After 122 years in downtown L.A.’s Little Tokyo neighborhood, the country’s only Japanese-American daily newspaper, The Rafu Shimpo, is relocating to Montebello.
Publisher Michael Komai announced the move Friday, citing rising rents and gentrification have made it impossible for the newspaper to continue to operate in Little Tokyo—a neighborhood that was listed among America’s most endangered historic places.
Komai also stated since COVID-19, the majority of the newsroom staff has been working remotely, which is “a major factor in the paper not needing such a large and costly office location.”
Despite the move, The Rafu Shimpo, which first started publishing in 1903 out of downtown L.A., will continue to serve and represent the Japanese-American community with its operations and publishing schedule continuing as normal.
The Rafu Shimpo will be moving within the next few weeks.
This relocation is the first time in its long history that the newspaper’s headquarters will be outside of Little Tokyo or downtown.
The new location will be 1300 W. Beverly Blvd. in Montebello.
