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 (229)
Leaving camp (287)
Returning home (1048)

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1048 items

img Home, sweet home (ddr-csujad-38-314)

Photographed is the Masukawa family's house on Lomita Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. The caption reads: Home, sweet home. Title from caption. The handwritten note on the back side describes the house. The second part of the note is found in item: csudh_nao_0339. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 19. See this object …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-314/

img Masukawa and Ujita family (ddr-csujad-38-317)

A photograph of the Masukawa and Ujita family. It is taken in Los Angeles, California after returning from the incarceration camps. The house belongs to the Ujitas. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 20. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_20_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-317/

img Sasaki family (ddr-csujad-38-315)

Photographed is the Sasaki family, including Hiromi and Sally Sakaye, sitting in front of their house on Lomita Boulevard, Los Angeles, California. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 19. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_19_016

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-315/

img Tomosuke Masukawa (ddr-csujad-38-300)

Photographed is Tomosuke Masukawa. It is taken after he returned from the Poston incarceration camp in Arizona to Los Angeles, California. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 19. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_19_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-300/

img Masukawa and Ujita family (ddr-csujad-38-316)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-316/

img Tomosuke Masukawa (ddr-csujad-38-312)

See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_19_013

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-312/

img Finishing touches, painting (ddr-csujad-38-301)

Photographed is the Masukawa family's house in Los Angeles, California, being repaired. The caption reads: Finishing touches, painting. Title from caption. The handwritten note on the back side describes the house. The first part of the note is found in item: csudh_nao_0352. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 19. See this object in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-301/

img Emiko and Grandma (ddr-csujad-38-313)

Photographed are Koyuta Masukawa and Emiko. The caption reads: Emiko and Grandma, 7 yrs, 58 yrs old. Title from caption. The handwritten note on the back side reads: The photo was taken on April 15, 1946. Mother age at 58. Emiko age at 7. Papa took it. I became an old grandma. [In Japanese]. A photo …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-313/

doc Letter from Usami Terada to Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Thomas, October 3, 1943 (ddr-csujad-4-18)

A letter from Usami Terada, an incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp, to Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Thomas in Lawndale, California. The letter discusses the Japanese American incarcerees returning to California and the West Coast. He describes the returning people as "half bred or wife of Caucasian" and a female attending Pasadena Junior College. He expresses …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-4-18/

doc Letter from Emiko [Amy] Terada to Miss Laura Thomas, January 19, 1945 (ddr-csujad-4-22)

A letter from Emiko Amy Terada, an incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp, to Miss Laura Thomas in Lawndale, California. In the letter, Emiko asks Laura about the conditions in Lawndale, California, expressing her concern about housing. She also describes school in the camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-4-22/

doc Letter from Usami Terada to Mr. A.W. Thomas, February 7, 1945 (ddr-csujad-4-23)

A letter from Usami Terada, an incarceree at the Rohwer incarceration camp, to a Mr. A.W. Thomas in Lawndale, California. In the letter, Usami discusses about returning to California and asks Mr. Thomas how Lawndale has changed during the past three years. He also asks for photographs of Mr. Thomas' family, Terada's home, and their neighbor, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-4-23/

doc Letter from James Brell, CWO USA, Actg Asst Adj Gen, to Mr. Fumio Fred Takano, June 21, 1945 (ddr-csujad-42-111)

A letter from James Brell, Acting Assistant Adjutant General, Chief Warrant Officer, Western Defense Command, United States Army, to Fumio Fred Takano in the Gila River incarceration camp. The letter informs that Fumio's exclusion status has been changed and he is authorized to travel and reside within the West Coast exclusion zone. It also instructs him …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-111/

doc Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, June 21, 1945, English translation (ddr-csujad-42-84)

English translation of the letter: csudh_tak_0083. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_40_001_eng

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-84/

doc Notice from Gila River Project, War Relocation Authority, United States Department of Interior, July 7, 1945 (ddr-csujad-42-112)

A notice from Gila River Project, War Relocation Authority, United States Department of the Interior. It certifies that Fumio Fred Takano has returned the work equipment which belongs to War Relocation Authority. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_61_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-112/

