Hiro's Bokashi Club
Celebrating 8 years of Bokashi Composting in Little Tokyo! Learn about this Okinawan tradition where composting is made easy—and less smelly—for your home, garden, balcony, or business! This is an anaerobic process that uses a special additive to ferment kitchen waste, including meat and dairy, into a healthy soil and nutrient-rich fertilizer for your plants. This method uses a mix of microorganisms that combat food-rotting bacteria (and rotting odors), increase the speed of decomposition, and enhance plant growth.
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Saturday February 8th, 2025 10 am - 12 pm
In-person at JACCC Isamu Noguchi Plaza
Saturday April 12th, 2025 1 pm - 3 pm
In-person at Zenshuji Soto Mission
Saturday June 14th, 2025 10 am - 12 pm
In-person at JACCC Isamu Noguchi Plaza
Saturday August 9th, 2025 1 pm - 3 pm
In-person at Zenshuji Soto Mission
Saturday October 11th, 2025 10 am - 12 pm
Buy Tickets Here!
In-person at JACCC Isamu Noguchi Plaza
Saturday December 13th, 2025 1 pm - 3 pm
In-person at Zenshuji Soto Mission
JACCC Isamu Noguchi Plaza: 244 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles, CA 90012
Zenshuji Soto Mission: 123 S. Hewitt Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
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In Memoriam
Hiroyuki Takeuchi (1948–2019).
Hiroyuki "Bokashi Man" Takeuchi was our inspiration, mentor, and friend, and is the primary reason we were able to begin the Little Tokyo Bokashi Club. Hiro learned the Okinawan technique from Dr. Teruo Higa, and then generously shared his skills, time, and laughter with our community. We will always be thankful for Hiro, whose vibrant, joyous personality and big smile will live on in our community. In 2019, we renamed Little Tokyo Bokashi Club as Hiro's Bokashi Club in his honor.
Funded in part by Kresge Foundation, Mellon Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and Project by Project.
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Questions?
Contact Emi Osaki, JACCC Community Arts Manager, at eosaki@jaccc.org
Little Tokyo Composts
Welcome to Little Tokyo Composts! Sustainable Little Tokyo's Compost Bin is helping our neighborhood go green and minimize food waste!
Open Compost Hours:
EVERY FRIDAY 9:00 –11:00 AM
Bins located off the pedestrian path between JACCC & Little Tokyo Towers
"Anytime Drop Off " Bin
Can't make it to the Compost Bin on Fridays? Now you can drop off your organic waste any time that is convenient for you! Sign up for access to the "Anytime Drop Off" bin! Send an email to sustainable@jaccc.org to learn more.
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Vegetables
Fruits
Rice, Breads and Patstries
Dairy (eggs, cheese, butter)
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Add your food waste to 1st bin on the left. (No plastic bags)
Cover food waste with ‘browns’ from the container next to the compost bin.
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For more information on My First Street North, to sign the petition, and more, visit the Sustainable Little Tokyo website.
Historical Tours
Did you know Little Tokyo is 1 of 3 remaining historic Japantowns left in the nation? Learn 140 years of Little Tokyo history, art, and activism to sustain our neighborhood for future generations.
To book a historical tour, email eosaki@jaccc.org
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For more information, download:
Takachizu
The Japanese words Takara (“Treasure”) and Chizu (“Map”) join to form “Takachizu” (“treasure map”). Takachizu is a community “show & tell” gathering space designed to identify and reflect on that which is most valuable, celebrated, and in need of protection in Little Tokyo.
Takachizu, is a project of Sustainable Little Tokyo initiated by +LAB, LTSC’s creative community development strategy utilizing collaboration and experimentation to advance Little Tokyo’s power over its future.
The gathered treasures will help give guidance and focus to a multi-year planning initiative of Little Tokyo Service Center and Sustainable Little Tokyo.
Over the last year, we conducted dozens of workshops with residents, workers, shoppers, and visitors to Little Tokyo. Participants brought in “treasures” that represented Little Tokyo’s values to them. These treasures were shared in a group setting, documented, and then added to a temporary exhibition and online archive.
These treasures were shared in a group setting, documented, and then added to a temporary exhibition and this online archive.
The gathered treasures give guidance and focus to a multi-year planning initiative of Little Tokyo Service Center and Sustainable Little Tokyo.
Historic Grapefruit Trees
Little Tokyo has two 150-year-old grapefruit trees that have witnessed the entire history of our historic Japantown: Sunny & a sister tree on First Street North! Every year, we pick their fruit and make cocktails as a community benefit!
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There are two remaining Little Tokyo grapefruit trees from the Wolfskill Orchard, which stretched into downtown from the late 1800s to early 1900s and popularized citrus in California. Faced with redevelopment in 1980, JACCC and the SoCal Gardeners Federation saved and relocate our 150-year old tree from its original location behind the Amerasia bookstore (near what is now Somi Somi) to the JACCC Plaza. These trees have witnessed the citrus groves; the growth of the city of LA; the founding of Little Tokyo; the WWII Japanese American incarceration camps; and our perseverance through many waves of displacement and redevelopment. These trees are a symbol of our resilient, thriving community, and they continue to bear fruit for future generations!
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Since 2016, SLT hosts an annual Historic Grapefruit Cocktail Night as a celebration of our history and a fundraiser for local community organizations. Wolf & Crane created "The 1884" cocktail, featuring the essence of 150 years of grapefruit history! Our past events have supported Rafu Shimpo with a subscriber drive, and Little Tokyo Community Council. We hope to see you at our next one, as soon as the grapefruits are ripe for the drinking!
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In 2015, JACCC held our first art happening to honor the two historic grapefruit trees and the Aoyama tree! Featured artists included: Mme. Ikuta, Mr. Kitajima, Ms. Palter, Ikenobo, and Urasenke. Each event included Kado, Sado, and Shodo (Ikebana, Tea, and Calligraphy), celebrating the longevity and sustainable livelihood of these trees in Little Tokyo.
Food Recovery at Little Tokyo Obons
Since 2015, SLT has recovered more than 6,800 pounds of food waste from our local Buddhist Obon Festivals, in partnership with Higashi Honganji and Zenshuji Buddhist Temples! We collect leftover food and produce and donated it to local shelters and food banks, such as St. Francis Center and Weingart Center. Together, we are working to prevent food waste and green our Obons!
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Questions about volunteering? Email sustainable@jaccc.org
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Help us expand this work by incorporating food recovery at Obon, business, or event! Email sustainablelittle@littletokyola.org for more information!
