From today’s Examiner, “On its 100th anniversary, Japantown is up for sale. The heart of the neighborhood’s economic and cultural life, including a movie theater, two malls and two hotels, are being sold, prompting concerns over whether the already dwindling neighborhood will retain its character as one of the nation’s few remaining Japanese-American enclaves.”

“The AMC Kabuki Theater, is home to the San Francisco International Asian-American Film Festival and the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, is being sold because of an antitrust ruling. Meanwhile, the Japanese owner of the Miyaki and Kintetsu malls, as well as the Radisson Miyako Hotel and the Best Western Miyako Inn, is selling all four properties because they are unprofitable, according to an attorney representing the owner.”

“Paul Osaki, executive director of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, said the neighborhood is hanging in the balance. “We are talking about three-quarters of Japantown that is up for sale. … Depending on who buys the property and what they use it for, it could kill an entire neighborhood,” Osaki said.”

However, “…conditions of the sale include that the buyer hold the property for some time and agree to retain the Japanese character.”

“Local residents are worried about the Kabuki Theater sale because it serves as the home of a number of neighborhood cultural events, draws business into the area and will serve as the center for some of the 100th anniversary celebrations taking place this year.”

[Feb. 14 update] SF Cityscape has thoughts on how Japantown might survive in its current layout

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