Japanese Contribution to LA

By Shigeki Matsuda

Japanese immigrants in the United States have brought their continuous aspiration to better their lives and become more prosperous. One of the main cities where Issei or the first generations Japanese reside is the city of Los Angeles. The early Japanese settlers faced many adversities: language, barrier, culture shock and prejudice were just some of them. Despite of all those difficulties, they had a will to survive. As a result, the Japanese have contributed to many facets of growth. The main Japanese contributions to Los Angeles have been in the form of economic growth through the high technology industry, the automobile industry and the tourism industry. In addition to these areas, the Japanese also contribute through academic institutions, permanent communities and entertainment industry to Los Angeles.

Japanese had discrimination as an obstacle in their process for economic growth from anti-Japanese frenzy. In spite of this series of malicious obstacles, the Japanese still proceeded to move forward and contribute as law-abiding citizens in Los Angeles and have become California's best-educated and fastest-growing racial group. (Davis 295)(Kang, K. July 12, 1998)

Issei arrived to the United States between the middle of 1880's to 1924. At that period, about 200,000 Japanese were permitted to immigrate into the US. The Issei in Los Angeles started working as laborers, gardeners, fishers and farmers. (Japanese American National Museum)

In 1937, there were 37 Japanese farmer's groups in Los Angeles. Meantime, many Wakayama-jin (the Japanese living in Wakayama prefecture) came to San Pedro near Los Angeles Harbor to pursue the fishing business. (Spickard)

The hardest trouble the Issei faced was with land ownership. They could hardly own land due to a law established in 1913. According to the law, only American citizens could own land, so the Japanese bought lands under their American friends’ name or through some other undercover mean to continue the agriculture. Later, they would make connections and open businesses. Once in business, they quickly formed associations with other Japanese Americans in their industry. They created small companies that would become giants later on.

(Bridge USA)

Japanese in that particular era had many obstacles before succeeding. The hard ship gave strength and endurance to strive in the city of Los Angles. Presently, obstacles have diminished for the Japanese American (2^nd and up generations). Japanese Americans are now able to flourish at a faster rate in social and economic growth.

Major Japanese industries contributing to local employment were transportation and automobile related industries (42,364 jobs), finance (13,102 jobs), electronics (11,435 jobs) and trade and commerce (10,925 jobs). (The Japanese Business Association)

Japanese industries are able to provide 77,826 employment to the residents of Los Angeles. This is a big contribution to the working class in Los Angeles.

High technology Industry

Los Angeles was an attractive location because it offered a combination of skilled employees and production cost lower than Japan. (Applied Economics September 1996) Due to these reasons, Japanese businessmen invested money in Los Angeles. The local government in Los Angeles has also benefits from the taxes of these businesses. These taxes are able to pay for street roads, free ways, libraries, schools and other public facilities. These are the growth of the city of Los Angeles.

Torrance, one area of Los Angeles country shows impressive growth because of the contribution of Japanese businessmen.

During the 1980's, Japanese gave rise the local economy through investment in Los Angeles. This was called the "Japanese Bubble period." At that time was the peak period during which Japanese businessmen came to Los Angeles to open businesses. (Spickard)(Davis 372)(Lin 1143)

In 1995, Japan invested over $34 billion in the California economy, making it the number one foreign investor in the California economy for that year. (California Trade Figures June 1, 1998) The major investment was in commercial real estate and land development. This growth gave Los Angeles City an upgrade of its metropolitan look.

