Kinmon Gakuen (Golden State Institute, Inc.)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR Legacy Business Registry Staff Report HEARING DATE AUGUST 12, 2019 KINMON GAKUEN (GOLDEN STATE INSTITUTE, INC.) Application No.: LBR-2018-19-065 Business Name: Kinmon Gakuen (Golden Gate Institute, Inc.) Business Address: 2031 Bush Street District: District 5 Applicant: Richard Hashimoto, Board Member Nomination Date: May 17, 2019 Nominated By: Supervisor Vallie Brown Staff Contact: Richard Kurylo [email protected] BUSINESS DESCRIPTION Kinmon Gakuen was founded as a Japanese language school in 1910 in Japantown. A core group of activists from the Japanese American Association established the organization to support educational opportunities for their children who were denied access to the public school system due to their race. The first location was a rented house at 2301 Bush Street. In 1918, a group of Japanese American citizen advocates met with the Japanese Consulate to make plans for a permanent building for Kinmon Gakuen. In 1924, Kinmon Gakuen legally became recognized as Golden Gate Institute, Inc., a State of California organization, and, in 1926, the building at 2031 Bush Street was completed. Acts of violence and discrimination against Japanese Americans continued to escalate well into the 1940s. Leading up to World War II, tensions between the United States and Japan were steadily increasing, and Japanese language schools, including Kinmon Gakuen, were under intense scrutiny for their suspected involvement in "anti-American" activities and the assumption that they promoted a Japanese nationalist ideology. Soon after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States began to impression Japanese "enemy aliens" based on race. Under the authority of Executive Order 9066 signed by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1942, "all enemy aliens and all persons of Japanese ancestry" were subject to military regulation. Following the signing of Executive Order 9066, Kinmon Gakuen was forced to cease operations, and its building was taken over by the United States military for use as a "processing" center where persons of Japanese descent were required to report before being detained and eventually deported to War Relocation Camps throughout remote locations in the Western United States. African Americans began to occupy the housing stock in Japantown that had previously been occupied by the Japanese American community. The Booker T. Washington Community Service Center was formed in 1919 in response to the lack of access for African Americans to recreational and social services that white San Franciscans enjoyed. By 1942, it moved into the Kinmon Gakuen Building at 2031 Bush Street after the Japanese language and culture school was forced to close. In 1952, the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center transitioned into a new space at 800 Presidio Avenue, allowing for the full return of the building to Kinmon Gakuen. Kinmon Gakuen returned to its historic location at 2031 Bush Street in May of 1952. 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 140, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94102-4681 (415) 554-6134 / www.sfosb.org / [email protected] CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR CRITERION 1: Has the applicant operated in San Francisco for 30 or more years, with no break in San Francisco operations exceeding two years? Yes, Kinmon Gakuen has operated in San Francisco for 30 or more years, with no break in San Francisco operations exceeding two years: 2301 Bush Street from 1911 to 1927 (16 years) 2031 Bush Street from 1927 to Present (92 years) CRITERION 2: Has the applicant contributed to the neighborhood's history and/or the identity of a particular neighborhood or community? Yes, Kinmon Gakuen has contributed to the history and identity of the Japantown neighborhood and San Francisco. The Historic Preservation Commission recommended the applicant as qualifying, noting the following ways the applicant contributed to the neighborhood's history and/or the identity of a particular neighborhood or community: • The school is associated with the Japanese language. • On April 3, 2019, the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved the Kinmon Gakuen building as a Landmark Designation. The designation will be presented to the Board of Supervisors later this year for permanent status. The property is also located within the Japantown Cultural District. The Kinmon Gakuen building is significant for its association with the social, cultural and educational enrichment of Japanese Americans in San Francisco during the twentieth century as the home of Japanese language and culture school, Kinmon Gakuen ("Golden Gate Institute"), from 1926 