By CHRIS KOMAI
After 49 years as a Little Tokyo mainstay, Mitsuru Sushi & Grill announced at a general meeting of the Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC) that it is closing on Aug. 28, selling its business to Little AkihabaraHoldings, Inc., who plan to develop the space on First Street near the corner of San Pedro into a J-Pop Culture Café.
The groundwork for the sale was laid in the summer of 2024 when Little Akihabara Holdings, Inc. worked with Mitsuru proprietor Mamoru Hanamure to develop an anime pop-up café in Mitsuru’s space. Annually, the Los Angeles Convention Center hosts Anime Expo, which attracts over 400,000 enthusiasts over four days in early July. Many of these attendees visit Little Tokyo and businesses like Anime Jungle, a short walk from Mitsuru’s location.
During the pandemic, Mamoru and Dora prepared bentos for pickup and for delivery to seniors via a partnership with the Little Tokyo Service Center.
Because of that collaboration, Little Akihabara Holdings, Inc. President Nobuyuki Yamamoto noted at the LTCC general meeting that “Mamoru-san and I have built a friendship. He has shared many stories with me about the hardships faced by pioneers in building and nurturing the Little Tokyo community, as well as their deep affection for the Japanese community. Going forward, I inherit the spirits of Mamoru-San and all of you, and our company will aim to contribute to the continued prosperity of the Little Tokyo community.”
In a 2010 story by Jonathan Gartrelle in the online outlet Discover Nikkei, Hanamure reflected on his family’s culinary roots in Japan and how starting a restaurant in Little Tokyo was a natural decision given the presence of many Issei and the Japanese-speaking community at the time. When the neighboring Kyodo Drug Store closed, he expanded Mitsuru into a full restaurant with booths, tables, and eventually a sushi bar.
Hanamure also recalled how Little Tokyo evolved. In the early days, he sourced supplies from local grocers, who in turn became his customers and friends. “Before, if I had a problem or an issue, any one of my customers would come in and sit down to have lunch with me and talk about it. The customers were more like friends and family.”
But he adapted to the times so that eventually most of his staff was not Japanese. In the story, the writer observed that Hanamure “has an overall positive outlook on the changes that Little Tokyo has undergone and praises the present diversity of the community. He believes that Little Tokyo might not be the most accurate name in terms of describing the neighborhood, but he enjoys seeing Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, Mexicans and Americans all enjoying his food and the history of the Little Tokyo.”
Asked how he feels about retiring, he observed, “It’s kind of mixed feelings, but (my wife) Dora and I are still healthy, and I’ve been having Dora work with me every day at the restaurant, so now it’d be nice to take her to other places and if possible, I’d love to go back to fishing.” Hanamure expressed excitement for what Yamamoto plans to do because it’s different and hopes it will be good for Little Tokyo.
One of Yamamoto’s goals for the new restaurant is to make “Little Tokyo a hub for Japanese subculture. As fellow Japanese community members, we have always considered how we can contribute to preserving the businesses and history of Little Tokyo.
Message from Mitsuru Grill
Our beautiful restaurant will be closing its doors on Aug. 28, leaving behind wonderful moments we will forever treasure in our hearts.
To our customers — our extended family — who have shared their lives with us, it has been an honor and a privilege to be part of yours. Thank you for trusting us, for helping us, and for making Mitsuru Grill belong to all of us. It has been a place of comfort, peace, and harmony.
The years we spent together — with friends and family, sharing smiles and kindness — will never be forgotten. We remember the times with our mothers, grandmothers, friends, and loved ones so dearly. This is what has made Mitsuru Grill so special.
Our restaurant will always be remembered. Thank you to everyone — here and in heaven — who has come through our doors over these past 49 years. Special thanks to our landlord, Uyeda-san and family, and to all the Little Tokyo organizations. Great job, Megan, Kristin, and your teams! Please continue to support Little Tokyo businesses.
God bless you all.
— Mamoru and Dora Hanamure and staff members
Memories of Mitsuru
I’ve known Mamoru since the late ’80s, and he was a trailblazer back in the day. He opened the first toy store here on the historic [First Street] block and had a large Ultraman standing in the front. I remember he put a small blow-up pool in front and had toy ducks and whales shooting water upward and swimming.
When he took over Kyodo Drug’s food counter is when I became more familiar with Mamoru. He put a 24-hour automatic noodle machine in the front window. And after that, he made the sushi counter with the sushi being made in the window, similar to Mitsuru Café’s Imagawayaki. The drugstore closed and Mamoru took over that half and expanded the restaurant.
In the early ’90s, Mitsuru stored all the Little Tokyo Public Safety Association equipment for the volunteer patrol and became a center point for the community. Mamoru, like all the rest of Little Tokyo, was suffering through some bad times. Mamoru also was one of the early patrol volunteers, patrolling the streets at night alongside the LTPSA group. He organized the restaurants to support the volunteer patrol and was one of the head people to bring input to the issues of the community.