From 1985 to 1993, Japanese investors bought $77 billion of US real estate. Changes in the Japanese economy have led them to sell 15 percent of those holdings over the last two years. They are expected to continue selling the property at a rate of $5 billion to 10 billion a year through the end of the decade. (CNN Financial News April 10, 1996)

A Japanese bank had $120 million invested in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Pasadena, but recently the Los Angeles County Public Employees Pension Fund bought it for $40 million. Ted Leary, president of Lowe Enterprises Investment Management and the architect of that deal, said the real estate market crash of the 1980s is the main reason the players in the big deals have changed. (CNN Financial News April 10, 1996)

There is an association called JBA (Japanese Business Association) in Torrance. Japanese companies who belong to JBA contain 480 and are growing. 14.7% JBA members are high technology companies. There are also high technology companies that are non-JBA members in Los Angeles and still gets growing. Japanese high technology companies in Los Angeles will have many years of growth ahead. In Japan, technologies advance approximately five years ahead of Los Angeles. For example, the Kansai international airport in Osaka has the only advance technology runway that extends out to the ocean with man-made fountain beneath it. This is one of many evidences, which shows how far ahead Japanese technology is. For this reason, the Japanese high technology companies in Los Angeles will continue to grow and prosper. The contribution from the companies will be giving jobs to Los Angeles residents and continuously paying taxes to support our local government.

Alpine Electronics of America, inc. is located in Torrance and also produces OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) for Honda, BMW, Jaguar, Volvo, Soak, Peugeot, general motors, and Chrysler. This business operation generates sales revenue extremely, and fortunately it's part of Los Angeles County. (Dalton pp110-111)

Seiko instrument USA inc. was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Torrance. They employ more than 5000 people nationwide. The revenue they generate through the Torrance office is substantial for Los Angeles County. (Dalton 118)

In Pasadena at one time, powerful winds at a speed of 110 to 150 miles per hour damaged homes ripped roofs off of houses, demolish mobile homes, and uproot large trees. Due to the ordeal, Japanese minds contributed technology to measure the intensity of tornado effect. Dr., Theodore Fujita gave rise to the Fujita Scale to analyze the dangerous winds and take preventive measures. (Davis 153)

Long Beach has been struck by many tornados. Houses were blown off their foundations. The Fujita Scale was used for this matter well. (Davis 172)

Japanese contributed in technology that helps prepare for the protection of homes and businesses from tornados. This was a way to counter major disasters and lessen the severity of loss. Technology is in extreme importance for the advancement of mankind socially as well as economically. Japanese contributed a great share of technology for the growth of Los Angeles

Automobile Industry

Japanese car manufacturers brought foreign investment, particularly from the Pacific Rim, which has been crucial in local cites’ recent economic evolution. During 1986 to 1990, Japan’s proportion of the foreign investment into the US was 43%. (Lin 1143) The top Japanese automobile makers--Honda and Toyota-- now face their national headquarters in Torrance. (Dalton 29)

Toyota Motors Corporation headquartered its operation in Torrance, which distributes to 49 of the 50 states in the US. (Dalton 98)

American Honda Motor Co., inc. expansive 100-plus acres site operation is also located in Torrance. Honda employs 58000 people in 68 plants and 41 counties. In Los Angeles County alone houses 8000 employees. (Dalton 124)

There are 1160 independent dealerships that employ approximately 65000 people nationwide. Its subsidiaries employ 4294 people in the US. 2000 people are employed in the Massive Torrance Complex in Los Angeles Country.

(Dalton 98)

Japanese companies not only manufacture good cars but the companies also provide employment for many other people besides the people in Los Angeles. This big contribution helps a lot of people in Los Angeles.

Low-riders cruising to Japanese market with their street-hugging cars with hydraulic lifts are famous for being made in the hood, pieced together by backyard enthusiasts and body shops from South Central to East Los Angeles. (Mitchell, L.J. July 14, 1996)

Japanese were very proud to have Japan-made cars that was reliable quality to make its first sales establishment in Los Angeles. Japanese automobile industries are considered as top business leaders among the world. This gives Los Angeles a good reputation also.

Tourism industry

The combination of cultural diversity and warm weather makes Los Angeles an attractive tourist district. For the Japanese tourists in particular, the savings in expenses such as accommodations, food and admission to attractions increases the appeal of Los Angeles.

