1. Topics

"Voluntary evacuation"

For a three-week period during World War II, after Japanese Americans had been excluded from the West Coast but before plans for concentration camps had been finalized, a period of "voluntary evacuation" took place. Government officials hoped that the Japanese Americans barred from keeping their homes on the West Coast would make arrangements to move inland on their own, saving valuable military resources. However, state government officials and residents of neighboring states reacted with outrage that Japanese Americans were being encouraged to move there. Most Japanese Americans feared moving into such hostile territory where they would know no one. Further, few Japanese Americans had the resources to move their families to a new place. In total, 4,889 Japanese Americans left the West Coast "voluntarily" and moved to the interior of the U.S. during that period.

World War II (231)
Non-incarcerated Japanese Americans (17)
"Voluntary evacuation" (56)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Voluntary evacuation

Filters

Facilities
Format
Genre
Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

56 items
Family standing outside a gas station (ddr-densho-5-18)
img Family standing outside a gas station (ddr-densho-5-18)
The Fukuda family was originally from Seattle and voluntarily relocated to Nampa, Idaho, during World War II. After the war, the family moved to Spokane, Washington. Front (left to right): Janet, Lillian, and Alan Fukuda. Back: Jim Fukuda holding his daughter Mitsue, Mrs. Fukuda, and Rina Fukuda.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-5-18/
Evacuating Japs Given Deadline (March 26, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-718)
doc Evacuating Japs Given Deadline (March 26, 1942) (ddr-densho-56-718)
The Seattle Daily Times, March 26, 1942, p. 18
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-56-718/
James Omura standing before Voluntary Headquarters, Pacific Coast Evacuee Placement Bureau (ddr-densho-122-684)
img James Omura standing before Voluntary Headquarters, Pacific Coast Evacuee Placement Bureau (ddr-densho-122-684)
Caption: Evacuee Placement Bureau, Denver, Colo. Spring 1942
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-684/
Women in uniform outside beauty parlour (ddr-densho-255-109)
img Women in uniform outside beauty parlour (ddr-densho-255-109)
Six Japanese women standing outside a beauty parlour wearing white uniforms. Japanese sign reads "Katou byouin" (Katou beauty parlour).
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-255-109/
Japanese women outside beauty parlour (ddr-densho-255-108)
img Japanese women outside beauty parlour (ddr-densho-255-108)
Two women standing outside a beauty parlour. Japanese sign reads "Katou byouin" (Katou beauty parlour).
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-255-108/
Women in uniform outside beauty parlour (ddr-densho-255-110)
img Women in uniform outside beauty parlour (ddr-densho-255-110)
Five Japanese women standing outside a beauty parlour, four of them wearing white uniforms. Japanese sign reads "Katou byouin" (Katou beauty parlour).
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-255-110/
Harold Takashi Kobata Interview (ddr-densho-400-12)
av Harold Takashi Kobata Interview (ddr-densho-400-12)
Harold Takashi Kobata was born on April 5, 1926, in Gardena, California. He grew up in Gardena where his uncle, mother and older brothers ran a flower nursery. The family moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, during World War II, where Kobata worked as a gardener while attending high school. After the war the family returned …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-400-12/
George Kobayashi Interview (ddr-densho-400-13)
av George Kobayashi Interview (ddr-densho-400-13)
George Kobayashi was born on February 20, 1924, in Torrance, California. He was one of three children, and his parents' names were Tamechi and Yuko Kobayashi. His father was a farmer in Gardena and his mother was a housewife. When the war broke out, he and his family moved to Fort Lupton, Colorado. During the war …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-400-13/
Namiye Fukuzawa Interview (ddr-densho-400-3)
av Namiye Fukuzawa Interview (ddr-densho-400-3)
Namiye Fukuzawa was born on June 30, 1925, in Los Angeles, California. Namiye's father was a vegetable hauler and her mother was a housewife living in Gardena, California. During World War II, Namiye and her family relocated to Logan, Utah. After the war they moved back to Gardena, California. This interview is part of the South …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-400-3/
Travel permit (ddr-densho-338-182)
doc Travel permit (ddr-densho-338-182)
Travel permit allowing Guyo Tajiri to move to Salt Lake City, Utah before forced removal.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-338-182/
Four letters to Yuri Domoto from Tak Negi (ddr-densho-356-290)
doc Four letters to Yuri Domoto from Tak Negi (ddr-densho-356-290)
Four letters to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Tak Negi. All letters stored in one envelope, unclear if they were mailed together or separately. Letter dated 9/24/1942 most likely associated with the envelope. Letter dated 9/24: details about a visit to Granada and the thoughts and feelings that came from the visit. 7/21 letter: describes weather conditions …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-290/
Letter to Yuri Domoto from Alice (ddr-densho-356-341)
doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Alice (ddr-densho-356-341)
Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Alice in which Alice writes about her feeling on being away from Amache, and the various reactions she gets from people outside the camp, including Japanese-Americans who fled to the East Coast before mass removal. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-321 and ddr-densho-356-413.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-341/
70th Anniversary of the Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-474-53)
doc 70th Anniversary of the Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-474-53)
The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary book traces the history of JCC within the context of national and local events.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-53/
Interview with Ryo Tsai (ddr-densho-446-415)
doc Interview with Ryo Tsai (ddr-densho-446-415)
Written by Ryo Tsai's grandson David Lee for his high school heritage project
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-415/
Book of 70th Anniversary of Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-446-455)
doc Book of 70th Anniversary of Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-446-455)
The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary coincided with the 100th Anniversary of the Japanese Christian Mission in North America. This book traces the history of JCC within the larger setting of national and local events, and some of the photos and narratives may be of interest. Ai Chih Tsai was pastor at JCC from 1948 to …
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-455/
Ryo Morikawa Recollections (ddr-densho-446-349)
doc Ryo Morikawa Recollections (ddr-densho-446-349)
Autobiography: Ryo's parents, Life in San Diego, 11 months in Japan, Evacuation, Married Life
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-349/
Issei farmer discussing lease with Chinese businessman (ddr-densho-151-285)
img Issei farmer discussing lease with Chinese businessman (ddr-densho-151-285)
Original caption: Hayward, California. Negi family, operators of a forty-acre leased truck farm, complete arrangements with a Chinese business man who is taking over this farm and equipment at the time of the family's voluntary evacuation to Colorado, prior to Civilian Exclusion Orders.
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-285/
Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-84-23)
vh Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-84-23)
Working for the War Relocation Authority, helping people move before the mass removal: $50 for train fare to "wherever"

