Japanese YWCA, San Francisco
historic place
The Japanese YWCA in San Francisco is a historic place. It was founded in 1912 by Issei, or first-generation, Japanese women. They established an independent chapter due to segregation at the main San Francisco YWCA, providing social services for Japanese women and girls. The building at 1830 Sutter Street was constructed in 1932, designed by architect Julia Morgan. The Japanese community funded its construction. However, California's Alien Land Laws required the San Francisco YWCA to hold the property title in trust. During World War II, Japanese Americans were forcibly removed. The building was then leased to the American Friends Service Committee from 1942 to 1959. It became a key gathering place for advancing African American civil rights and early gay rights. In 2002, the building returned to the Japanese American community. It now houses Nihonmachi Little Friends, a bilingual childcare center. This site is significant for its connection to Japanese American women's history and its role in civil rights.