Updates
Wat Misaka Recap
Wat Misaka Recap
On February 15th, Bruce Alan Johnson and Christine Toy Johnson’s film Transcending: the Wat Misaka Story was screened in a special engagement at the Japan American Theatre in Little Tokyo. The groundbreaking film tells the little-known story of Wataru “Wat” Misaka, the first ethnic minority to play in the NBA. Misaka, a 5’7” point guard, was a key player for the University of Utah as they captured the 1944 NCAA and 1947 NIT basketball championships. He was subsequently drafted in the first round of the 1947-1948 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks (coincidentally the same year Jackie Robinson joined Major League Baseball and Wally Yonamine suited up as the first JA player in the NFL). Transcending is a fantastic film that juxtaposes Wat’s success with the very real, very difficult effects of WWII on Japanese American lives. He quickly emerged an inspiration and a voice for many Japanese Americans facing uncertainty and hardships at home during the war.
Filmmaker Christine Toy-Johnson, JACCC Executive Director Chris Aihara, Wat Misaka, & LTSC Executive Director Bill Watanabe
To our surprise, Mr. Misaka agreed to make an appearance at the screening, flying in from Phoenix, where he was honored as an “NBA Legend” at NBA All-Star Weekend. He arrived and took questions from the audience, then stuck around to sign some autographs. It was absolutely extraordinary to shake the hand of an NBA legend, the “Jackie Robinson of basketball”.
City Council Gives Rec Center a Green Light
City Council Gives Rec Center a Green Light
We are excited to announce the approval of the long-awaited MOU to develop the Rec Center on City property at the St. Vibiana site!
On September 23, 2008, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to grant LTSC a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build a multi-use facility for sports and community activities in Little Tokyo. This vote, years in the making, finally gives our community the green light to move forward with the Little Tokyo Recreation Center as envisioned by hundreds of supporters over the past decades.
Along with the recently announced Nikkei Center at 1st and Alameda, the Rec Center will help re-establish and expand the Little Tokyo neighborhood in a period where Little Tokyo faces unprecedented changing dynamics.
We would like to thank and recognize the efforts of Councilwoman Jan Perry, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the Little Tokyo Service Center, the Rec Center Board of Directors, and the countless community supporters who have steadfastly persisted to make the Rec Center dream become a reality. We also wish to recognize the long-time support of State Senator Gil Cedillo, who has been a steadfast supporter since the early days of the campaign(Cedillo's Support).
Please stay tuned for more exciting announcements and news, including a community wide event celebrating this historic partnership!
A Glimpse of the Future
A Glimpse of the Future
Many people always ask, "What is going to happen at the Rec Center when it is built?". We put together a short video to answer this question, and you can check it out online now. Thanks to Tad Nakamura for producing this video.
Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story
Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story
Sunday Feb 15 2009, 2pm
Aratani Theater at JACCC Plaza
Join us at 2pm on February 15, 2009, as Little Tokyo Service Center and the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center present a screening of Transcending: The Wat Misaka Story at the Aratani Japan America Theater in Little Tokyo.
Bruce Allen Johnson and Christine Toy Johnson’s film chronicles the inspirational life of Wataru (Wat) Misaka, the first ethnic minority to ever play in the National Basketball Association. In 1947, The New York Knicks drafted him in the first round after a decorated college career at the University of Utah, where he led the Utes to the 1944 NCAA and 1947 NIT championships. A 5’7” point guard, Misaka played for the Knicks during the 1947-1948 season and was inducted into the Utah Sports hall of Fame in 1999.
A showing of Justin Lin’s documentary, Crossover, will precede the feature presentation. Crossover provides a contemporary glimpse into Japanese American basketball leagues and their place in Japanese American culture since World War II.
Bring your teams, friends, and families to learn the story of an inspirational Japanese American athlete!
Ticket Information:
$10 General Admission, $8 Students, Seniors, Groups 10+
$7 JACCC, JANM & VC Members
For tickets visit www.jaccc.org or call (213) 680-3700
LTRC Celebration Press
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Bill Watanabe at
(213) 473-3030 or Scott Ito
at (213) 473-1636
Southern California Families Celebrate the Little Tokyo Recreation Center
Kickoff Event Draws Hundreds to Little Tokyo in Support of Gym Project
(Los Angeles, CA) On November 8th, hundreds of families and youth gathered to celebrate the recent Los Angeles City Council approval to move forward on plans for the Little Tokyo Recreation Center (Rec Center), a multi-use facility for sports and recreational activities in Little Tokyo. Hundreds of local children attended this historic event, a large majority of them wearing uniforms from youth basketball leagues and martial arts schools from across the Greater Los Angeles Area. The midday festivities also included speeches from community leaders, traditional Japanese taiko drum performances, martial arts demonstrations, and a basketball skills competition. The event signaled the official start of the Rec Center capital campaign to raise $15 million.