In 1963, Little Tokyo started to rebuild. Big Japanese companies and banks including Kashima International made a consortium and built the New Otani hotel and the Japanese village

in Little Tokyo. Later, Weller Court and many other Japanese squares were built and in 1992, the Japanese American Museum was opened. In 1999, the new building is opened and became a major sightseeing spot. (Bridge USA)

In 1997, 1,256,000 Japanese tourists came to United States. Out of those, 848,000 came to Los Angeles. In 1998, 722,000 Japanese tourists came to Los Angeles. (Los Angeles Convention and visitors bureau) (Tourism Industries, International Trade Administration) These vast amounts of Japanese tourists were responsible for the high income generated by the tourism industry.

Japanese tourists generally visit amusement parks as Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knots Berry Farm and Magic Mountain. The Japanese young generations prefer to go to Melrose Street for shopping, while the old generations go to Rodeo Drive. Besides Melrose Street and Rodeo Drive, new districts would be South coast plaza, Universal City walk and Ontario mill.

Today, with the recent down sizing of the aerospace industry, the Los Angeles tourism/hotel/entertainment sector has emerged as the largest employer for this giant industry. Japanese contributed their share by purchasing and managing the Universal Studios. (Davis 393)

Six Flag Magic Mountain is 30 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles. This theme park has a 41-story-high "Superman" ride, which attracts a lot of the Japanese tourist. (Davis 172)

Japanese visitors frequently stay in Los Angeles for an approximate period of 5 days to 1 week, just enough time to visit the destinations previously mentioned. 79% of Japanese travelers stay at Hotels, only a few have the opportunity to stay at the private home of relatives or friends. (Tourism International Trade Administration)

Most of these visitors arrive by plane. Public transportation in Los Angeles is scarce in contrast with Japan, where public transportation by train or bus is easily available. Since an International driver's license allows one to drive in California for up to one month, 27% of Japanese tourists use rental cars during their stay. Others use hotel limousines or taxis. (Kashuba)

Most businessmen coming from Japan likes to play golf. It costs about two hundred US dollars to play in Japan, and a spot must be reserved three months ahead of time. However, in Los Angeles, one can play golf at almost anytime and it costs about twenty to thirty dollars. Due to the cost difference between Japanese yen and US dollars, the Japanese businessmen and tourists come to LA for golf and leisure times. It's called " Super Yen." The money spent in Los Angeles is a good source of support to Los Angeles economy. (Davis 372)

A baseball player Hideo Nomo himself alone contributed to Los Angeles. IN 1995, he joined a major league "Dodgers" after leaving from Japanese league "Kintetsu Buffalo's." He is the second Japanese major leaguer. He stroke out one after another by forkballs made by his owns way known as "Tornado swing," and created "Nomo sensation." In that year, he participated All-star game as a starting pitcher for National league and led the league victory by the score 3-2. In those days, a lot of Japanese came to Los Angeles just to see him from Japan. (Bridge USA)

Japanese are well known for being a workaholic. Japanese businessmen have to balance their lives with vacations to reduce stresses. Due to language barriers, they rely on Japanese American tour companies to give a proper tour in Los Angeles. Los Angeles has many places to tour and satisfy a tourist. Los Angeles makes a lot of money from the tourism industry.

Academic institutions

In 1994, there were approximately 40000 Japanese nationals in the Southland. According to Japanese Chamber of Commerce, there are 33630 Japanese international students in Los Angeles. These students pay a foreign student's fee, which is more than ten times the amount for a resident student. Since these students are not allowed to work to support themselves in Los Angeles, they have to obtain all the money for living expenses from their families in Japan. (Census 2000)(Japanese Chamber of Commerce)(Moffat, S. April 4, 1994)

There are approximately 800 international students at LACC, and almost 300 of them are Japanese. This means that about 37% of all international students are Japanese and the number increase greatly every semester. (International Student Office)

Since the transportation in Los Angeles is scarce as I mentioned, most of Japanese students would save money in Japan to buy a car. All schools in Los Angeles who accept international students make a great amount of money from high international student fees. The main purpose of school is to teach student without the concern of money. But the school system in Los Angeles, the main purpose is to be a high income generating business where the Japanese international students are the majority clients.

