Michelle Shimohara

Michelle Shimohara is a San Gabriel Valley native raised in Monterey Park and Montebello, who attended Macy Intermediate and Schurr High School before building a career in real estate that began in 2014. She previously appeared on the MySGV Podcast in a widely viewed episode about her Japanese American identity and upbringing, and returns in this follow-up conversation to share more stories from her life in the SGV.

In this episode, Michelle talks about growing up in the “SJ” (Sansei/San Gabriel Valley Japanese American) social scene of the 1980s, including school rivalries between Schurr, Mark Keppel, and Alhambra High, and the car culture surrounding events like Nisei Week and the SALT gathering in Little Tokyo. She recounts reconnecting with a brother who had been given up for adoption years earlier, describes an unsettling experience living in a rental unit near Tai Hei restaurant in Monterey Park, and shares stories from her career in real estate, including how California law handles disclosure of deaths in a home and how buyers respond to that information.

For SGV viewers, this episode offers a personal look at the Japanese American community’s history in Monterey Park and Montebello, from youth sports and school culture to the car and music scenes that shaped the era. For Michelle’s audience and those researching real estate topics, the conversation also touches on practical information about property disclosure laws and buyer decision-making in a competitive housing market.

If you enjoyed hearing Michelle’s stories, subscribe to the MySGV Podcast and share this episode with someone who grew up in the San Gabriel Valley.