by eminent domain as a massive part of Japantown was demolished and redeveloped for the Salt Palace sports arena. Darin Mano, AIA, is a former Salt Lake City councilperson and licensed architect specializing in pro-housing policy and urban design. He says, “This is a piece of a national story. A lot of places we go to today used to be cultural districts. They were demolished during the same period for big sports or entertainment venues like Lincoln Center, Boston City Hall or Dodger Stadium, when they weren’t getting the tax increments that the cities wanted or needed. These are places that used to have cultural districts full of people; Salt Lake City is no different.” Built as part of a bid for the 1972 Winter Olympic Games, the Salt Palace and other developments divided the city, reducing Japantown to its single street and two remaining traces of history: the Japanese Church of Christ and the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple. Current Preservation The Japanese Church of Christ is a Late Gothic Revival building that was designed and constructed in 1924 by E. Chytraus. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and is cherished for its historicity. Somewhat ironically, the distinctly Mid-Century Modern Buddhist Temple was built in the early 1960s to replace an older building, just prior to the decimation of Japantown. In an attempt to assimilate into American culture, the structure was designed with a more “Protestant look,” featuring pews and a pulpit, unlike traditional Japanese temples. Despite losing all of the Japanese-owned and operated businesses along the street, the two churches have continued their Japanese American legacy by hosting festivals on the street. Each year in mid-July, the street is closed for the Obon Festival, which will be celebrating its 90th anniversary this summer. It honors Japanese ancestors with dancing, taiko performances, lanterns, street food, yukata/kimono and Buddhist Temple Tours. Similarly, the street hosts the Spring Nihon Matsuri (festival), adding tea ceremonies, cosplay and cultural exhibits to the programming. The festivals are major fundraising activities for the churches and the Salt Lake Japanese American community, as they attract a broad spectrum of Salt Lake City’s residents and tourists. Seeing Japantown Revitalized For the Japanese Americans still living in Salt Lake City today, as well as those who still remember Japantown as more than just a single street, seeing Japantown revitalized is of utmost importance. Advocacy for preservation has been proceeding in stages since the early 2000s. Community leaders, including Jani Iwamoto and Judge Raymond Uno, formed the Japanese Community Preservation Committee. After more than 40 years of demolition, their goal was to preserve the surviving block of Japantown. Their efforts addressed the mounting problems of protecting the community in the face of encroaching development, difficulty parking and access to the downtown area, issues that continue to impact the operations of the two churches. Despite the rising effort to preserve Japantown, the city expanded the Salt Palace Convention Center in 2006. This action raised community apprehension that the last remnants of Japantown would vanish. Though the Salt Palace remains, Salt Lake City’s Japanese American presence leaves its handprint on its design. As a tribute and memorial to the Japanese community that lived and worked on 100 South for generations, a garden designed by University of Utah professor Gordon Hashimoto on the west side of the Convention Center provides a buffer between the Salt Palace loading docks and the Japanese Church of Christ. The garden honors both the Issei, first-generation Japanese immigrants, and the Nisei, their American-born offspring. The garden also displays a plaque that honors the WWII Nisei Soldiers who embodied the “Go For Broke” spirit. The compact 17
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