Japantown was once home to a vibrant Japanese American community in the heart of downtown Salt Lake. Dozens of businesses — shops, restaurants, laundries, markets, cafes, newspapers and more — were owned and operated by people of Japanese ancestry, many of whom also lived in the neighborhood. It all came to an end in 1966. A pair of churches on a forlorn street are all that remains of the once bustling enclave. But supporters hope that plans for a major facelift to the area could breathe new life into Salt Lake’s Japantown. We’ll talk about the history of the community and what the future may hold for it.
GUESTS —
Benjamin Bombard | Producer, “RadioWest” on KUER
Sean Higgins | Politics reporter at KUER
Floyd Mori | Politician, educator and author. His books include “The Japanese American Story” [Amazon | Bookshop].
Paul Iwasaki | Former Juvenile Court Justice for the Utah Second Judicial District. He grew up in Japantown.
Air date: Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 9 a.m. and Saturday, June 29, at 11 a.m.