We recently visited the Sacramento History Museum. We attended the opening of the museum's Japan Alley immersive exhibit, "Sacramento Japantown - Destroyed by Design." This exhibit shows the vibrant Japantown community, stores and residences that were demolished in the late 1950s and early 1960s, for a vision of a modern Sacramento downtown. At one time, Sacramento’s Japantown was the fourth largest in the US.
In the late 1940s. many Japanese returned to Sacramento after losing their homes and businesses to incarceration during WWII. After the war, they rebuilt their lives and community in this eight western block downtown area, only to find themselves in the late 1950s once again forced to leave. City politicians claimed this area was a slum; however, photos and personal recollections point to a vibrant community and more likely racist move by the local elected. The Sacramento Westend downtown area was, in fact, a segregated location for Asians (30%), Blacks (21%) and Hispanics (13%). 3,500 residents, 300 businesses and religious temples and churches were forced to relocate. Many of the businesses did not survive.
A few residents and business resettled near 10th Street, between T and W, sometimes referred to as "New Japantown." However, construction of an elevated section of Interstate 80 (now Business 80) once again forced a number of New Japantown residents and businesses to move again. Concrete structures served as barriers, with remaining stores suffering from reduced foot traffic and isolation from shoppers. Thus, the result was a population shift to the suburbs and closures of several longtime family businesses.
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| Courtesy of Californiamuseum.org |
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| Courtesy of Sactown Magazine |
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| Ouye Pharmacy Courtesy of Harold Ouye Family |
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| Former Pharmacy Location Courtesy artsandculture.google.com |
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| Courtesy of artsandculture.google.com |
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| Former Kobayashi Fish Market Location Courtesy of artsandculture.google.com |
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