'Little Tokyo' not closing despite eviction notice for Mile Long

MANILA, Philippines — A group of authentic Japanese restaurants in “Little Tokyo Garden” on Thursday denied that they will be affected by the Makati court’s eviction notice against Sunvar Realty Development Corp.

“Little Tokyo will never close,” the management of the compound told Philstar.com in a text message.

On Wednesday, rumors of Little Tokyo Garden closing spread on social media after a food website said the compound is “said to be closing in 18 months.”

Among the restaurants in Little Tokyo are Hana, Oishinbo, Nodasho, Riozen and Kagura although there are Japanese restaurants outside the compound too.

The report was mentioned in an article that said that a number of Japanese restaurants in Mile Long Property along Amorsolo Street, Makati City were ordered to be closed.

Solicitor General Jose Calida and the Makati Regional Trial Court on Monday asked the tenants of Sunvar to vacate the Mile Long Property.

In a series of tweets, Hana of Little Tokyo clarified that it is not related to Sunvar but is connected to Triplex Enterprises Inc.

“The owner of Little Tokyo & Mile Long is different, LT is owned by Triplex. They are not connected,” Hana’s management said on its Twitter account.

“The moving of restaurants is for restaurants in Mile Long and not Little Tokyo. So please do not include us in the news,” the restaurant said.

Hana appealed to the public to stop spreading rumors as it said it has been going on for years. 

Hi everyone!! We would like to kindly ask for a favor. Please do not spread rumors that Little Tokyo is closing down. We are not.

— Hana Little Tokyo (@Hana_LT) August 17, 2017

For these past couple of years, people I met told me the same thing. "I heard LT is closing down". It's been years. WHY are we still open?

— Hana Little Tokyo (@Hana_LT) August 17, 2017

It is because the rumors is not true. We have talked to the landlord many time & they said we are not. We have thought rumors will be gone

— Hana Little Tokyo (@Hana_LT) August 17, 2017

The eviction notice was issued after the Court of Appeals on Monday directed the Regional Trial Court to enforce a 2015 decision of the Metropolitan Trial Court of Makati Branch 61, which ordered Sunvar to vacate Mile Long and pay the government back rentals.

The notice came after President Rodrigo Duterte repeatedly asked the Prieto and Rufino families to give back the Mile Long Property. He said the families, through Sunvar, held the property without a legitimate lease contract. The Philippine Daily Inquirer has been dragged into the Mile Long dispute despite the media company not being involved in the deal. 

The president said he plans to sell Mile Long to build houses for the poor.

Sunvar has been occupying the property since 1982.