San Pedro Unveiled New Commemorative Crosswalk
The artwork depicts bluefin tuna to honor the historic Japanese American fishing community in Los Angeles.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Cultural
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The San Pedro Waterfront Arts District unveiled a new painted crosswalk on September 3, 2026, at the intersection of Sixth and Mesa streets. The design features a school of bluefin tuna to commemorate the Japanese American fishing community forced from Terminal Island in 1942.
Why it matters
The project serves as a permanent public memorial to the Japanese American families who were displaced during World War II. The design was selected by the local community through an open call for proposals to honor the area’s maritime history.
The San Pedro Waterfront Arts District, which became a nonprofit in 2014 and received a state cultural designation in 2017, has also decorated 25 traffic signal boxes and 8 storm drains with public art.
The players
Lua Kobayashi
Lua Kobayashi is a Japanese and Uruguayan American artist who designed the crosswalk installation.
San Pedro Waterfront Arts District
The San Pedro Waterfront Arts District is a nonprofit organization that has managed local arts development since 2014.
Wellington Signs
Wellington Signs is a firm that utilized stencils and industrial paint to apply the artistic design to the roadway.
The details
Artist Lua Kobayashi designed the mural, which was installed by Wellington Signs using traffic-grade paint and an intricate stencil system. The work was completed during overnight hours to minimize disruption to traffic at the intersection.
Timeline
1942: Japanese Americans were forced to leave Terminal Island.
2014: San Pedro Waterfront Arts District became a nonprofit organization.
2017: San Pedro was designated a California cultural district.
2023: The crosswalk design project officially began.
September 3, 2026: An unveiling ceremony was held for the new installation.
Industry Dynamics
This project follows the 1942 forced removal of the Terminal Island Japanese American community by marking the site with public art. It reflects a growing trend of municipal arts districts using infrastructure to preserve local ethnic history.
The crosswalk is open to the public and accessible to pedestrians crossing at the intersection of Sixth and Mesa streets. Residents and tourists can view the artwork at any time as part of the established San Pedro Waterfront Arts District walking route.
The takeaway
Public art can serve as a vital tool for honoring historically significant communities and preserving the cultural identity of a neighborhood. Residents can look for similar commemorative installations by visiting the other 14 designated cultural districts across California.
Further reading
Discover more about similar projects at the Cultural section of our site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rafu Shimpo.
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