The Asian-American story in the United States is often told through the lens of the West Coast or the bustling streets of Manhattan’s Chinatown. But the Asian-American history of Greenwich Village and the East Village is just as vital and noteworthy. Here, an impressive yet frequently overlooked roster of individuals and organizations played a pivotal role in our national story, particularly within the realms of civil rights and the arts.

While the first official Japanese diplomatic mission to the United States occurred in 1860, New York City maintained just a tiny Japanese community until the 1950s due to restrictions on immigration. Even following the change in immigration law, until recent decades, most Japanese people in NYC were not immigrants seeking to make permanent homes here, but international businessmen, diplomats, and their families. While Japanese immigrant and Japanese-American populations in NYC remain statistically small when compared to other immigrant groups, these communities have had an outsized impact in the arts and cultural sector, especially within Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo. The following are just some of the significant people, places, and institutions connected to Japanese-American heritage in these neighborhoods.