Construction has officially started on the Peace Plaza Renovations in San Francisco’s Japantown. The project aims to transform the open space with new vibrance and cement its status as a community landmark. Mayor London Breed and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi were in attendance at the official groundbreaking ceremony.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi described that “the Plaza is the beating heart of Japantown: attracting visitors, supporting businesses and sharing Japanese heritage, history and culture. I was proud to secure $3 million in federal Community Project Funding to support this important project so that we ensure it will continue to stand as an indispensable landmark of our City for decades to come.”
Japantown Peace Plaza Pagoda and Cherry Trees via San Francisco Recreation & Parks/Public Works
In addition to the above-mentioned attendees, the event included Assemblymember Phil Ting, the Japanese Consulate-General of Japan in San Francisco, members of the Japantown community, and a lively performance by Taiko drummers.
Speaking at the event, Mayor Breed said, “like San Francisco, the Japantown Peace Plaza will be reimagined into a space that celebrates a rich cultural history and welcomes people from around the world.”
Construction started thanks to $34 million, including $25 million from the city’s Health and Recovery Bond, $6 million secured by Assemblymember Ting through the California Natural Resources Agency, and $3 million secured by Speaker Emerita Pelosi through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Japantown Peace Plaza historic design plans, illustration by SF Public Works
Construction will update the 32,000-square-foot plaza, which first opened in 1960. The space’s iconic Peace Pagoda was a later addition, gifted in 1968 by San Francisco’s sister city, Osaka. Crews will start by waterproofing the site and preventing water leaks that would run down into the Japan Center Garage.
New paving, planting, and public seating will be introduced across the site, along with new lighting, and the pagoda will receive structural upgrades. Some of the significant existing elements of the plaza, like the boulders, plaques, bonsai trees and monument will be temporarily moved and reinstalled before opening.
San Francisco Public Works is responsible for the landscape architecture, engineering services, and managing construction alongside the general contractor, Plant Construction Company.
Japantown Peace Plaza Street View via San Francisco Recreation & Parks/Public Works
Speaking for the groundbreaking, Public Works director Carla Short shared that, “through this community-driven vision, we have the opportunity to reimagine the space to make it work well for large communal festivals and celebrations and also comfortable and welcoming for everyday use.”
The following history was conveyed by the Mayor’s office ahead of the groundbreaking:
San Francisco’s Japantown is the first and oldest Japantown in the U.S. Prior to World War II, when Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps, there were more than 80 Japantowns throughout the nation. Today, however, just three Japantowns remain: San Francisco’s Japantown, San Jose’s Japantown, and Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo. The Japantown Task Force was formed in 1997, under the leadership of Mayor Willie Brown, with the goal of preserving and developing the neighborhood, ensuring it remains culturally diverse and a thriving commercial and retail district. Through the task force’s efforts, in 2013, Japantown became the City’s first designated Cultural District. Throughout the duration of the project, the Japan Center Malls will remain open, and all entrances will still be accessible.
Japantown Peace Plaza existing condition, image via SF Public Works
Assemblymember Phil Ting shared during the event, “I’ve been fighting for greater public investment in AAPI communities, and this one is especially important because a renovated Peace Plaza is a way to make amends with local Japanese American families who were forced out of this area twice over the last several decades.”
The Peace Plaza is expected to fully reopen by early 2026.
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Japantown is great but that mall interior needs some serious updating too. Looks like it’s stuck in the 1970’s.
It was all owned by the same group. That’s why it’s like that.
But there’s really nothing wrong with Peace Plaza the way it is frankly.
Taking it away for 1-2 years just to change the layout makes little sense,
the disruption will probably affect local businesses already struggling.
“Little people concerns” I’m sure.
In agreement. The expense and disruption of this seems to have dubious value.
Yeah, the current design seems fine, and very similar. Fix up the landscaping and do some maintenance, sure, but this seems like a waste of $34 million.
I guess it’s the parking garage leaking that makes it necessary?
If Japanese Americans were “forced out of” this neighborhood (gentrification?), how is building a park there “making amends”. They apparently don’t live there anymore.
I have the same issue with Phil Ting’s shameless grandstanding. Photo-op.
“and this one is especially important because a renovated Peace Plaza is a way to make amends with local Japanese American families who were forced out of this area twice over the last several decades.” -Phil Ting, pretending this makes amends to people forced out twice over the last several decades, incomprehensibly and for political optics entirely.