As Umeya Rice Cake Co. closes, an era ends in Little Tokyo
LOS ANGELES - Takeshi Hamano liked to stroll through the Umeya Rice Cake Co. factory in L.A.'s Little Tokyo, stopping along the way to taste-test his senbei, or Japanese rice crackers.
When he'd see employees, he'd stop and quiz them about the production process - from the washing of the rice to the steaming, kneading, cutting, toasting and flavoring of the Japanese snacks.
"He was very good at getting you to say the wrong thing," said his son Rex Hamano. "But in a mentoring way. He wanted people to get better."
Rex Hamano took over as president when his father, known by all
