Yoshimura’s mural, “Through the Blossoms,” is painted on the two-story building at 330 E. Second St., overlooking Hashimoto Plaza. The mural was created in conjunction with OPI, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Council District 14.
Yoshimura, who was born in Nagoya, said the mural was inspired by Japanese folklore and Little Tokyo icons. In the painting are depictions of the grapefruit tree at JACCC, the late community leader Frances Hashimoto, the Ninomiya Kinjiro statue, Noguchi Plaza, and the yagura (fire tower).
Yoshimura also painted the sign post at the entrance of Hashimoto Plaza on Second Street and “Distance Between the Stars,” which was showcased on Azusa in July 2016 as part of Sustainable Little Tokyo’s Azusa Street Pathways Project. The sign post also got a new coating of paint during the event.
Read more about it in the Rafu Shimpo Newspaper.
http://www.rafu.com/2019/04/little-tokyo-opi-mural-kent-yoshimura/