The story
Maneki opened in 1904 as the city's first sushi bar, in a building shaped like a Japanese castle that could seat up to 500. Staff reportedly wore kimono. Takeo Miki, who later became prime minister of Japan, worked there to support himself as a student.
After Executive Order 9066 sent Japanese Americans to internment camps, much of the restaurant went into storage. Owner Kozo Nakayama died in 1998 and left Maneki to his wife, Jean Nakayama, who had eaten there with her family since childhood.
Everything that was here
- 1904–present · still open
Maneki RestaurantRestaurant
Maneki opened in 1904 in a castle-shaped building that could seat up to 500, and a future prime minister of Japan worked there as a student.
See the map in 1905 →
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Connected places
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Nearby history
Wah Mee Club (Louisa Hotel)
Bush Garden Restaurant
The Double Header
Smith Tower
Merchant's Cafe and Saloon
Doc Maynard's Public House and Seattle Underground
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