was making his rounds early Friday evening.

and community leaders to honor the stores rich history and enduring legacy.Founded in 1925 by Masayasu and Naka Ashizawa.

More than a typical hardware store.the family returned in 1946 to rebuild their business.Soko Hardware has been a testament to family legacy.

will coincide with the Nihonmachi Street Fair’s J-Town Funk pop-up outdoor event.including forced closure during the incarceration of Japanese Americans in World War II.

Now a family-run business with the third and fourth generations.

This distinct selection has made it a destination for both locals and visitors.just letting the flow carry me.

Bando Mitsugorō IX?A: He was a very warm-hearted person.which brought many teachers from Japan.

That led me to begin studying with Bando Mitsuhiro Sensei.we brought over wig masters (tokoyama-san) and makeup artists (kao-shi) from Japan.