From left: Tim Yamamoto; Andrew Salimian of L.A. Conservancy; Keith Nakata; Rosalind Sagara of L.A. Conservancy; Donna Cottrell, vice president of Terminal Islanders Association; Consul General Kenko Sone; Terry Hara, president of Terminal Islanders Association; Robie La and Steve La.
By TIM YUJI YAMAMOTO
SPECIAL TO THE RAFU
Representatives from Los Angeles City Planning’s Office of Historic Resources (OHR), District 15 City Councilmember Tim McOsker’s office, The Los Angeles Conservancy, the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, and members of the Terminal Islanders Association made detailed and convincing presentations about historical preservation to the Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC) of the City of Los Angeles.
The meeting on June 5 was to present a nomination for a vote by the CHC for the two buildings located at 700-702 and 712-716 Tuna St. on Terminal Island to be declared a historic-cultural monument.
Last month, the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s 2025 listed the buildings as one of “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.”
Consul General Kenko Sone said, “I would like to support the proposed recommendations as the City Council declared the Terminal Island group’s Tuna Street buildings a historic-cultural monument. Since my arrival in Los Angeles in 2022, I have been greatly impressed by the history of the Japanese American community here, and there is this resilience.
“Terminal Island is a special place that was once the beloved home to as many as 3,000 Japanese Americans, filled with many cherished and nostalgic memories. It is a miracle that these two buildings remain standing today.
“Ambassador of Japan to the United States of America Shigeo Yamada also visited these buildings and recognized the importance of preserving these buildings. There’s a hope that these buildings will remain as a historic cultural monument into the future and the legacy of this community will be passed on to the future generations.”
Terry Hara, Terminal Islanders Association president, described the community’s feelings prior and after their forced removal at the start of World War II: “The Japanese village (was) comprised of fishing boats, stores, hotels, restaurants, cafes — all destroyed. And upon the return to Terminal Island after World War II, nothing was left except the two buildings and their memories, their fond memories, their happy memories. Memories of home sweet home, their furusato.
“Furusato” is a Japanese word, a word that is the embodiment of home sweet home, and it carries a strong emotional connection representing a place of nostalgia, belonging and deep-seated memories.
“Today’s application for recommending the naming of the historic-cultural monument of what these two buildings represent is an important story, it’s an American story, a story that needs to be told for generations to come in honor of our ancestors and their families.”
The commissioners unanimously voted yes to the motion. The nomination will now move on to the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee of the City Council before the final vote by the full City Council.