UPDATED Season 2. Episode 6. Terminal Island - Japanese Village. Part 3. UPDATED

Transcript

On August 20th, 2025, something rare happened on Terminal Island: the Los Angeles City Council voted to recognize two humble storefronts on Tuna Street as historic monuments.

To most passersby, they look like little more than weathered wood and stucco. But to the families who once filled this island with shops, barbers, cafés, doctors’ offices, and the rhythm of boats coming in at dusk, these buildings are proof that a community stood here — and mattered.

Alice and Donna, representing The Terminal Villagers, help us walk Tuna Street with our eyes open. What did these places mean then? What do they mean now? And how do we keep them standing long enough for the next generation to learn what was here?

Memories of Tuna Street

Joel: Alice, you said something powerful — that without these buildings, people wouldn’t know a village once existed here.

Alice: Yes. Without them, people would never know that our town was important because of the tuna fishing industry. People need to remember that.

Joel: Tell me more. What did Tuna Street represent?

Alice: Tuna Street was our Main Street — the Broadway of Terminal Island. That’s where the shops, restaurants, pool halls, and barber shops were. Everybody knew each other. You’d walk down the street, stop in at a shop, and always run into friends or neighbors. It was the heartbeat of the community.

Donna: And at the end of the street, the harbor was full of boats. Life was busy, but it was also close-knit. Everyone looked out for each other.

The Vote & the Buildings

Joel: What happened at City Hall this week?

Donna: The City Council gave final approval to designate the Tuna Street buildings as Los Angeles historic monuments. It passed unanimously.

Joel: And what were those two buildings originally?

Donna: One was a dry-goods store, and the other was a grocery store. Over the years, the Port leased them out to different tenants, and unfortunately many of the original features were altered. But the fact they’re still standing is a miracle — the Navy tore down almost everything else.

Personal Connections

Joel: How do these places connect to your memories?

Alice: Oh, there were cafés we visited often, like Mio Café. There was the barbershop, the doctor’s office upstairs, the dentist, and even a bank. I remember the fire station at the end of the street — as kids, we loved to peek at the fire trucks.

Even though I was young, those memories are vivid. I only wish I had been older to remember even more. Now, at 91, I realize there aren’t many of us left to tell these stories.

The Challenge of Preservation

Joel: What’s been the hardest part of this fight?

Donna: The fact that this history has never made it into textbooks. Thousands of Japanese Americans lived here before World War II, but after the village was destroyed, families were scattered. Without a presence in San Pedro, the story was forgotten.

Alice: And that’s why saving these buildings matters. They’re proof we existed here.

Hopes for the Future

Joel: How do you want future generations to experience this history?

Donna: We dream of creating an educational center. Right now, when we host students at the memorial, they’re outdoors — no shelter, no technology, no way to give a proper presentation. An indoor space with a small museum would allow us to preserve and share these stories properly.

Joel: But the designation doesn’t guarantee protection forever, right?

Donna: Correct. The designation only delays demolition for up to a year. After that, it’s up to negotiations with the Port and the Harbor Commission.

Community Support

Joel: Have you received broader support?

Donna: Absolutely. Councilmember Tim McOsker has been fantastic. From day one, he promised to stand with us 100 percent — and he has. His staff, Axel and Diane, have been wonderful too.

The LA Conservancy has also been a lifeline. None of us are architects or preservationists, so their expertise has guided us. They even nominated Terminal Island’s Japanese Fishing Village to the National Trust’s “11 Most Endangered Historic Places,” and we were selected.

We’ve also had strong support from the Japanese American community and groups like InterTrend in Long Beach, who are filming our story.

Life in the Village

Joel: Alice, what do you remember most about daily life?

Alice: I remember coming home from school and finding a cake on the table, baked by my grandmother. I remember the communal bath, my mom counting slowly to ten to make sure I was warm.

Our homes were small, owned by the canneries, and close together. You could hear your neighbors argue through the walls — and as kids, we’d mimic them outside the next day, which made everyone laugh. It was that close-knit.

Why This History Matters

Joel: What do you want people to take away from this?

Donna: I want people to understand how important the Japanese community on Terminal Island was to Los Angeles. The tuna industry put LA on the map as an industrial city and expanded the Port. That’s why it’s part of the official county seal.

Instead of remembering only Pearl Harbor or the war, let’s remember the contributions Japanese Americans made to the economy and culture of Los Angeles.

Alice: And I hope people take the good, and never have to live through the hardships we did.

The Memorial & Museum

Joel: Let’s talk about what exists today.

Donna: In 2002, the second generation of Terminal Islanders built a memorial to honor their parents. The Port gave us land near the fire station and prison. There’s a statue of fishermen, plaques, a rock garden, and a beautiful Torii Gate — a traditional Japanese doorway that once stood in the village.

There’s also a permanent Terminal Island display at the San Pedro Maritime Museum, built with artifacts and photos donated by the community.

Closing

Joel: Alice and Donna, thank you for sharing your stories and for joining us on the Harbor Area Podcast.

Alice & Donna: Thank you.

📍

Two storefronts survived a bulldozer and eight decades of forgetting. They’re more than wood and stucco — they’re coordinates for memory. As Alice said, “Without them, people wouldn’t know our town was important.”

On August 20th, the City Council gave us time. But memory needs caretakers. If this history moved you, visit the Terminal Island Japanese Fishing Village Memorial. Bring students. Write to decision-makers. Support the preservation effort.

And soon, as Donna shared, The Terminal Villagers will be launching a nonprofit organization — opening the door for donations to help secure a permanent future for this history.