Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-11
Los Angeles
Lille Toxic
City in Itself
OIdsters Wear Kimonos,
Youths Americanized
BY DAMON RUNYON :

." TITLE TOXIC the Japa-
- nese district of Los
hard by the magnificent
city hall, is a city within a city.
1t is the largest Japanese
colony in the United States and
covers eight by six blocks in
the eastern section of Los
Angeles, the heart of district
being at First and San Pedro
streets.
The population is about 10000,
native and foreign born, and
the japanese there have their
own banks, daily newspaper.
department stores, theaters and
even schools where the Japa-
nese language may be learned,
though the attendance has been
somewhat sparse since the freez-
ing of Japanese funds.
The editor OF the newspaper.
27-year-old Togo Tanaka, leader
of the Nisei, or native born
Japanese and graduate OF the
University OF Southern Cali
fornia, is thinking of chucking
out the Japanese type.
He proclaims himself intensely
American like most of the young
native born who say they have
nothing in common with the
country of their parents.
GONE Of the older japanese
~ residents of Little Toxic"
have been in the United States
40 years or more and many
stick to their old country Gus
toms. sleeping on the floor and
cooking on braziers and using
Japaneseegroceries, but the kids
want beds, carpets. draperies.
and all modern conveniences
Occasionally you see an old
ster in Little Toxic" walking
the streets in kimona and
sandals. The younger genera
ton wears American clothing.
the girls going in for sweaters
and We might say with fine
effect.
There is a Buddhist temple in
Little Toxic" Many of the
business signs are in Japanese.
Nearly all Japs are frugal and
many OF the citizens OF the
colony are well-to-do, some rich.
There are no saloons or cock
tail bars in the district, and no
hard liquor but you can get the
japanese wine, saki, in the res
taurants- and also beer
Gambling and prostitution are
rare there. though the Japs are
great gamblers.
They play cards and have a
fondness for the good old
American institution OF craps.
Their record for law and order
is pretty good Few if any OF
them arc in American politics
in any form.
THE Little Toxic folks are
Il clannISh. II is said they
would like 10 mix with the
Americans but have always
been deferred by an inferiority
complex. The ajority speaks
good English.
The district is in one OF the
oldest and most historic Sec
tionS Of Los Angeles. not far
from the founding center of the
City, the Plaza.
The buildings are mainly two
and three story bricks with
some taller buildings ana two
five story hotels.
The houses in which the Japa-
neSe live are the old residences
of the Los Angeles of another
era. A small settlement of Chi
nese begins at one border Of
Little Toxic" moved there
when the old Los Angeles China
town was evacuated for the
new Union Station. but Of course
the Chinese do not like the
Japanese and do not want TO be
mistaken for them.
The Chinese consul. T. x.
Chang, is going TO issue buttons
10 his people to prevent the
Caucasians getting the two ma
tionalities confused.
THE Japanese in Little Toxic"
were pretty much scared last
Sunday when the war broke
out. especially when hundreds of
sightseerS f1ocked into the dis
trict 10 see what was going on.
The old Japan-born kept TO
their houses but the youngsters,
conscious of their Americanism.
were not at all bashful. There
was no rough stuff by the sight
seers. which seems TO have sur
priSed the old folks.
II is rare for the Los Angeles
Japanese TO intermarry with
other races, even the Ameri-
canized kids stick TO their own
when il comes to matrimony.
There are lots of japanese
youngsters in the lower grade
schools. the high schools and
the universities OF Southern
California, but inter-racial ro-
nance is almost wholly unknown
even there.
Copyright isT by King Features
Distributed by International News Service
ONE YEAR AGO TODAY
Dee. II, 1910