L.A.’s Japan-O-Rama

With Giant Robot, fashion boutiques Momo and popKiller, it's not a far stretch to proclaim Los Angeles as "the epicenter of Japanese cool in America." Particularly for anyone reared on Blade Runner or, well, who lives here. L.A. Times staffer Charlie Amter makes the call in today's weekend guide, citing "three major hubs of restaurants, bars and shops in Torrance and Gardena, West L.A. and the Sawtelle corridor, and downtown's Little Tokyo." Amter hits all the coolest sources and references (What? No mention of the Harajuku patron saint and OC girl Gwen Stefani?), in this starter guide for those of you who think California Rolls are sushi.
(Photo by Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times)