San Francisco Japantown Task Force

DATA SHEET

Place/Event: Hinode Tower/Nihonmachi Terrace

Address: 1615 Sutter St., San Francisco

Visual Description:

The housing project is composed of three housing structures; the Hinode Tower, Bunka Jutaku, and Tsurukane. The Hinode Tower is one of the notable buildings of the three with a 145 unit high-rise 15 stories tall. The Bunka Jutaku is miniature when compared in height, but includes 18 houses with over 70 units. The smallest of the three is the Tsurukane that holds 30 units, 3 stories tall.

History:

The Japanese American Religious Federation (JARF) owns Hinode Tower and Nihonmachi Terrace which provides housing to low-income and the elderly residents of Japantown. The federation is compromised from community leaders of the following churches; Buddhist Church of San Francisco, Christian Episcopal Church, Gedatsu United Presbyterian Church, Konko-Kyo Church of San Francisco, Nichiren Buddhist Church of America, Pine Methodist Church, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church for the blind and deaf, San Francisco Independent Christian Church, Seventh Day Adventist Japanese Church and the Soto Zen Missionary of San Francisco. Founded in 1948 as Nichibei Shokyo Renmei, JARF undertook the Hinode Tower and Nihonmachi Terrace community housing project to better the community and foster understanding among the Buddhist, Christian and Shinto religions. The community housing project was built to insure that the older generations would always have a place within the community. The federation began the project on October 4, 1968 and in negotiation, was given a long-term loan of $6,100,400 on January 30, 1969. The title to the property was fully conveyed to JARF on February 23, 1974. A declaration ceremony took place on November 22, 1975. All three housing structures are dedicated to the outstanding Issei (first generation) pioneers whose perseverance and hard work has made it possible for the Japanese community to assimilate into American society.

Significance:

Cultural, Social

Recognition of Significance:

Sources:

Karl Matsushita, Japanese American National Library – Library Director

Other Comments:

Prepared By: Darryl Abantao Date Prepared: 9/15/04