executive director of AAPI Equity Alliance.

gardens and communities of the culinary world as well as the personal relationships he made along the way.opened in 1946 by owner Tsutomu Maehara.

and they continue that effort today.the annual awards event will be held in conjunction with the Coronation on Aug.he moved to Los Angeles and then returned to Kyoto to open his first restaurant.

East West Players; Inspiration Award recipients.who became a husband and father to two children.

Hiroses wife Jo Anns father and former Nisei Week chair-person.

Hirose was born in Kyoto and moved to France at 18 years old.Akira Fujimoto is celebrating 50 years of his Olympic Shops in Little Tokyo.

His timing couldnt have been better.managed to withstand the 2008 recession.

and is parlaying that into another way to celebrate Olympic Shops milestone and give back to the community.By MIKEY HIRANO CULROSSRAFU STAFF WRITERIts one of the liveliest businesses in Little Tokyo.