The Evoluation of Sawtelle Oral History Project has conducted over 20 life history interviews of people who have experienced life in the Sawtelle area as it evolved from a small, neighborhood community into a thriving business district that is known today as "Little Osaka."

For more information about the Evolution of Sawtelle Oral History Project, please contact .

Please enjoy the following selected video highlights from the life history interviews.

Pre-World War II Recollections

Jack Fujimoto talks about the Issei (first generation Japanese American) starting up a Japantown community in Sawtelle.

Tom Ikkanda tells about his working life and opening up a garage business in pre-war Sawtelle.

Rose Honda relates how the Sawtelle area served as a gathering point for pre-war Japanese Americans.

Rose Honda, Haru Nakata, Fumi Tsuruya, and Edith Yamamoto discuss pre-war Japanese restaurants and markets.

Ben Yamanaka describes the pre-war Sawtelle environment.

Rose Honda, Haru Nakata, Fumi Tsuruya, and Edith Yamamoto talk about the Iwanaga boarding house and the farming areas around pre-war Sawtelle.

Post-World War II Recollections

Tosh Ishioka tells the story about the hate incident that his father experienced when he returned to the Sawtelle area after the war.

Sandy Toshiyuki describes the Sawtelle business area during the 1950s and 1960s and how it felt like a real community.

Jack Fujimoto discusses how Japanese Americans resettled in Sawtelle after the war and built up the businesses.

Yuki Sakurai talks about resettling in the Sawtelle area after leaving camp.

Grace Fujimoto tells about her father starting the Sawtelle Food Market.

Jack Yamaguchi provides a description of the post-war Sawtelle environment.

Ted Tanaka recounts the various busineses that he visited in the post-war Sawtelle area.

Henry Yamaguchi describes the Sawtelle businesses and surrounding areas after the war.

Sandy Toshiyuki gives her recollections about hanging out as a young girl in her father's drug store.

Sawtelle Today and in the Future

Rose Honda and Haru Nakata talk about how today's Sawtelle is so different compared to the Sawtelle of the past.

Jack Fujimoto discusses the future of Sawtelle and its future as a Japantown.

Hiro Kageyama shares his thoughts about how the Sawtelle area will not be the same in the future.

Sandy Toshiyuki speaks about the decline in popularity of Japanese American organizations in the Sawtelle area.

Grace Fujimoto shares her hope that the Sawtelle area retains some of the Japanese culture.