History Japantown, San Francisco

japantown residents being relocated japanese american internment camps in 1942, during world war ii.

in february 1942, president franklin d. roosevelt signed executive order 9066, forced japanese of birth or descent, including japanese american citizens of united states, relocated pacific coast , interned. 1943 many large sections of neighborhood remained vacant due forced internment. void filled thousands of african americans had left south find wartime industrial jobs in california part of great migration.

following war, japanese americans returned, followed new japanese immigrants investment japanese government , japanese companies. however, many did not return neighborhood , instead settled in other parts of city, or out suburbs altogether. further exacerbated city s efforts rejuvenate neighborhood initiated justin herman in western addition in 1960s through 1980s.

in 1957, san francisco entered in sister city relationship city of osaka, hence nickname little osaka . osaka san francisco s oldest sister city. in commemoration of 50th anniversary of relationship, 1 block of buchanan street, in japantown, renamed osaka way on september 8, 2007.