Frances Hashimoto was a Japanese American businesswoman who is known for her contributions to the development of the mochi ice cream industry. She was born on August 16, 1919, in the Little Tokyo neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, and died on November 4, 2012, at the age of 93.
Hashimoto's family owned a confectionery store in Little Tokyo, and she grew up learning how to make traditional Japanese sweets. After her marriage to Joel Friedman, she became a partner in Mikawaya, a confectionery store that had been started by her family. In the early 1990s, Hashimoto decided to try adding ice cream to mochi, a traditional Japanese sweet made from glutinous rice, and the result was a hit. Mochi ice cream soon became one of Mikawaya's signature products, and the company expanded to supply many major supermarket chains.
Hashimoto was also active in community affairs, serving on the board of several organizations, including the Little Tokyo Business Association and the Japanese American National Museum. She was a strong advocate for preserving the history of Little Tokyo and was instrumental in securing the designation of the neighborhood as a National Historic Landmark. She was also a supporter of the Japanese American community's efforts to obtain redress and reparations for the injustices they had suffered during World War II, when they were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in internment camps.
Hashimoto's contributions to the mochi ice cream industry and her work in preserving the history of Little Tokyo have been widely recognized. She was inducted into the Candy Hall of Fame in 2011, and in 2013, the city of Los Angeles designated the intersection of Azusa Street and 2nd Street in Little Tokyo as "Frances Hashimoto Plaza" in her honor.
Frances Hashimoto was a trailblazer in the world of confectionery and a champion of the Japanese American community. Her creativity, business savvy, and commitment to community service made her an inspiration to many.