An original pop-up exhibition exploring the origin – and the future – of Seattle’s famous dish!
Seattle Teriyaki was curated by Highline Big Picture High School Intern, Pedro Toledo Walls, and was on display at the Log House Museum from June through August 2025.
Above Left, Toshiro Kasahara’s original Toshi’s Teriyaki, 1976. Courtesy of Toshiro Kasahara
Above Right, A group of Issei (first generation) men eating at the Maneki restaurant in Seattle’s Nihonmachi, or Japantown, 1920. Courtesy of Densho Digital Archives, Tamura Family Collection
Pedro Toledo Walls was awarded the Future of Heritage Award by the Association of King County Historical Orgainzations in November, 2026 for his curation of Seattle Teriyaki.
Statement from the Association of King County Historical Organizations:
The Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s pop-up exhibit exploring the history of Seattle’s most famous dish is a wonderful example of how young people can make meaningful contributions to telling our community’s history. Created and designed by high school intern Pedro Toledo Walls, a sophomore at Highline Big Picture High School, the exhibit stands out for its thoughtful research, strong visual storytelling, and engaging use of memory cues.
Pedro conducted original research for the project, including an interview with Toshiro Kasahara, the creator of Seattle Teriyaki, and transformed that research into an accessible and visually compelling exhibit. His work brings an important and uniquely Seattle story to life while demonstrating the value of providing young people with opportunities to engage directly with history, research, and interpretation.
The exhibit reflects the Southwest Seattle Historical Society’s longstanding commitment to historic preservation, education, and community service. Since its founding in 1984, the organization has worked to preserve and share the stories of West Seattle, White Center, and the surrounding community, creating opportunities for people of all ages to connect with the history of the place they call home.