Last Saturday (March 9th), APIFM partnered with Sustainable Little Tokyo, the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, and Metro on a Jitensha Little Tokyo bike tour from Little Tokyo to Boyle Heights.
Fun fact: jitensha (written じてんしゃ) is the Japanese word for bicycle! It also means “self-driven vehicle.” It is comprised of two characters: ji (self), ten (turn, roll), and sha (vehicle, wheel, car).
Jitensha Little Tokyo is a coalition of Nikkei community organizers that organize bike tours for a healthy and sustainable Little Tokyo community.
Before this ride to Boyle Heights, the Jitensha LT crew hosted a few fun, community rides including a Watts to Little Tokyo ride, a Historical Little Tokyo ride, and a Nisei Week ride.
Japanese American National Museum 
Japanese American Cultural and Community Center 
La Casa del Mexicana
We had over 40 riders come out to learn more about the history of Little Tokyo and reconnect our historic Japantown with the history of Japanese Americans in Boyle Heights and the thriving Latinx/Chicanx community there now!
Key stops and speakers included the Japanese American National Museum and the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center with Scott Oshima, Hollenbeck Park with Kathy Masaoka of Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress, Casa del Mexicano with Quetzal Flores of East LA Community Corporation, Evergreen Cemetery with Steve Nagano and Jeff Chop of Little Tokyo Historical Society , and Mariachi Plaza with Carlos Ortez of Un Solo Sol.
Kathy from NCRR 
Carlos from Un Solo Sol 
Steve from LT Historical Society
Riders had the chance to hear firsthand from community activist leaders about Little Tokyo and Boyle Height’s community struggle to sustain their history, culture, and legacy small businesses despite the waves of development and gentrification. Special thanks to all of our amazing partners, speakers, and the Metro Bikeshare for making this ride possible! Be on the lookout for the next #JitenshaLT bike tour from Little Tokyo to Sawtelle this Summer!