Permanent Communities

After the end of the Pacific War in August 1945, 25,000 people of 112,000 interned Japanese Americans returned to and around the city of Los Angeles by the end of 1945. (Japanese Chamber of Commerce)

By 1910 there were many Japanese American communities in Los Angeles. Small businesses, usually run by families, served the community. The capital came from savings, community-based rotating, and credit associations. (Japanese American National Museum)

Restaurants, hotels, boarding houses thrived as did barber shops, tailors, provision stores, shoe shops, laundries and pharmacies. Japanese businesses kept pace with the growth of Issei in agriculture. Japanese shop keepers, restaurants and produce distributors relied on the fruit and vegetables that they got from Issei farmers. (Japanese American National Museum)

By 1920's there were a number of Japanese hospitals in America. Kuakini hospitals in Hawaii and the Japanese hospital in Los Angeles were among the best Known. (Many Issei were service workers, either in restaurants and hotels or as domestic workers. "Schoolboys" and girls did housework for families in exchange for room board and small wages. (Japanese American National Museum)(Rasmussen, C. Feb 1, 98)

Many Issei were serving workers, either in restaurants and hotels or as domestic workers. " Schoolboys and girls" did housework for families in exchanges for room board and small wages. (Japanese American National Museum)

Among the different Japanese American Communities in Los Angeles, two largest communities are located in Little Tokyo and Torrance. There are many other communities in Los Angeles including "East San Gabriel Valley, Gardena Valley, Harbor District, Hollywood, Pasadena, San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel, Santa Monica, Norwalk, Sun Valley, Pacoima and Venice. (The Nikkei Federation, Coordinating Council of Japanese Community Centers)(Fox, S. October 6, 1998)(Hwangbo, K. November 7, 1995)) Little Tokyo was the center for the Japanese American community as early as the 1880s, when immigrant railroad laborers found inexpensive boarding houses along 1^st Street. (Rauzi, R. Jan 21, 1999)

There is another Japanese community known as "Little Osaka" in Sawtelle. About 40 to 50 years ago, Sawtelle was well known for its Japanese nurseries. Now the nurseries have almost disappeared. But in contrast to Boyle Heights, around Sawtelle the Japanese present is still very evident. (Kessing, C. May 28, 1995)

About 50 years ago, there was a Japanese community in East Los Angeles living along with Mexican American community. Now East Los Angeles is almost completely a Mexican American community. There are only handfuls of Japanese living in East Los Angeles, mostly senior citizens. The only visible traces of the old Japanese community are two Buddhist temples around Fourth Street and Soto Street. Also sometimes the Japanese American senior citizen can be seen playing gate ball in Boyle Heights' Evergreen Park. (Gold, M. March 23, 1996)

Los Angeles is a beautiful city with a lot of green. Toshiko McCallum, a reference librarian from the Japanese American National Museum, says the early Japanese settlers made the base of the green of Los Angeles. (Japanese American National Museum)

Harry Nakayama, a gardener for almost five decades, is old school. He works slowly, methodically. A spry 76, he knows how to prune trees in bonsai fashion. (Zamichow, N. Dec 27, 1994)

According to the Little Tokyo Business Association, there are 63 Japanese restaurants in Little Tokyo. (The Little Tokyo Business Association)

This community has an impressive track record of growth. This community will continue to grow without a doubt.

Entertainment Industry

In December 1995, Japanese' Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. offered to sell 80% of MCA/Universal entertainment business. Seagram took the deal, paying $5.7 billion for Universal. (Hollywood math) Matsushita bought it for $6.6 billion. (The associated Press, December 30, 1990)

Matsushita also bought the MGM film library that contains some of the most sacred incarnations of mythical Hollywood. (Davis 396)

Japanese animation has a great deal of influence on the animation world. Original Japanese television series like " Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Tetsuwan Atom (Atomic Boy) and Jungle Taitei" have been brought to the US or the American studios. These series fascinate many people all over the world and also contribute to the entertainment industry in many facets.