References are made to several of Nobu Suzuki's personal papers, which are currently available for public perusal at the University of Washington's Manuscripts and University Archives.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-84-23/
Fred Shiosaki Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-190-14)
vh Fred Shiosaki Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-190-14)
Changes in Spokane's Japanese American community with the influx of "voluntary evacuees"

This interview was conducted as part of a project to capture stories of the Japanese American community of Spokane, Washington. Densho worked in collaboration with the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-190-14/
Asano Terao Interview II Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1000-109-4)
vh Asano Terao Interview II Segment 4 (ddr-densho-1000-109-4)
Avoiding concentration camps by moving to Salt Lake City, Utah (Japanese language)

This interview was conducted in Japanese and was translated so as to convey Mrs. Terao's way of speaking as closely as possible. For example, there are instances in which she makes some grammatical errors. These mistakes are conveyed through similar grammatical errors in English …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-109-4/
Asano Terao Interview II Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-109-6)
vh Asano Terao Interview II Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-109-6)
Receiving monetary compensation for "voluntary evacuation" (Japanese language)

This interview was conducted in Japanese and was translated so as to convey Mrs. Terao's way of speaking as closely as possible. For example, there are instances in which she makes some grammatical errors. These mistakes are conveyed through similar grammatical errors in English in order to recreate …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-109-6/
Asano Terao Interview II Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-109-5)
vh Asano Terao Interview II Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-109-5)
Traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah (Japanese language)

This interview was conducted in Japanese and was translated so as to convey Mrs. Terao's way of speaking as closely as possible. For example, there are instances in which she makes some grammatical errors. These mistakes are conveyed through similar grammatical errors in English in order to recreate …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-109-5/
Seiko Edamatsu Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-195-16)
vh Seiko Edamatsu Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-195-16)
Voluntarily moving to Spokane, Washington, prior to mass removal

This interview was conducted as part of a project to capture stories of the Japanese American community of Spokane, Washington. Densho worked in collaboration with the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-195-16/
Ben Uyeno Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-100-20)
vh Ben Uyeno Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-100-20)
Early student relocation with the Quakers
https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-100-20/
Harry K. Yoshikawa Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-278-12)
vh Harry K. Yoshikawa Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-278-12)
Leaving Los Angeles for Colorado

Due to technical difficulties during the taping of this interview, the interviewer's voice is considerably louder than the narrator's. This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-278-12/
API