Bunkado is a destination gift shop, still at its original location in downtown Los Angeles since 1946, supplying the community with items from Japan and beyond.  The location in the heart of Little Tokyo is the first Japanese owned business in Los Angeles!  Kame Restaurant opened in 1886 at 340/338 E 1st Street, thus laying the foundations for a Japanese American community that is still active and vibrant today.

Bunkado has been in my family through its founding by my Aunt and Uncle, Suye and Tokio Ueyama.  My parents Masao and Kayoko Tsukada, operated a gift shop called Tsukada Company since 1950 just down the street.  The two businesses were combined in the 1970s and Bunkado has continued seamlessly to this day. We are so proud to have become a popular shopping destination for Japanese gifts and decor, housewares, materials for traditional Japanese crafts, books, toys and unique and interesting items from all over Asia.  

Bunkado is popular with buyers from the arts and entertainment industry. There have been so many shows that have bought from us over the decades.  Thank you to Bullet Train, This is Us, The King and I, Madame Butterfly, and Westworld!