Shirokiya facing demise after centuries-long existence
















































CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Shirokiya, a venerable retailer in Hawaii and conduit of Japanese culture for over 60 years, appears on the brink of permanent closure. The longtime anchor tenant at Ala Moana Center is battling its landlord in a legal dispute over unpaid rent and has been barred from accessing its shuttered Japan Village Walk complex and two Vintage Cave restaurants at the state’s largest shopping center after closing last year due to COVID-19 restrictions.CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Closed storefronts are seen in July at Shirokiya Japan Village Walk.CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Closed storefronts are seen in July at Shirokiya Japan Village Walk.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Tadatoshi Suzuki, president of Shirokiya, stands on the escalator of the Ala Moana store in 2002.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Toshio Narita, of Niigata, Japan, makes onigiri in the food department of Shirokiya as part of the Niigata Food Festival in 2002.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Shirokiya employee Joshua Baldovi helps Hiro Hikida in the electronics departmen in 2002.CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
The doors are closed at Shirokiya Japan Village Walk.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Workers craft musubi in the kitchen of the Musubi Cafe Iyasume at the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk in 2016.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
The S&S Thai Kitchen counter at the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk in 2016.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Wagyu with ponzu sauce, onion and peppers from the Wagyu Plaza at the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
A musubi from the Musubi Cafe Iyasume at the new Shirokiya Japan Village Walk.STAR-ADVERTISER FILE
Varieties of ramen, soba, udon, musubi and tempura were sold at the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk.CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Vintage Cave food stations line the perimeter of the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk located in Ala Moana Center in 2016.CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
The dining area at Shirokiya Japan Village Walk in 2016.CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Maguro Zanmai sushi chef Yoji Hotta prepares his creamy salmon bento at Shirokiya Yataimura in 2013.CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
Shirokiya's Yataimura food area had happy hour specials in 2013.CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Shirokiya's Yataimura food area in 2013.CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
The food section on the second floor of Shirokiya in 2009.CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
The food section on the second floor of Shirokiya in 2009.CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM
Caroline Miyata looks over some dolls for Girls Day at Shirokiya in 2014.JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
A jam packed crowd of Kikaida fans of all ages marvel as some of their favorite Kikaida characters, including vocalist Miyauchi Hiroshi, middle, and the character Kamen Rider V3, perform in 2012 at Shirokiya in the Ala Moana Center.JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
A jam packed crowd of Kikaida fans of all ages marvel as Kikaida makes an appearance to perform in 2012 at Shirokiya in the Ala Moana Center.GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM
The Shirokiya Japan Village Walk during pau hana in 2015.GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM
The Shirokiya Japan Village Walk during pau hana in 2015.