Inside a Secret Japanese Village Hidden in an Arts District Loft

Star ForemanUncategorized

Molly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpieceMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpieceMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing an original Peter Lai designMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing an original Peter Lai designMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing an original Peter Lai designMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing an original Peter Lai designMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing an original Peter Lai designMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing an original Peter Lai designMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing an original Peter Lai designMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillagePeter LaiMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing antique Chinese wardrobe pieces while smoking an opium pipe in an antique opium bedMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing an original Peter Lai design inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan demonstrates a Japanese spinning wheel inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Village.Molly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThe kitchen of Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan reclines on a rare antique opium bed inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Village.Molly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThe traditional dressing area for Japanese dancers inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillagePuffer fish in the kitchen inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageFormal dining area inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageA hand-stitched kimono inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageAn antique opium bed inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThe Lai family of Hong KongMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing antique Chinese wardrobe pieces inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageAn antique opium bed inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing an original Peter Lai designMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThe hidden bedchamber inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan and Peter LaiMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing antique Chinese wardrobe pieces inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageTraditional dancer's headpieces inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan in a traditional kimono inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillagePeter Lai at homeMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageOriginal headpieces created by Peter Lai inside his Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan at Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing an original Peter Lai design inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing an original Peter Lai design inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageThis wedding designer is a student of Lai'sMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Villageinside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing antique Chinese wardrobe pieces while smoking an opium pipe in an antique opium bedMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing antique Chinese wardrobe pieces while smoking an opium pipe in an antique opium bedMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing antique Chinese wardrobe pieces while smoking an opium pipe in an antique opium bedMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing antique Chinese wardrobe pieces while smoking an opium pipe in an antique opium bedMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing antique Chinese wardrobe pieces while smoking an opium pipe in an antique opium bedMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing antique Chinese wardrobe pieces while smoking an opium pipe in an antique opium bedMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing antique Chinese wardrobe pieces while smoking an opium pipe in an antique opium bedMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural VillageMolly Morgan wearing antique Chinese wardrobe pieces while smoking an opium pipe in an antique opium bedMolly Morgan wearing a traditional kimono and dancer's headpiece, available for rent, inside Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Village

Late last month, Angelenos had the rare opportunity to check out Peter Lai's Secret Japanese Cultural Village. The fashion designer and dancer hosted tours of his 5,000-square-foot masterwork, along with a sale of his original designs and selections from his vast collection of books, art and kimonos. 

Peter Lai comes from a distinguished family of Chinese Opera, film and stage costumers, and until his retirement in 2013 ran a beloved boutique in San Marino. After retiring, Lai was able to fulfill his lifelong dream: the creation of a Japanese artist village. Lai spent more than a year creating the Cultural Village, a collection of themed vignettes, inside his massive loft in the Arts District. Lai gave L.A. Weekly a private tour.
Photos by Star Foreman.