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Shirokiya facing demise after centuries-long existence

By Star-Advertiser staff

July 27, 2021

Hawaii Photos

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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.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Closed storefronts are seen in July at Shirokiya Japan Village Walk.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Closed storefronts are seen in July at Shirokiya Japan Village Walk.
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STAR-ADVERTISER FILE

Tadatoshi Suzuki, president of Shirokiya, stands on the escalator of the Ala Moana store in 2002.
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Toshio Narita, of Niigata, Japan, makes onigiri in the food department of Shirokiya as part of the Niigata Food Festival in 2002.
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Shirokiya employee Joshua Baldovi helps Hiro Hikida in the electronics departmen in 2002.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

The doors are closed at Shirokiya Japan Village Walk.
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Workers craft musubi in the kitchen of the Musubi Cafe Iyasume at the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk in 2016.
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The S&S Thai Kitchen counter at the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk in 2016.
10/24
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Wagyu with ponzu sauce, onion and peppers from the Wagyu Plaza at the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk.
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STAR-ADVERTISER FILE

A musubi from the Musubi Cafe Iyasume at the new Shirokiya Japan Village Walk.
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Varieties of ramen, soba, udon, musubi and tempura were sold at the Shirokiya Japan Village Walk.
13/24
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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.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

The dining area at Shirokiya Japan Village Walk in 2016.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Maguro Zanmai sushi chef Yoji Hotta prepares his creamy salmon bento at Shirokiya Yataimura in 2013.
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CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM

Shirokiya's Yataimura food area had happy hour specials in 2013.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Shirokiya's Yataimura food area in 2013.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

The food section on the second floor of Shirokiya in 2009.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

The food section on the second floor of Shirokiya in 2009.
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CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARADVERTISER.COM

Caroline Miyata looks over some dolls for Girls Day at Shirokiya in 2014.
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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.
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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.
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GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM

The Shirokiya Japan Village Walk during pau hana in 2015.
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GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM

The Shirokiya Japan Village Walk during pau hana in 2015.

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