elvis and the american dream

Koji Yama is living the American dream.

As a teen living in Tokyo, Koji and his friends were obsessed with all things American, all things Elvis, all things the 50's! Then in 1979 he moved from Tokyo to Okinawa, where Okinawa was the most American place to be in Japan. There he eventually opened 5 shops, got married and had two sons, now 26 and 18 years old. In 2002 he moved to California and worked in a Japanese restaurant until he made enough money to pursue his dreams and open up his vintage shop. 

He wears his hair slicked back, wears Levi's, a pendleton and "creepers", listening to the sounds of rock-n-roll in his year old vintage shop called "Elvis 50's Corporation, USA". Located on Western Avenue in Gardena, California, amongst a variety of street lined Japanese shops, his is filled with American swap meet treasures and finds: records, posters, a huge Elvis lamp, Elvis dolls and all kinds of Elvis memorabilia. There's also a rack of vintage tees, shirts and jackets, bric-a-brac, furniture and more.

Koji Yama is a very shy, modest man. Although he lives and loves all things American, he still holds many traditions of Japan...bowing in gratitude and offering a small token of appreciation.

"It's just the look, that period of America. It's so cool, you know? It's so, I don't know how else to say it. So American."