Letter from John D. Seater, Chief Project Steward, Gila River Project, War Relocation Authority, United States Department of the Interior, July 30, 1945 (ddr-csujad-42-116)

doc Letter from John D. Seater, Chief Project Steward, Gila River Project, War Relocation Authority, United States Department of the Interior, July 30, 1945 (ddr-csujad-42-116)

A letter from John D. Seater, Chief Project Steward, Gila River Project, War Relocation Authority, United States Department of the Interior. It itemizes the Itsuhei Takano's belongings in his unit in the barracks, 31-2-D, in the Gila River incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_64_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-116/

doc Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, June 21, 1945 (ddr-csujad-42-83)

A letter from Tsuruno Meguro to her son-in-law and daughter, Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano in Chicago, Illinois. She writes from Santa Clarita, California, where she has been reestablishing her life after the forced evacuation and incarceration. The letter explains about the reason why she has not moved to Los Angles, California, but instead to Saugus, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-83/

Letter from Henry C. Freeland, Leave Officer for L. H. Bennett, Project Director, Gila River Project, War Relocation Authority, United States Department of the Interior, August 6, 1945 (ddr-csujad-42-117)

doc Letter from Henry C. Freeland, Leave Officer for L. H. Bennett, Project Director, Gila River Project, War Relocation Authority, United States Department of the Interior, August 6, 1945 (ddr-csujad-42-117)

A letter from Henry C. Freeland, Leave Officer for L. H. Bennett, Project Director, Gila River Project, War Relocation Authority, Untied States Department of the Interior. It certifies that Itsuhei Takano is permitted to travel to Los Angeles, California by the Department of Justice. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-117/

img Leave permit identification card (ddr-csujad-42-109)

A leave permit identification card issued for Mariko Mollie Hirashima on April 19, 1945. It certifies that she "may travel and reside within the areas of Western Defense Command heretofore prohibited to persons of Japanese ancestry." Mariko is one of the daughters of Itsuhei and Tomoye Takano and incarcerated in the Manzanar incarceration camp during the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-109/

doc Uniform express receipt (ddr-csujad-42-118)

A receipt issued by Railway Express Agency on December 14, 1945. It details the shipment that Fumio Fred Takano shipped from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, including three boxes, one tool box, one footlocker, and one carton. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_66_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-118/

doc Letter from John D. Seater, Chief Project Steward, Gila River Project, July 10, 1945 (ddr-csujad-42-113)

A letter from John D. Seater, Chief Project Steward, Gila River Project, War Relocation Authority, United States Department of the Interior. It lists the food items and certifies that they are Fumio Fred Takano's personal belongings. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_62_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-113/

doc Evacuee property receipt (ddr-csujad-42-97)

A property receipt issued to Fumio Fred Takano. It lists two boxes. It appears to be a receipt for the shipment of Fumio's belongings from the Gila River incarceration to Los Angeles, California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_50_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-97/

doc Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, June 21, 1945, typescript (ddr-csujad-42-85)

Japanese typescript of the letter: csudh_tak_0083. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_40_001_jpn

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-85/

doc Telegram from G. Arnold to Robert Cullum, Relocation Supervisor, War Relocation Authority, August 5, 1944 (ddr-csujad-42-104)

A telegram from G. Arnold to Robert M. Cullum, Relocation Supervisor, War Relocation Authority, United States Department of the Interior regarding Fumio Fred Takano's request for the permission to reenter California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_53_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-104/

Letter from Jimmie Tabata, First Vice President, Japanese American Citizens League Monterey Peninsula to Japanese American Citizens League of Monterey Peninsula Board Members, September 17, 1945 (ddr-csujad-44-3)

doc Letter from Jimmie Tabata, First Vice President, Japanese American Citizens League Monterey Peninsula to Japanese American Citizens League of Monterey Peninsula Board Members, September 17, 1945 (ddr-csujad-44-3)

Letter from Jimmie Tabata, First Vice President of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) Monterey Peninsula Chapter, explaining to other board members of the JACL Monterey Peninsula Chapter that the JACL Monterey Chapter Hall will be released by the California State Guards, and Guy Curtis, who had been given power of attorney to represent the JACL …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-44-3/

doc Heart Mountain Relocation Project Fifth Community Council, 4th session (August 24, 1945) (ddr-csujad-45-55)

The council minutes feature the report on WRA freight rules for leaving for the East Coast. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: HMRC_01-01_084

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-45-55/