Singaporean University Students Seeking Community (in National News) Japantown Bowl Fight Not Over Yet (in Bay Area News) Vietnam: An Emerging Market (in Business) Dan 'The Automator' Nakamura (in A&E) Death and Birth of a Hood: Hunters Point (in Opinion)

Lead Editorial

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Keep J-Town Bowl Property for Community Use

For nearly a quarter of a century, Japantown Bowl served as a community center, where children, adults and seniors of all ethnicities came together for that all-American pastime — bowling. Though the sport’s popularity had declined nationwide in recent times, Japantown Bowl managed to maintain a steady profit. That wasn’t, however, good enough for the owners, Kintetsu Enterprises. With San Francisco’s skyrocketing real estate prices, Kintetsu announced they were closing their doors and selling the property. Protests ensued, with Supervisors Mabel Teng and Michael Yaki at the forefront of the fight to stop the bowling alley’s closure.

Last week as crews began ripping out the bowling lanes and equipment, Yaki intervened and Kintestu was served a cease-and-desist order since they have yet to obtain proper permits from the Department of Building Inspection. Moreover, the company still hasn’t disclosed the new plans for the building or even who the new owner is.

Without the alley, many kids have few other choices but to hang out in the streets. Meanwhile, the seniors who patronized Japantown Bowl are most likely a little lonelier without a place to meet their buddies for a friendly game. For Japanese Americans, in particular, the alley signified even more — as one of the last places the community could gather in its old neighborhood.

San Francisco’s Nisei remember Japantown as a thriving ethnic enclave. But during World War II they were forced out and placed into internment camps miles away. Then after they returned, they were displaced once again, but this time by the city’s Redevelopment Agency. Most can’t afford to live in the area anymore. Housing prices are about $1 million. Japantown Bowl, though, was a place to relax and meet old friends — a home away from home.

For the sake of the children, seniors and Japanese Americans of San Francisco, the new owners should think twice about their plans for the property.