is there a large Japanese population living in Lower East Side? (New York: travel, work)

[Filler]

I read somewhere online that there's a large concentration of Japanese living in LES. But, are they mostly exchange students? Or Japanese descents? Thanks

[pbergen]

many young japanese in manhattan live close to st. marks place in the east village. if not, they at least hang out around there due in part to the many japanese businesses in the area. the overwhelming majority are foreign expats. some are students at nyu, parsons, cooper union, or other local schools. others are here on an extended visit (usually for three months at a time or so). and some of those visitors have overstayed that visa and are now living here illegally. it really depends.

although many younger japanese do live on the LES, williamsburg, and other areas with a lot of hipsters, st. marks is still the primary downtown meeting and hangout area. midtown east is the spot for older japanese businessman types.

there are very few born-and-raised japanese americans in the greater nyc area. back in the '80s there was a decent population of american-raised japanese kids in fort lee, nj (mostly children of foreign businessmen temporarily working in nyc) and before that in flushing, queens, but those communities have largely shrunk since then.

[NJ Chutzpah]

yeh I remember when there was actually an almost even amount of japanese, and koreans in Fort Lee, but as the 90's rolled on the koreans stayed, and the japanese just sorta faded from the area. There are still japanese in the area though

[mead]

There are still a good number of Japanese in Ft. Lee, they make up about 6% of the population, but I think Koreans make up close to 25%. The largest Japanese store in the NYC area is in neighboring Edgewater, so I think that keeps a lot of Japanese in the area.

There are a lot of younger Japanese in the East Village around St. Mark's Place and 9th street. There are a good number of Japanese bars and restaurants in this area.

The other large concentration of Japanese in the NYC is in Westchester county. This is because there is decent sized Japanese language high school outside of White Plains, so there is a good number of Japanese living in the surrounding suburban towns. In Westchester County there are also a good number of Japanese owned and run markets and restaurants which caters to the expat population.

[UpstaterInBklyn]

Your post made me recall a NYT article I read a while back about young Japanese "freeters" who come to NY, mostly on tourist visas, and hang around the Izakaya in the East Village to "find themselves".

Maybe this is what you read.

Here is the article: Escape From Japan - New York Times

[Otis_Nevins]

There's a nice Japanese market on 3rd and 11th, I think. I bought Natto there on Wednesday.

[mead]

Ugh, natto....the worst

[carlnasc]

Hey all,

Question: are there any japanese day (child)care in NYC?
Really appreciate any answers!

CN

[Andysocks]

By "large concentration" they mean "just enough to write an article about." I live in a heavily Asian neighborhood in eastern Queens and I haven't met a single person with a Japanese last name other than California natives living in Manhattan--though I meet people of every other east Asian stock on a regular basis, haha.

[NJ Chutzpah]

Didnt there use to be a "little Tokyo" in Manhattan