The Rafu Shimpo

The Rafu Shimpo is a bi-​lingual newspaper, in L.A.‘s Little Tokyo”, it’s been around since 1903, .
heard via «Angry Asian Men», Rafu is soliciting online subscription for survival. La Times reported in 2010, Rafu was losing circulation and $$.
on March 25, 2016, publisher Michael Komai, via an open letter, reported losses of $ 750,000 in the last 3 years. projected loss for 2016 is $ 350,000. unless finances and circulation improve, the newspaper will close.
Rafu was closed in 1942 when japanese and japanese americans were sent to internment camps. rent was arranged to be paid during the shutdown. Rafu reopened in 1946.
Rafu is now in a subscription drive to raise !0,000 subscribers by years end or the paper will close. only $ 50/​year for an online one.
many interesting columnists, news about asian american event/​festivals on the west coast., etc.
i didn’t do enough during the I-​Hotel protest (s.f.). spreading the word about and subscribing to Rafu Shimpo is a small payback to the Nisei and Sansei who enriched my life and opened by eyes. during my college days.

I can’t believe the Rafu Shimpo Japanese Daily Newspaper has been around for 100 years!!! That’s crazy!
I was told by Rafu Shimpo’s publisher/​owner that «Rafu» is a kind of old school Japanese slang term for «Los Angeles» and «Shimpo» is an older slang way of saying «shinbun» or newspaper.
I don’t know where the heck they got the word «Rafu» out of «Los Angeles» but that’s what they told me! Maybe when they were naming the newspaper, the old Japanese guy said «Lossu» (in Japan, I hear many people referring to LA as «Lossu» or in Ingarish, «Rossu»)… and an American guy who helped them register their business at the LA City Hall might have heard «Rafu.» LOL i dunno, just an idea? My theory may be flawed tho… ahaha
Anyway, 100 years! That means… they’ve been around since before BOTH World Wars… not to mention, they survived through all the Japanese internment camp stuff happening during WW2. Actually, I heard they were forced to close down for a few years while all the Japanese employees went to the internment camps, but then they opened back up after the war was over. I’ve actually driven by one of the camps when I drove to Reno from LA… it’s near Bishop CA (most normal people would have no idea where the heck this is — it’s on the way to Mammoth Mtn), and it’s called Manzanar. Oh man what a crappy looking place to live. It’s just dirt and tumbleweeds.
Anyways, Rafu Shimpo has their offices in Little Tokyo LA in Weller Court! Right next to the big space shuttle memorial of Ellison Onizuka, the Japanese-​American astronaut who died on the Challenger…
Also conveniently located just a few steps away from Marukai Market, Kinokuniya Bookstore, and… *tadaaaa* Orochon Ramen!!! Yessss.
Anyways, Rafu gets props just for being around for over 100 years. That kind of longevity and staying power is something most businesses just don’t have. Ii shigoto shimashita, Rafu Shimpo.

Been here for ages. A part of historical japan is with this paper as with the Times. One side is in engwish and the other is in japanese-​a.