week Festivals and Queen Coronations. He also documented the evolution of the Manzanar Pilgrimage for 3 decades and covered the biennial Tule Lake Pilgrimage. He also photographed world leaders and celebrities such as the Heisei Emperor and Empress of Japan, President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune, Michael Jackson, Jesse Jackson, Muhammad Ali, Hideo Nomo, Tommy Lasorda, Shohei Ohtani, among others.
In September 2008, he was the lead photographer for the wedding of actor/activist George Takei and Brad Altman. Mario was honored by the L.A. City Council in 2022, was a Nisei Week Pioneer, also in 2022, and received the Pacific Southwest District Japanese American Citizens League Community Service Award in 2019. An exhibition of his work, “Obras de Luz,” was presented at the Japanese American National Museum, installed in December 2024. There is also a documentary on Mario, “More Than Words,” produced by Steve Nagano (2012).
Mario is survived by his brothers, Julian, Adrian; his sister, Hilda; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
A Celebration of Mario’s life will be held at SGI-USA El Monte Buddhist Center, 3401 Rio Hondo Ave., Suite 168, El Monte, CA 91731, Saturday, February 15, 2025, at 11 a.m. Mario requested no flowers or koden.