Two artistic, brightly colored crosswalks drew crowds this week in downtown San Pedro during the community’s First Thursday celebration.
The artwork — paying homage to San Pedro’s rich commercial fishing history — was formally unveiled on Thursday, Sept. 3, during the outdoor celebration, where themed merchandise was also being sold, reflecting the new addition at Mesa and Sixth streets.
Citycouncil man Tim McOsker and Linda Grimes, executive director of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District, honor the artists Lua Kobayashi and Randy Weston for the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
City Councilman Tim McOsker and fellow volunteers try out Taiko drumming before the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
City officials join Taiko Improv drummers and the public for the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The artists Lua Kobayashi and Randy Weston are honored for the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” after an unveiling and ribbon cutting in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
City officials join Taiko Improv drummers and the public for the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
City officials join Taiko Improv drummers and the public for the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Taiko Improv drummers perform during the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The artists Lua Kobayashi and Randy Weston are honored for the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” after an unveiling and ribbon cutting in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The artist Lua Kobayashi is honored for the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” during an unveiling and ribbon cutting in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
City officials join Taiko Improv drummers and the public for the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
City officials join Taiko Improv drummers and the public for the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
“Queenie” the Pug attends the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
City officials join Taiko Improv drummers and the public for the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Taiko Improv drummers perform during the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
City officials join Taiko Improv drummers and the public for the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
City officials join Taiko Improv drummers and the public for the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Taiko Improv drummers perform during the unveiling of the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” designed by the artist Lua Kobayashi, at 6th and Mesa Streets in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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Citycouncil man Tim McOsker and Linda Grimes, executive director of the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District, honor the artists Lua Kobayashi and Randy Weston for the new crosswalk titled “Furusato: Home Sweet Home,” in San Pedro on Thursday September 3, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
The swimming blue fin tuna design was a personal one for the artist, Lua Kobayashi, whose great-grandparents were Japanese immigrants who came to San Pedro and spent time in internment camps following the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II.
The artwork is titled “Furusato,” literally “hometown” or “birthplace” in Japanese, and evoking the sentiment of “home sweet home.” It depicts an earlier era in the port town that once was a hub of the booming tuna fishing industry, with small boats and canneries pre-dating what is now the busiest shipping container port in the western hemisphere.
Grant money totaling $39,000 for the art project came from the Port of Los Angeles and the Arts United Coalition, with the project sponsored and overseen by the San Pedro Waterfront Arts District.
The requirements called for the design to include elements of San Pedro’s history as a maritime port; the biodiversity of the marine environment; the variety of the town’s arts and culture; and a color pallet that would be limited to four large blocks of color.