Little Tokyo, Past and Present

“Interactive Little Tokyo” was presented by FiF (Form follows Function), a place-based collaborative of media artists, on April 22 and 23 in Noguchi Plaza during the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. Co-presented by Visual Communications and the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, the multimedia exhibition had two components. “Walking with Grace,” a 360-degree virtual reality documentary, highlighted places in Little Tokyo through the perspective of Grace Chikui, a longtime resident. (J.K. YAMAMOTO/Rafu Shimpo)

Musician Arthur Nakane, a fixture in Japanese Village Plaza, sits with Chikui as he views the documentary. He appears in the film, providing accompaniment as Chikui sings “Koko ni Sachi Ari.” (Photo by Mike Murase)

“312 Azusa Street” was a historic site-specific map installation marking the original site of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1888 and Apostolic Faith Church in 1906, and the birthplace of Pentecostalism. The site was one of many downtown parcels owned by Bridget “Biddy” Mason, a former slave. (J.K. YAMAMOTO/Rafu Shimpo)