About

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to provide a facility in Downtown, Los Angeles for youth, families and seniors that offers sports, community activities, and opportunities to connect visitors to Japanese American culture and a vibrant, sustainable Little Tokyo.

Testimonials

“No project has symbolized the grit and tenacity of Little Tokyo in recent years more than what will be known as Terasaki Budokan.”

– Gwen Muranaka (senior editor at Rafu Shimpo)

Maia Kuida-Osumi of Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“I know that it will be a great opportunity for other Japanese American kids like myself to reconnect with our culture and history through Little Tokyo… Budokan will help bring us closer to our roots.”

– Maiya Kuida-Osumi (Budokan volunteer)

Testimonials

“Kendo’s priority is to have proper etiquette, proper manners and to be humble.  It’s building your character.  For the young Gosei or 5th generation Japanese Americans, Budokan will be essential to their future.”

– Masashi Shikai Sensei (US Kendo Federation)

Testimonials

“I am looking forward to seeing other kids come down to eat mochi ice cream and wearing basketball jerseys in Little Tokyo every weekend at the Budokan!”

– Cailene & Nora Ito (Budokan Volunteers)

Silvia Yoshimizu Yee Headshot featured by Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“Little Tokyo is a place that has shaped my identity and the place I hope will shape my daughter’s identities as well.  We have the power to shape Little Tokyo’s evolution and I believe in everything the Budokan promises to achieve.”

– Silvia Yoshimizu-Yee (Straight Outta Little Tokyo Organizer)

Natalie Nakase Headshot featured by Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“The Budokan is not just a place to go to be active, you could go to Little Tokyo and learn about our culture. It’s almost our responsibility, we have to keep our culture going and we have to keep our traditions alive.”

– Natalie Nakase (LA Clippers Assistant Coach)

Randy Masada Headshot featured by Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“Growing up with JA activities like basketball and church has taught me values that applied on and off the court. I have made life-long friends and I hope younger generations will have the same opportunities and experiences at Budokan.”

– Randy Masada (Budokan Volunteer)

Bill Watanabe Headshot featured by Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“For the past few years, it’s been ‘tomorrow’ or ‘someday.’ Now, it’s ‘today,’ it’s for real.”

– Bill Watanabe (Former LTSC Executive Director)

Adina Mori-Holt of Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“I’ve been waiting to play in the Little Tokyo Gym since I was a teenager. I’ll be 40 when the Budokan opens in 2020 and I am so excited to see this community dream finally come to life. I wish my great grandparents were still around to see the Budokan open.”

– Adina Mori-Holt (Budokan Staff)

Tiffany Hashimoto Headshot featured by Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“The Budokan is a gift to the next generation. My parents will be able to watch me play basketball at the Budokan, and maybe even witness their grandchildren do the same.”

– Tiffany Hashimoto (Budokan volunteer)

Alan Kosaka of Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“I’ve always believed that this project was beyond sports. I wanted kids to really understand the meaning of Little Tokyo, its roots, its history and why it is an important place to remember.”

– Alan Kosaka (Budokan Capital Campaign Chair)

Aidan Kosaka of Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“The younger generations will finally have a place to play basketball and get back in touch with their roots. It will serve as a center where the upcoming generations can have a place to meet and have fun.”

– Aidan Kosaka (Budokan Volunteer)

Mike Murase Headshot featured by Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“We always saw Budokan as a community-wide effort that will have a tremendous benefit for all of us, especially for children, A Home Court for All.”

– Mike Murase (Budokan Campaign Director)

Keith Terasaki Headshot featured by Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“We are happy to see Budokan named after my father. He was proud to be a Japanese American and he wanted the Japanese American community to prosper. As JA families are spread all over the Southland, the Terasaki Budokan will provide Little Tokyo with a place where all generations can visit and feel like we belong.”

– Keith Terasaki (Terasaki Family Foundation)

Testimonials

“I tell each and everyone of you, make sure the Budokan gets built!”

– Jerry West (Former LA Laker)

Testimonials

“If it weren’t for rec centers, I would have no idea what I would be doing today. It was a safe haven for me, it was where I learned to play basketball. I encourage you to support your community, support the Budokan Project and go to this gym!”

– Norman Nixon (Former LA Laker)

Irene Simonian Headshot featured by Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“Little Tokyo is one-of-a-kind.’ I hear it every day from customers who come here. I think the Budokan will preserve the community spirit.”

– Irene Simonian (Bunka-do Proprietor)

Testimonials

“The Terasaki Budokan will be a unique space as not only does it get inspiration from Japanese tradition but will be quintessentially American… reflecting the diverse tapestry of Southern California.”

– Akira Chiba (Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles)

Jan Perry of Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“The Little Tokyo community is one of the most inclusive communities that I have ever seen. Everybody holds their arms open wide to people who want to enjoy Japanese art, food, culture, history and to understand the Japanese American experience.”