Tezuka Osamu, the legendary "grand father" of modern Japanese comics whose works define the face of animation in Japan even to this day, began in the fall of 1950, the series entitled "Jungle Taitei" which was a model for a Hollywood animated movie " The Lion King." The story was set in the African jungle and described the events surrounding the jungle emperor, Panja, and his mate Eliga. The series main character, Leo, was born in captivity but escaped, returning to the jungle. The events of young Leo as he cones of age are the mainstay of the series. When Leo first made his escape from captivity, a human boy, Kenichi, from whom Leo absorbed lessons of compassion and responsibility, adopted him. When Leo ultimately returns to the deep jungle, he creates a civilization much like that of a human tribe, but composed of a variety of animals. In addition, contact with human both good and evil is frequent, as the deep jungle appears to be the source of a mysterious energy-bearing mineral, the moonstone.

The original "Jungle Taitei" series were shown in America's 7-'s show "Kinba the White Lion." Later, Tezuka Osamu continued the series with "Jungle Taitei Susume Leo" and the 1989-1990 remake of "Jungle Taitei." In 1994, Disney released their "original" film "The Lion King," which is regarded by many to be derived from "Jungle Taitei."

Although Disney officially denies all knowledge of "Jungle Taitei." And the story of "The Lion King" itself is quite different from "Jungle Taitei," the similarities between the main characters of "The Lion King" and "Jungle Taitei" are unsettling.

In "Jungle Taitei," the hero's name is Kimba, very close to Simba. The supporting cast of Jungle Taitei includes a talkative bird, a wise monkey, and a villainous uncle, with a scarred eye, named Claw. Crucial points in both works center around a heroic shot of Simba or Kimba standing on a jutting rock.

The character of Scar, the power hungry "black sheep" brother of Mufasa, takes the throne after his death. "Jungle Taitei" TV series, the villain Claw, who has a scar above his eye, takes over the throne in Kimba's absence.

Takayuki Matsutani, president of Tezuka Production in Tokyo, said there is some similarity between the animated creation on two counts: the son grow up to be the king's successor after his father's death, and the symbolic scene where Simba stands on a rock in " The Lion King," whereas in the Japanese version, the opening scene has Kimba standing on a rock. He also agreed there were similarity in the baboon, the bird, the hyenas and the evil lion.

The contributions of Japanese animation go beyond the obvious advantage for the studio using an already successful format. The Japanese animation handles sense of every type of emotion exceptionally well. There are moments of poignant sadness balanced with scenes of almost dreamlike joy. Both humans and animals learning to trust; even when the memories of past encounters urge them away from it. This seems to reside at the core of the series.

Furthermore, the " Jungle Taitei" series are considered to be made with children in mind, yet the messages they contain are taught at a very adult level. For example, one TV episode ended with a safari hunter who, when realizing that one of the animals he killed was about to give birth, broke down into sobs even as he assisted the dying mother's newborn into the world. A similar event occurs in another episode when Pagula, the elephant, whose distrust of humans is absolute, allows Higeoyaji to treat his son's deadly sickness. That such lessons can be contained in what is essentially children's programming. This is what raises the art form above the ordinary.

(Exclusive Jungle Taitei) (The Lion King FAQ wysiwyg)

Japanese involvement in the entertainment industry was a key factor in helping to speed up the growth of Hollywood. I supported this growth of the entertainment industry because I live in Los Angeles.

Conclusion

Among the very rich cultural diversity of California, the contributions by the Japanese from Japan and Japanese Americans are very valuable. Two examples of the areas of these contributions are the high technology and the automobile industries. Japanese investment in Torrance area brought companies like Alpine, Seiko, Toyota and Honda. Also in the area of tourism to Los Angeles, the Japanese contribute an important part of revenues. Regarding the academic industry, the Japanese international students are the majority. In the entertainment industry, the Japanese contribution is a unique style of its own. Mainly, providing examples and models for animation and stories. To the cultural richness of Los Angeles, the Japanese have contributed their gardening style and Japanese food through many Japanese communities. Japanese from all walks of life made many facets of contributions from the rich cultures of Japan to the city of Los Angeles.

Works cited

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