Our History
A Legacy of Love, Learning, and Community
The story of Nihonmachi Little Friends (NLF) is one of a community reclaiming its voice, born in the 1960s and early 1970s during the era of civil rights and the fight for ethnic studies. During this period, San Francisco’s Japantown—once a thriving hub of Japanese American life—had been reduced to six square blocks, first by wartime incarceration during World War II and later by urban redevelopment. Yet, out of this adversity grew a renewed spirit of community. Programs like the Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program (JBBP) for elementary children, along with organizations such as JCCCNC, Kimochi, Inc., and JCYC, began to serve the evolving needs of Japanese Americans and the broader multicultural neighborhood.
Founding a Vision (1974–1977)
In 1974, a group of parents, educators, and community activists gathered with a shared question: Where could young children in Japantown experience a culturally responsive early education? Their vision was a program for children aged 2½ to 5 years - affordable, inclusive, and nurturing respect for all cultures. This vision became Nihonmachi Little Friends, a Japanese bilingual, multicultural preschool where children build confidence, cooperation, and pride in their identities. When NLF opened its doors in October 1975, it was housed in the education building of the San Francisco Buddhist Church at Pine and Octavia Streets, serving 15 students with 3 staff members. By December 1976, NLF had received its first California Department of Education contract to support low-income families and moved to a larger space at AME Zion Church at Golden Gate Avenue and Masonic. A year later, in December 1977, NLF proudly returned to Japantown.
Expanding with Families (1979–1985)
As preschool graduates entered elementary school, parents sought the same nurturing environment for after-school care. NLF responded by launching the After School Program (ASP) in January 1979 at Anza School, later relocating to Christ United Presbyterian Church, where it remains today. To meet growing demand, NLF expanded once again. In October 1985, the organization opened a second preschool site at the Western Addition YWCA (1830 Sutter Street)—a space that would become central to NLF’s history and legacy.
Building Networks and Strength (1992–2000)
Over the next decade, NLF deepened its community connections. By December 1992, it was collaborating with other childcare centers and family daycare homes through funding from the Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth and Families, offering comprehensive services to families with children from infancy through elementary age. In July 1998, NLF joined 26 agencies to form the Asian Pacific Islander Family Resource Network (APIFRN), promoting family strength and reducing risks of child abuse in API communities, with support from the Department of Human Services. At its 25th Anniversary Celebration in September 2000, NLF proudly launched its first Capital Campaign, taking bold steps toward establishing a permanent home.
Reclaiming a Legacy (2002–2010)
What began as a search for a home became an act of reclaiming history. When the San Francisco YWCA decided to sell the 1830 Sutter Street building, the community uncovered that it had originally been built in 1932 by Issei (first-generation Japanese immigrant) women, who—barred by discriminatory property laws—had raised funds but were forced to ask the SF YWCA to hold the title in trust.
In March 2002, after years of advocacy and a community-led lawsuit, NLF became the proud owner of the Issei Women’s Building. The purchase agreement entrusted NLF with preserving the legacy of the Issei women while serving children and families. By December 2005, the mortgage was retired, and in December 2010, NLF completed its $2.2 million Capital Campaign for purchase and renovation of the site.
A New Era of Growth (2012–2017)
In November 2012, NLF launched its second campaign—the “Plant A Seed Campaign”—to raise $3.5 million for a new preschool addition on the adjacent lot, complete with a rooftop playground. Construction began in 2015, and by May 2017, NLF proudly opened its expanded, modern facility, blending historic and new architecture. Though the final project cost exceeded $4 million, it fulfilled a long-held dream: uniting both preschools under one roof in the heart of Japantown.
Reclaiming a Space to Reclaim a Place: The Story of San Francisco’s Japanese Y.W.C.A.