– Jan Perry (Former LA City Councilwoman)

Griffin Yamada Headshot featured by Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“LTSC has instilled in me a strong sense of compassion for the Japanese American community. The Budokan Project has allowed me to put that compassion to work.”

– Griffin Yamada (Budokan volunteer)

Scott Ito of Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“The Budokan was completely driven by ideas like a community garden so seniors living in the area could grow vegetables and have a safe walking path to get out in the open air.”

– Scott Ito (Budokan Project Director)

Testimonials

“The Budokan Project will provide a much-needed facility for youth, families, and seniors to enjoy community activities in the heart of Downtown LA. When completed, generations of visitors will have a unique opportunity to experience Japanese American culture while enjoying sports and other recreation activities. I am please to be able to provide funds needed to help make this dream a reality.”

– Hilda Solis (Board of Supervisors)

Dean Matsubayashi Headshot featured by Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“Terasaki Budokan will not only serve a diverse local population of all ages and income levels, but will also attract sports-minded and health-conscious users from across LA County.”

– Dean Matsubayashi (LTSC Executive Director)

Testimonials

“We feel like we’re losing a little piece of Little Tokyo’s soul. Things change and we want to evolve and be dynamic, but we don’t want to lose the core character of who we are, which can be somewhat undefinable.”

– Kristin Fukushima (Little Tokyo Community Council)

Testimonials

“Mitsubishi Electric is pleased to support Little Tokyo Service Center in development of the Terasaki Budokan facility in its efforts to help create a vibrant and sustainable Little Tokyo. We are honored to be able to contribute to this worthy cause.”

– Kent Hora (President & CEO of Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.)

Hayahiko Takase of Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“I believe this facility is really needed for Little Tokyo and the Japanese community. It started a long time ago, maybe 20 or 25 years ago… since then we have been trying to build this sports facility.”

– Hayahiko Takase (Little Tokyo architect interviewed in 2009)

Erich Nakano of Terasaki Budokan

Testimonials

“This facility will provide a space for recreational and afterschool program opportunities for local, low-income youth of all ethnicities– which is sorely lacking in downtown neighborhoods.”

– Erich Nakano (Deputy Director of LTSC)

Testimonials

“We are honored to have played a small part in funding the construction of this facility… soon the Budokan will be open and who knows, maybe the next athlete for the 2028 Olympic Games may come out of this community.”

– Renata Simril (President & CEO of LA84 Foundation)

BUDOKAN TEAM
Meet Our Staff

BILL WATANABE
FORMER LTSC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
tenure 1979-2012

DEAN MATSUBAYASHI
FORMER LTSC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
tenure 2012-2019

ERICH NAKANO
CURRENT LTSC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
tenure 2019-present

RYAN LEE
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
DIRECTOR
rlee@ltsc.orgcreate new email

MICHELLE CHAN
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
EVENTS MANAGER
mchan@ltsc.orgcreate new email

Terasaki Budokan's Kim Kawasaki

KIM KAWASAKI
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
kkawasaki@ltsc.orgcreate new email

AMELIA WALLACE
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
COMMUNICATIONS AND OUTREACH COORDINATOR
awallace@ltsc.orgcreate new email

staff photo

CASSANDRA FREDERICK
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
ADMINISTRATIVE AND SCHEDULING SUPERVISOR
cfrederick@ltsc.orgcreate new email

kristal

KRISTAL DE MARCOS
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
FACILITIES ASSISTANT
kdemarcos@ltsc.orgcreate new email

CADE OKOHIRA
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
FACILITIES ASSISTANT
cokohira@ltsc.orgcreate new email

kristen a.

KRISTEN AWAKUNI
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
FACILITIES ASSISTANT
kawakuni@ltsc.orgcreate new email

Capital Campaign Team 

Dean Mike featured by Terasaki Budokan

MIKE MURASE
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR
mmurase@ltsc.orgcreate new email

Terasaki Budokan's Scott Ito

SCOTT ITO
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
PROJECT DIRECTOR
sito@ltsc.orgcreate new email

Dean Alan featured by Terasaki Budokan

ALAN KOSAKA
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN CHAIR
akosaka@ltsc.orgcreate new email

Dean Adina featured by Terasaki Budokan

ADINA MORI-HOLT
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT

Dean Minako featured by Terasaki Budokan

MINAKO SHIRAI-FERRANTE
TERASAKI BUDOKAN
REAL ESTATE PROJECT MANAGER

Courtlyn Shimada of Terasaki Budokan

COURTLYN SHIMADA
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

Dean Chris featured by Terasaki Budokan

CHRIS AIHARA
SPECIAL PROJECTS

OUR FACILITY

Click below to learn more about our facility!

Terasaki Budokan Courtyard Overhead
Terasaki Budokan Courtyard
Terasaki Budokan Gym Interior
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