to the present. The organization was established in 1911, representing one of the earliest Japanese language schools established in the continental United States. Since children of Japanese descent were not allowed to attend American public schools, a core group of activists from the Japanese American Association gathered to establish an organization that would support and further educational opportunities for children who were excluded from attending public schools. • In the 109-year history of Kinmon Gakuen, there have been numerous media and historical documents. Unfortunately, due to theft and accidental destruction of documents, most of the original records are no longer available. However, the Historic Preservation Landmark Designation Report dated April 3, 2019, lists an extensive number of books, reports, newspapers, and websites that speak about Kinmon Gakuen. • The business is named in the Japantown Historic Context Statement. CRITERION 3: Is the applicant committed to maintaining the physical features or traditions that define the business, including craft, culinary, or art forms? Yes, Kinmon Gakuen is committed to maintaining the physical features and traditions that define the organization. 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 140, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94102-4681 (415) 554-6134 / www.sfosb.org / [email protected] CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION The Historic Preservation Commission recommends that Kinmon Gakuen (Golden Gate Institute, Inc.) qualifies for the Legacy Business Registry under Administrative Code Section 2A.242(b)(2) and recommends safeguarding of the below listed physical features and traditions. Physical Features or Traditions that Define the Business: • Japanese bilingual and bicultural services. • Auditorium and social hall. • Exhibits of Japanese art cultural demonstrations. • The architectural character-defining features listed in the landmark designation report. CORE PHYSICAL FEATURE OR TRADITION THAT DEFINES THE BUSINESS Following is the core physical feature or tradition that defines the business that would be required for maintenance of the business on the Legacy Business Registry. • Japanese language and culture education. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the San Francisco Small Business Commission include Kinmon Gakuen (Golden Gate Institute, Inc.) currently located at 2031 Bush Street in the Legacy Business Registry as a Legacy Business under Administrative Code Section 2A.242. Richard Kurylo, Program Manager Legacy Business Program 1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 140, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94102-4681 (415) 554-6134 / www.sfosb.org / [email protected] CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO LONDON N. BREED, MAYOR OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS REGINA DICK-ENDRIZZI, DIRECTOR Small Business Commission Draft Resolution HEARING DATE AUGUST 12, 2019 KINMON GAKUEN (GOLDEN STATE INSTITUTE, INC.) LEGACY BUSINESS REGISTRY RESOLUTION NO. _________________________ Application No.: LBR-2018-19-065 Business Name: Kinmon Gakuen (Golden Gate Institute, Inc.) Business Address: 2031 Bush Street District: District 5 Applicant: Richard Hashimoto, Board Member Nomination Date: May 17, 2019 Nominated By: Supervisor Vallie Brown Staff Contact: Richard Kurylo [email protected] ADOPTING FINDINGS APPROVING THE LEGACY BUSINESS REGISTRY APPLICATION FOR KINMON GAKUEN (GOLDEN STATE INSTITUTE, INC.), CURRENTLY LOCATED AT 2031 BUSH STREET. WHEREAS, in accordance with Administrative Code Section 2A.242, the Office of Small Business maintains a registry of Legacy Businesses in San Francisco (the "Registry") to recognize that longstanding, community- serving businesses can be valuable cultural assets of the City and to be a tool for providing educational and promotional assistance to Legacy Businesses to encourage their continued viability and success; and WHEREAS, the subject business has operated in San Francisco for 30 or more years, with no break in San Francisco operations exceeding two years; or WHEREAS, the subject business has operated in San Francisco for more than 20 years but less than 30 years, has had no break in San Francisco operations exceeding two years, has significantly contributed to the history or identity of a particular neighborhood or community and, if not included in the Registry, faces a significant risk of displacement; and WHEREAS, the subject business has contributed to the neighborhood's history and identity; and WHEREAS, the subject business is committed to maintaining the physical features and traditions that define the business; and WHEREAS, at a duly noticed public hearing held on August 12, 2019,