OUR HISTORY

Building a rec center in Little Tokyo was a community dream for 30 years until it became a reality. Little Tokyo Service Center took over the project in 1994 and brought it to the finish line. We couldn’t have created this home court for ALL without all of the community support we received throughout the years- whether that was putting together fundraising events, raising money for our capital campaign, or spreading the word.

Having a rec center in Little Tokyo was important to the community for many reasons, one of which was for basketball. For the Japanese American (JA) community, basketball is more than just a sport. As a natural result of exclusionary policies (like the incarceration of people of Japanese descent during World War II), JA basketball leagues and other JA community groups became a haven for community-building, cultural practice, and joy during racially charged times. JA basketball leagues became an important gathering space and anchor for the community– a custom passed down through generations that connect youth to their cultural heritage. Terasaki Budokan honors the legacy of the JA community while strengthening its future by providing a space for everyone to come together and play, learn, be creative, and make connections.