San Jose Japantown Today

Initially, most of the migrated workers and other emigrants from Japan established many communities called Japantown. In these communities many Japanese businesses were built along with the establishment of Buddhist churches and Japanese Christian churches . Japanese-language schools flourished, the first being established in 1902. By the 1930s, virtually every Japanese American community had its own nihongakko (language school) operated by a church or association where the students learned to speak English.

During the internment many of the hard earned businesses built up over many years had to be liquidated in a matter of weeks. The owners were told to sell everything they had in stock with devastating losses. Also many shattered careers could not be resumed because of the time that had past from the time of the internment camps until the time when everything finally reached a breaking point. By 1947, Japantown was rejuvenated with many reestablishment's of businesses and many families.

Japantown is defined as the commercial properties and businesses founded between First and Seventh Streets, both north and south sides of Taylor Streets and Jackson Street. Today, Japantown has diversified in many ways, for example, its members who live in the neighborhood as well as the businesses located throughout the small town have shown a great change by accepting other cultures into their own. Many of the local businesses located in Japantown are still owned and run by Japanese Americans and cater to this community, but since there has been a lot of diversity in the state of California especially in San Jose, there is a Mexican restaurant around the corner.

Located in the few blocks of Japantown are many services that are for the people who live in the community. There are many Japanese restaurants that serve traditional dishes, a Farmer's Market on Sunday mornings, grocery stores and traditional specialty shops.

picture of the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin

San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin, which was established in 1902, sits in a Japanese garden, and is still a local favorite landmark. It is located on Fifth Street and is surrounded by many other community organizations. The Japanese Language school for children and adults, Lotus preschool, Okida Hall, a century old theater that is now the home of the San Jose Taiko drummers and a Aikido school, and the Japanese American Museum, which has many family histories, historical pictures, private memoirs and other unpublished documents on Japanese American history with a special focus on the Santa Clara Valley.

The Wesley Methodist Church offers several services for its members such as counseling in a variety of areas such as marriage, grief, and spiritual guidance. the Methodist Church is also in charge of the Commercial Street Inn, a family shelter. The shelter provides a safe living environment for families, clothing and job search help. The Church also provides a monthly shelter dinner at the beginning of each month. Volunteers are set up each month to come cook and serve the 30 families living within the shelter.

Many of Japantowns resources are sponsored by the churches; however, these services are not limited to the followers. People outside of these organizations are encouraged to utilize the available resources.

The community has many statues and plaques that are scattered throughout San Jose's Japantown and are used to demonstrate what had happened and how the community is still united today. These are pictures of the three sided monument in front of the Issei Memorial Building on North Fifth st. in Japantown, San Jose.