Fugetsu-Do: An LA Institution Since 1903

Fugetsu-Do is an iconic Los Angeles confectionary shop that has been family owned and operated in Little Tokyo since 1903. Fugetsu-do, which specializes in mochi (sweet glutinous rice cakes) and manju (flakier stuffed rice cakes made with flour) is the oldest Japanese-American business in the country. It’s founder, Seiichi Kito arrived in Little Tokyo in 1903, then a burgeoning hub of Japanese immigrants in North America. The shop has survived more than a century of American history, including the Great Depression, the imprisonment of its owner in an internment camp (during which time the deserted Little Tokyo morphed into a fascinating, short-lived Black enclave called Bronzeville) , the LA riots of 1992, and the general uncertainties of a city in flux. Today, the shop is operated by third-generation owner, Brian Kito. The interior is relatively unchanged, an intentional decision made to preserve the historic integrity that so many of its regulars cherish. I recommend the seasonal sakura mochi which is available from February through mid-March and consists of red bean paste stuffed in sweet pink mochi, all delicately wrapped in a salted cherry leaf.