Little Tokyo a hub for Japanese soccer fans during World Cup

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LOS ANGELES – The chants were heard throughout the district. The scents of traditional dishes filled the air and pride was felt by many throughout the day.

On Sunday afternoon, Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles was transformed from a historic cultural district to a fanatic frenzy.

What was on the surface a watch party became a celebration of community and culture as Japan faced off against the Netherlands in what turned out to be one of the best matches so far in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

From San Fernando Valley to Ohio to Japan itself, fans packed the district’s restaurants and pop-up stores in an all-out appreciation for Japanese culture. Although like many urban communities, gentrification concerns abound, on this day Little Tokyo was downtown Los Angeles’ heartbeat.

The World Cup just turned up the intensity.

“Just seeing the community come together and all come for one purpose and watch the game – it’s pretty great,” fan Bryce Townsend said.

Although the community did unite for this one soccer match, another fan, Rick Shimada, noticed the merging of a variety of cultures.

“We’re not all Japanese,” Shimada said. “We have a lot of half-Japanese friends, people from Japan, people like me who have parents that came here – and we’re all coming together in Little Tokyo for just the love of this culture and community.”

Another fan, Ai Kusayanagi, believed Little Tokyo was a breath of fresh air.

“I was studying at university in Japan for the last four years,” Kusayanagi said. “It’s nice to see how much this place has grown over the years, especially with all of the people here today.”

AI Kusayanagi, left, and a friend pose in front of the watch party to cheer on Japan’s men’s national soccer team on Sunday. (Photo by Tony Carter/Cronkite News)

Little Tokyo was founded in 1885 when a Japanese seaman opened a restaurant on First Street. By 1900, several more businesses opened up, and the Japanese community boomed.

Today, over 170,000 Japanese Americans live in Los Angeles, according to the Pew Research Center, which is the second largest population of Japanese-Americans after Honolulu. At least 40,000 of those 170,000 Japanese Americans live in Little Tokyo.

When asked about the evolution of Little Tokyo, Townsend credited the variety of cultures that visit.

“Little Tokyo used to be really, really dead and really quiet,” Townsend said. “Since I’ve gotten older, it’s become a lot more popular. People from different cultures all over come here, and it’s great to see everybody enjoy it.”

The World Cup effect on tourism is significant, especially in Los Angeles.

Fans gather to watch Japan take on the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup at a watch party in the Little Tokyo area of Los Angeles Sunday. (Photo by Tony Carter/Cronkite News)

“More people are coming in,” Townsend said. “They’re trying to find places to watch the game, and it’s fun as well.”

Kusayanagi found it “cool to see different businesses always filled with people.”

Shimada works in Little Akihabara, a pop culture hub in the heart of Little Tokyo which features many pop-up shops, and has seen a difference.

“We count the number of people that come into our store, and we had a lot more people yesterday than the usual amount,” Shimada said. “It’s definitely bringing in more people.”

The Japanese community in Los Angeles has always embraced baseball, especially with superstar Shohei Ohtani playing on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Townsend and Shimada find it compelling that fans are focused on soccer and the World Cup.

“Everybody is so passionate, whether they live in Japan or over here when it comes to our national teams,” Townsend said. “Even though it’s smaller, I think we’re more focused, just more passionate.”

Shimada believes that “ecause of the Dodgers, Little Tokyo is like a cultural hot spot for everyone, and now soccer and the World Cup are building upon that. They’re giving each other a positive effect.”

After a scoreless half between the two teams, a scoring barrage occurred in the second half.

Trailing 2-1 in the 88th minute, Japan midfielder Daichi Kamada tied the match. A deafening roar came from the Japan faithful in what was the end of a great soccer match.

“It was such an amazing game,” Shimada said. “Everyone was going crazy.”.

While Little Tokyo is a hub for Los Angeles’s Japanese culture, it formed a bridge Sunday between people of all cultures.

“People see how passionate we are and then they love the culture as well,” Townsend said. “Even if they’re not Japanese, they’re here supporting and enjoying.

“That’s what it’s all about.”