[3] In total, 8,000 residents were displaced from this area, which was acquired by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency (SFRA) starting in the late 1950s under eminent domain.

[4]: 55–56  art of the 108 acres (44 ha) of land The Japanese Cultural and Trade Center was the first major project headed by M. Justin Herman, director of SFRA.

The mall was developed by National-Braemar, who were joined by Kintetsu Enterprises Company of America (wholly owned by the Kinki Nippon Railway) in 1962.

[5] The initial tenants included the manufacturers Hitachi, Nissan, and Mitsubishi, who used their showroom spaces to demonstrate electronics and automobiles; Kikkoman International;[5] the 15-story Miyako Hotel;[6] and Books Kinokuniya.

[7] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States across San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California, businesses in Japan Center have been described as struggling to survive.

[9] The Peace Plaza was originally designed by Japanese architect Yoshirō Taniguchi,[4]: 59  and an update in 2000 by Kenji Murokami removed a large covered walkway on the north side (connecting Japan Center West and East).