Abravanel Hall news sparks hope for Japantown supporters

SALT LAKE CITY — The news that Abravanel Hall will stay put thrilled proponents of Japantown. They hope this will help their cause.

Japantown Next Gen is a group of mostly Japanese Americans in their 20s and 30s. They grew up as members of the Japanese Church of Christ and the Salt Lake Buddhist Temple, between the Salt Palace and the Delta Center. They hope to be a part of the cultural development around Abravanel Hall. 

Spokesman Trey Imamura hopes Japan Town can ride the coattails of Abravanel Hall.

“The Abravanel Hall being saved and making sure nothing is going to happen to them, this is only going to benefit the cultural part of our community,” he said.

He said the news that the concert hall’s preservation is promising for Japantown Next Gen.

“It’s only going to make our community stronger,” Imamura said. “We see them as allies … We’re grateful that they have advocates and people who are working for them too to save their community.”

The Smith Entertainment Group and the Delta Center want the area to become an activity and entertainment zone.

Imamura said these potential plans to develop an entertainment zone would include the Japantown properties along 100 South, near the Delta Center.

“You should be able to get from one side, where the arena is, all the way to Abravanel,” he said. “Especially now knowing that Abravanel is not going to be moved. It’s almost going to be like a focal point or a center point.”

Tammy Kikuchi is a reporter and anchor for KSL NewsRadio.

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