Downtown Seattle in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
A Thriving Nihonmachi
A Brief History of Japanese Americans In Seattle...
| | Legacy of Justice at Hirabayashi Place | |
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, February 20, 2026
1. A Thriving Nihonmachi Marker
Seattles Japanese American community established a thriving Nihonmachi (Japantown) north of Jackson Street in the early 20th century. Japanese-owned shops, bathhouses, tailors, and other businesses served the community. Japanese-language newspapers kept people informed, and the Buddhist temple and other churches served their spiritual needs. There were community baseball teams, a Japanese Language School, and the Nippon Kan Theater, which provided a venue for cultural performances and community events.
[Captions:]
Jackson Street, c. 1919. Courtesy of the Museum of History and Industry.
Census Map, 1930. Published in Social Solidarity Among the Japanese in Seattle, by Shotaro Frank Miyamoto, 1939.
Members of the Kunitsugu and Fujita families in Seattles Nihonmachi, c. 1931. Courtesy of Densho.
Bon Odori celebration at Seattle Buddhist Church, 1932. Courtesy of Wing Luke Museum.
Cherry Land Florist on Jackson Street, c. 1940. Courtesy of Densho.
Japanese American farmers selling produce at Pike Place Market. Kirie (Japanese paper cut) image by Aki Sogabe, courtesy of the Seattle Japanese American Citizens League.
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans • Immigration • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 47° 36.02′ N, 122° 19.731′ W. Marker is in Seattle, Washington, in King County. It is in Downtown Seattle. It is on 4th Avenue South north of South Main Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 214 4th Ave S, Seattle WA 98104, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Wartime Incarceration (here, next to this marker); Japanese Farmers and Alien Land Laws (here, next to this marker); Starting Over After the War
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, February 20, 2026
2. A Thriving Nihonmachi Marker
This marker is number three of five markers facing 4th Avenue at Hirabayashi Place.
Also see . . . Hirabayashi Place (#19).
Although completed in early 2016, Hirabayashi Place is a building that merges the past to the present with a call to the future. Built by InterIm CDA, this seven-story, 96-unit affordable housing project provides a new anchor for Nihonmachi along its western edge.(Submitted on March 26, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)
The building is named in honor of Gordon Hirabayashi. While many Japanese Americans during World War II demonstrated their loyalty to America by serving in the U.S. military, Hirabayashi fought to uphold American values rooted in the U.S. Constitution by defying the evacuation order and curfew. He was arrested and jailed for his actions and fought a long but successful court battle to overturn his convictions and clear his name.
Legacy of Justice installations of public art and interpretive elements interweave throughout the building, anchored by a 10′ tall by 8′ artwork by Roger Shimomura, depicting various icons pertaining to Hirabayashis life and influence. Start with this artwork located at the south entrance, then explore the buildings outside along Main Street and 4th Avenue for more.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 19 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 26, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
