NikkeiWest--Northern California Japanese American Newspaper

By John Sammon—San Jose community activist Tamon Norimoto wears many hats, but foremost among them is the goal of preserving the economic vitality and cultural integrity of Japantown. He conceded it’s something of a balancing act.

“Enhancing the legacy for future generations, while maintaining the economic vitality of Japantown, is critically important,” he said. “There is no one solution, but as long as there are concerned citizens, we can maintain the area’s unique qualities, and avoid becoming Anywhere U.S.A.”

Norimoto, 36, was recently honored as a “Local Hero” by the Neighborhood Excellence Initiative, a national nonprofit sponsored by the Bank of America which recognizes and rewards community organizations, individuals and student leaders working to improve their communities. For his efforts Norimoto was awarded $5,000 from Bank of America which he will donate to Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), a nonprofit advocacy organization committed to the well-being of Asian Pacific Americans.

The AACI is the largest nonprofit for Asians in Santa Clara County.

“The program focuses on primary health care, education, mental health, human services, maintains a domestic abuse shelter and has senior and youth programs among its functions,” Norimoto explained.

The organization also has an HIV prevention program and a treatment and services center for immigrating survivors of political torture in foreign countries.

Norimoto said there are only three Japantowns left in the continental U.S., Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose.

“San Jose’s is unique, less urban than that of San Francisco, with much more of a homey feel,” he noted.

Japantown in San Jose faced extinction during World War II when Japanese Americans were interned.

“The only reason it survived was because courageous people in the local neighborhoods managed to preserve the homes for their owners,” Norimoto said.

Born in East Los Angeles, Norimoto went to college at UCLA, graduating in psychology.

“I moved to the Bay Area in 2000,” he said. “I was not involved in community work at the time. I was in the technology field. But I felt there was a hole in my life. I had done some community work in college and loved it.”

He joined South Bay First Thursdays, a monthly dinner series for people in the nonprofit and government sectors interested in Asian and Pacific Islander community issues, and began organizing educational events for that body. Other appointments followed, chair of the San Jose Housing and Community Development Commission, president of the Japantown Community Congress of San Jose, and development director for AACI.

Norimoto said Japantown consists of businesses surrounded by neighborhoods with its main thoroughfare on Jackson Street.  Anchor sites of interest include the Buddhist church at 640 N. 5th St., the Japanese American Museum of San Jose at 535 N. 5th St., the Wesley United Methodist Church at 566 N. 5th St., Yu-Ai Kai Japanese American Senior Service Center, and the Fuji Towers senior housing complex.  The area is also home to a number of Japanese restaurants and heritage festivals held during the year.

He said community planners will consider large new projects if proposed, but want development that is a good match for the area.

“We want what’s best for the community, what’s good for housing and mixed use,” Norimoto said, “so people can work, live and play all within a short distance.”

Asked what the biggest threat to preserving Japantown’s future is, Norimoto said apathy and lack of leadership.

“We have to ask the question, how can we preserve Japantown for future generations?” he said. “The single biggest threat is if we’re unable to foster leaders. That’s why we’ve started a summer intern eight-week program for college students with an interest in Japantown, to learn about the area and its history.”

Norimoto also urged locals to attend meetings of the Japantown Community Congress held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Issei Memorial Building, 565 N. 5th Street in San Jose.

For more information go to www.jcc-sj.org.