Returning home

When the camps closed, Japanese Americans were handed $25 and put on trains headed for the places they had been forcibly removed from nearly four years earlier. Harassment was common -- many returning Japanese Americans were greeted with signs reading "No Japs Allowed." Other discovered their property had been vandalized or stolen. Homes and businesses that had been boarded up or left in the care of others were abandoned and stripped of furnishings and goods. For the majority, who did not have homes to return to, housing was the most serious problem. Housing discrimination was severe in many areas and persisted to varying degrees until the civil rights legislation of the 1960s. Former camp inmates with no other options moved into hostels and converted community institutions with conditions not much better than the camps they had just left. Although this period was stressful, it is remembered as a time when people came together to share what they had.

World War II (231)
Leaving camp (287)
Returning home (1049)

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1049 items

img Obon Festival- Obon dancers (ddr-one-1-211)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers waving small Japanese and American flags for the camera in front of a crowd. From left to right: Kuni Kitayama, Chieko Yoshihara, Sakae Kobayashi, Hisano Sakamoto, Kaoru Funatake. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) and attended by …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-211/

img Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance- Individual Women's Winners (ddr-one-1-117)

Black and white photographic negative of four individual winners at the Third Annual Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. From left to right: Florence “Flo” (Anazawa) Teshima, Aki (Shiraishi) Dong, unidentified woman, and unidentified woman. Sitting inside a booth to the far left is Kimi Tambara.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-117/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-44)

Black and white photographic negative of bride and groom, Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto and Sam Sakamoto, in front of the alter, bride's train twisted and on the stairs. Original print ONLC 2806 (ddr-one-1-33).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-44/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 42 (ddr-one-1-167)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 42 going down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Shoreline Hotel and Cafe. The float has a small pink elephant sitting on its hind legs with two men sitting in front. The float is pulled by a team of Shetland ponies. The Rose Festival Parade is …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-167/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 20 "Concert in the Park" (ddr-one-1-539)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 20 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd gathered outside Blue Eagle Café on NW Second Ave. On the float is a large gazebo made of yellow, red and white flowers; inside sits a band in red uniforms, the conductor wears yellow. Two women sit outside the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-539/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade float- Chamber of Commerce (ddr-one-1-504)

Color slide of the back of the Chamber of Commerce float driving down SW Third Ave in front of a large crowd outside a drug store in the Portland Rose Festival Parade. Eight women in pink gowns sit on the float, seven in front and one on top in the back with a large white cape- …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-504/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade float- "Aluminum Company of America" (ddr-one-1-512)

Color slide of a Rose Festival Parade float driving by a crowd in front of San Francisco Tailor on SW Third Ave. The float has four young girls in white dresses sitting around a May pole, a young woman sits behind them in front of a large harp made of yellow flowers that is being played …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-512/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Marching Band (ddr-one-1-147)

Color slide of a baton twirler in pink and yellow marching uniform in front of large marching band in red uniforms marching down W Burnside in the Portland Rose Festival Parade. In the background a sign for the Blue Eagle Cafe is visible. The Rose Festival Parade is an annual event in which floats are made …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-147/

img Pelican (ddr-one-1-542)

Color slide of a pelican perched on a rock. Image was most likely at the Portland Zoo in Washington Park (later moved to its current location from what is now the Japanese Gardans and renamed Oregon Zoo). According to donor processed on June 14, 1964.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-542/

img Obon Festival- Mayoral speech (ddr-one-1-254)

Black and white photographic negative of Portland Mayor Dorothy McCullough Lee speaking at Obon. Playing the taiko drum is Henry Matsunaga. Behind the drum is Tom Shigeto Tamiyasu. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) and attended by the wider Nikkei community.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-254/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-29)

Black and white photographic print of a wedding between Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto. The couple is kneeling before Reverend Francis Hayashi. Bridal Party from Left to Right: Yoichi "Jack" Nomi, Keso Kuwahara, Tamaye (Fujiwara) Nomi and Lilly (Kobayashi) Irinaga.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-29/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-250)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers performing in front of a crowd. From left to right in foreground: Ruth Saito, Kathleen "Kathie" Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, and Grace (Tachibana) Ishikawa. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) and attended by the wider Nikkei community..

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-250/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade Float- "Hot Cross Buns" (ddr-one-1-494)

Color slide of the Bakers of Oregon Rose Festival Parade float as it drives down SW Third Ave in front of a large crowd gathered outside a Signal gas station and San Francisco Tailor, behind the Signal gas station is the old Multnomah Hotel.. On the float ride two women in pink dresses and white bonnets, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-494/

img Obon Festival- Dancer (ddr-one-1-281)

Black and white photographic negative of Masano Hachiya Yamasaki posing for the camera at Obon. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) and attended by the wider Nikkei community.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-281/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 13 "Buried Treasure" (ddr-one-1-496)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 13 driving down SW Third Ave in front of a large crowd gathered outside a Signal gas station and San Francisco Tailor, behind the Signal gas station is the old Multnomah Hotel. The float is made of yellow flowers, with an open treasure chest. Three women ride on the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-496/

img Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance- First Place Women's Team (ddr-one-1-116)

Black and white photographic negative of the first place women's team at the Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. From left to right: Toshi (Tamiyasu) Fukuhara, Sachi (Nakata) Nakashima, Kathleen Sasaki, Kimi Tambara, and Florence “Flo” (Anazawa) Teshima. Sitting inside a booth on the far left is Aki …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-116/

img Wedding Reception Dance at Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (ddr-one-1-96)

Black and white photographic negative of a possible wedding reception dance at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association's main hall. Attendees sit along the wall chatting with other guests.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-96/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Cowboy (ddr-one-1-484)

Color slide of a cowboy riding a brown horse down W Burnside in the Rose Parade. An advertisement for San Juan Slacks is visible on the side of the Noon Bag Company building. The cowboy waves his hat at the camera. The Portland Rose Festival Parade is an annual event in which floats are made out …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-484/

img Reed College (ddr-one-1-363)

Black and white photographic negative of Carlos Ogimi and other students sitting at drawing table working on an unknown project. Carlos is the first seated student on the right, everyone else is unidentified. This photographic negative was taken at Reed College where Carlos was a student. Original print ONLC 3179 (ddr-one-1-361).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-363/

img Reed College (ddr-one-1-352)

Black and white photographic negative of Ayame Ogimi leaning back in a chair reading a book with her feet resting on a desk. The picture was taken at Reed College, most likely in the common area of her dorm, where Ayame attended school.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-352/

img Valentine's Day potluck at Oregon Buddhist Church (ddr-one-1-57)

Color slide of unidentified Japanese American women in buffet line at Valentine's Day potluck at the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-57/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-186)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers in line with arms swinging. Second dancer from the left is Jeanne Tanaka. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) and attended by the wider Nikkei community. This image was taken at Holladay Park in Portland, Oregon.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-186/

img New Tokyo Bar (ddr-one-1-82)

Black and white photographic negative of unidentified men playing Gibson guitars at the New Tokyo Bar. For print please see ONLC 4949 (ddr-one-1-720)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-82/

img Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) Odori Performance (ddr-one-1-411)

Black and white photographic negative of Patricia “Pat” (Ikata) Iboshi dancing on stage in a western style dress for Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) at Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-411/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-390)

Black and white photographic negative of three women, two standing one sitting, in front of a picnic table smiling for the camera at a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Mary (Nakata) Fujii, Mrs. Nakata, and Yukiye Itoyama.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-390/