West Adams Neighborhood

As a Japanese-American, I would like to comment on your article about the West Adams area. If we want to dig into the past, our community also suffered a great deal 40 years ago. During World War II many Japanese were forced to sell their West Adams homes and were sent to relocation camps. Many of these homes were purchased by black buyers who worked in the wartime industries, yet I harbor no resentment toward anyone for what happened in the past.

I have recently purchased a 1905 home in the West Adams area where I have lived for the past six years. I am in the process of restoring my home and belong to the West Adams Heritage Assn. I have many black, white and Latino friends here in this community. We get along very well and many of us participated in the recent tour. One of the restored homes in the area is that of Reiko Inouye, famous teacher of Japanese dance and the first Miss Nisei from 1949.

This tour brought a lot of positive publicity to our area for the first time in many years, we felt very proud.

I do not know these complaining people who are quoted in your article, but I want you to know that they do not speak for all of us. We are happy with both our new and old neighbors, and welcome new residents whatever their ethnic background may be.

KATSUJI SHINOMOTO

Los Angeles