Mitsuru became our meeting point, prior to opening the Koban. We stored and charged our flashlights and radios there and stored our LTPSA jackets there. During those days, Mitsuru, open for breakfast at 7 a.m., became the meeting place for many groups. At that time, it was the only breakfast place in Little Tokyo.
Mitsuru and all its staff have over the years become friends to us all. Where else can you go in Little Tokyo and be welcomed by your first name? We will all miss that. I wish Mamoru, Dora, the kids Kaori and Mika, and all the staff the best. We will miss you, but I’m sure now Mamoru and I can have some time to go fishing now, like we did many years ago.
Have a wonderful retirement. (Hope I am right behind you!!!)
Thank you, Mamoru, for all you’ve done for Little Tokyo!
— Brian Kito
There are very few places in LT like Mitsuru, where you could gather and talk as long as you wanted. Since the ’90s and up to almost 2020, NCRR (Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress) would meet monthly at Mitsuru to plan the general meetings. After a while Dora got to know what each person was going to order.
I am not sure if Jim Matsuoka came to the NCRR general meeting for the discussion or for the lunch afterwards with everyone at Mitsuru. He would be the one leading the way.
It was the place that the 9/11 vigil was planned and the place that a small celebration of life was held for Koichi Ichikawa, a bartender in LT, who, during his break between the lunch and dinner shifts, would return calls at LTSC to people with redress questions.
There is no other place like it.
— Kathy Masaoka
Mitsuru Grill was a place where community organizations felt very comfortable having their meetings and other get-togethers there. After almost every NCRR general meeting, we would have a nice, cozy lunch at Mitsuru. Dora always greeted us with her warm smile and welcome.
Many of us would order our “regular.” Some of us would check to see if they had beef stew as a special for the day. If so, we would definitely order it.
The NCRR Coordinating Committee always had its meetings there, usually for dinner. A few months ago, Dora asked me how “the ladies” were doing and told me to wish them the best.
— Richard Katsuda
For so many years, NCRR members would meet up at Mitsuru Grill to eat and unwind after meetings. Mamoru and Dora made Mitsuru a welcoming place and never minded our laughter and crowding around one of the booths in the back.
It was Jim Matsuoka’s favorite place! He would order a healthy salad with his meal, but always got a side of fries and then passed them around the table. Shared French fries at Mitsuru. We will always remember.
— Kay Ochi
We in NCRR loved eating and meeting at Mitsuru Grill. We’re really going to miss Dora and all the crew at Mitsuru! Here’s a photo of the NCRR pro bono lawyer committee that worked to obtain redress for the many incarcerees who were denied redress. Many many meetings over coffee and meals were held at Mitsuru Grill!
— Janice Yen
Mitsuru Grill has been described as providing “comfort food,“ which is true. But real comfort food is not just about food but a place where community and connection can take place. So we will miss more than food but also a special place that brings people together.
— Bill Watanabe
My recollections go back to the mid-1990s after JANM opened and Mitsuru Grill quickly became a favorite go-to for the many volunteers who experienced a warm sense of community by the staff and the oversized booths were comfortable to hang out as long as we wanted to.
The variety of foods, especially the iconic gacha, kept the volunteers always returning to Mitsuru Grill. Mitsuru Grill remains a well-trodden intersection of the community from near and far.
— Michael Okamura
Dear Mamoru and the Mitsuru Grill Family,
Congratulations for having such a wonderful successful family business! You have served four generations of Miyatakes! As your next-door neighbor, Toyo and Archie enjoyed your breakfasts and my family enjoyed having lunch every Nisei Week. You even honored my in-laws by hanging their swordfish on your wall.
We thank you for your friendship with your family and entire staff. Have a great retirement, well deserved!
— The Toyo Miyatake Family
If the Mitsuru Grill booths could talk, they would share stories of community organizing and the care and love for J-Town. From honey-stung chicken and hamachi collars with Linda Mabalot, David Magdael and the VC crew while planning film festivals to gachas (always with Portuguese sausage) and Okinawan soba with our JACCC team to celebrate our community wins.
Arigatou to the Mitsuru Grill family for providing a community space for us over all these years.
— Leslie Ito
I have lots of fond memories of having meals at Mitsuru Grill. Cold Tofu board meetings, get-togethers after events, having breakfast with the Nisei Week Courts during the festival, Wednesday lunches with the JANM volunteers … so many wonderful moments that I will hold close to my heart.
Thank you, Mitsuru Grill for bringing so much joy and good food in our community. We will miss you!
— Helen Ota
Evelyn Yoshimura first brought me to Mitsuru Grill when I started working in Little Tokyo 16 years ago, and introduced me to Okinawa soba and getting the gacha with half chashu, half Portuguese sausage. Since then, I’ve spent countless hours at Mitsuru, and come to see how it is core to the heart and soul of Little Tokyo.
It’s a place for meetings, family gatherings, hang-outs, long lunches in the back booths, and above all — a place where you are guaranteed to run into someone you know. We will miss Little Tokyo’s unofficial living room, as well as Dora, Mamoru, and their team, but are so happy for their retirement and time to enjoy life.
— Kristin Fukushima