Little Tokyo Clean-Up Day on Nov. 5

Little Tokyo will get a little sparkle at a community-wide cleanup on Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Volunteers are sought for a day of cleaning and scrubbing that organizers say will beautify and empower the neighborhood.

Nancy Kikuchi

“For many of us, Japanese and Japanese Americans in Southern California, Little Tokyo has a special place in our hearts and is the center for our community,” said event organizer Steve Nagano. “The support for the event is awesome and the list of supporters is long. Many in the community have donated for the cleanup and are donating their labor in preparation for the Cleanup Day.”

Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. at the JACCC Plaza, 244 S. San Pedro St., and be assigned areas to clean up. Nagano said that they plan to clean sidewalks and posts of gum and stickers and scrub and/or power-wash the sidewalks. A light lunch will be provided afterwards. Participants are asked to bring gloves, hats, sunscreen and water bottles.

The cleanup also pays tribute to the late Nancy Kikuchi, who passed away in 2014.

“Besides making Little Tokyo sparkle, we want to continue to build our community and honor the legacy of Nancy Kikuchi, the pre-eminent community volunteer,” Nagano said.

A partial list of supporters of the cleanup include the Little Tokyo Public Safety Association, Little Tokyo Business Association/BID, Little Tokyo Towers, Councilmember Jose Huizar, Little Tokyo Historical Society, Café Dulce, Wolf and Crane, and Little Tokyo Rotary Club.

For more information, email snagano@aol.com.