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 (283)
Leaving camp (430)
Returning home (1151)

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1151 items

doc Photos and text titled: Alameda Japanese Americans after WWII A Place to Live (ddr-ajah-6-545)

Photo of Bill and Nellie Takeda's children on Easter with story of the family's return to Alameda after incarceration

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-545/

img Three children in Easter baskets (ddr-ajah-6-544)

Caption below photo: When Ken, Judy and Jo Takeda returned from their World War II incarceration camp in 1945, their family did not have a place to live in their hometown of Alameda, CA. so they stayed at their church, the Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church on Buena Vista Ave. Several Japanese families shared the space. The …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-544/

doc Sachi Fudenna Recalls the Washington Township and Tanforan during World War II (ddr-ajah-6-404)

Document with biographical information for Sachiko Kamiji Fudenna, transcription of interview and clipping

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-404/

doc Scrapbook of newspaper clipping (ddr-densho-483-100)

Loose scrapbook pages containing newspaper and magazine clipping, a press release, and a speech transcript. Selected article titles: Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "Seattle Japs return home" (p. 1), "The National Director speaks to residents" (p. 2), "237 Bainbridge Japs leave, head south" (p. 3), "No refunds for japs, says city" (p. 4), "Sad farewells while troops stand by" …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-100/

doc Card from Martha Nozawa to Tomoye Takahashi (ddr-densho-423-16)

Telling Tomoye that she is planning to stay in Minneapolis and has a chance for a job with Archer-Daniels company, instead of returning to California

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-423-16/

doc Letter from Martha Nozawa to Tomoye Takahashi (ddr-densho-423-26)

Confirming plans to come to Topaz to help after the baby is born, and travel together to San Francisco

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-423-26/

doc Letter from Martha Nozawa to Tomoye Takahashi (ddr-densho-423-18)

Has an opportunity for a good job with Archer-Daniels-Midland, but would have to start right away and wouldn't be able to come see Tomoye or help move to San Francisco, encourages her to consider moving to mid-west

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-423-18/

doc Letter from Martha Nozawa to Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-423-19)

Will come out to San Francisco soon, asks about situation there for Japanese. Envelope is not for this letter.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-423-19/

doc Letter from Martha Nozawa to Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-423-17)

Giving details of her plan to come to Topaz and help Tomoye move to San Francisco

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-423-17/

doc Memo from A.M. Tollefson, Colonel, CMP, Director, Prisoner of War Operations Division to CG US Army Forces, October 23, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-231)

Memorandum of understanding from A. M. Tollefson to CG US Army Forces regarding relocation of enemy aliens to Hawaii. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0233

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-231/

doc Letter from H.C. Herring to Mr. M. Abe, November 20, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-26)

Correspondence from H.C. Herring to Mr. M. Abe outlining a work arrangement for carpentry, painting, and general labor. Includes the type of work, hourly rate, other compensation, and effective dates of the contract and a signed acceptance from M. Abe. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_00029

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-26/

doc Letter from W.W. Lessing, Relocation Officer, War Relocation Authority, to Mrs. George H. Nakamura, November 25, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-2450)

Correspondence from W.W. Lessing to Dorothy Nakamura regarding grants for former incarcerees returning to their former homes after World War II. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2556

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2450/

doc Community analyst report, no. 74 (May 1, 1945) (ddr-csujad-55-1663)

Community Analyst Trend Report Report from April 23 to 29, 1945. Report on Poston incarceration camp including departure of incarcerees and their relocation plans, closing of Relocation Centers, employment shortages at the camp, selective service, and a youth conference. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1665

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1663/

doc Permit (ddr-csujad-55-1667)

Permit to use property for the operation of a hostel for former incarcerees who have recently left incarceration camps. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1669

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1667/

doc Southern Pacific Company train assignment (ddr-csujad-55-218)

Train assignments from the Southern Pacific Company for a train bound for Davis, California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0220

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-218/

doc Resettlement bulletin, vol. 2, no. 7 (September 1944) (ddr-csujad-55-1671)

Bulletin covering issues related to "resettlement" including news, resources, and opinions. Current issue includes articles on family resettlement through churches, California annual conference of the Methodist Church, Missionary Society of the Evangelical Church, the Southern California-Arizona conference of the Methodist Church, relocation to Chicago, integration, and information on hostels. See this object in the California State …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1671/

doc Letter from Helen Hopt Kleven, 1945, page 11 (ddr-csujad-55-791)

Correspondence (page 11 only) from Helen Hopt Kleven regarding attitudes towards resettlement of Japanese Americans to the west coast. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0793

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-791/

Memo from Henry C. Freeland, Relocation Advisor, Gila River Project to Whom It May Concern re: Permission for Masatoshi Abe to travel, October 24, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-30)

doc Memo from Henry C. Freeland, Relocation Advisor, Gila River Project to Whom It May Concern re: Permission for Masatoshi Abe to travel, October 24, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-30)

Certification letter granting Masatoshi Abe permission to travel to Gardena, California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_00033

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-30/

doc Administrative notice, no. 237 (April 3, 1945) (ddr-csujad-55-1666)

WRA Assistance for Housing Accommodations in West Coast Areas, War Relocation Authority. Policies and procedures for housing accommodations for former incarcerees returning to west coast areas. Covers conditions for housing facilities to obtain government loans in order to support the influx of former incarcerees and other procedures related to housing. See this object in the California …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1666/

doc Community analyst report, no. 77 (May 15, 1945) (ddr-csujad-55-1664)

Community Analyst Trend Report from May 7 to 13, 1945. Report on Poston incarceration camp including departure of incarcerees and their relocation plans, army clearance, incarceree committees, incidents in Fresno, CA and Parker, AZ, combining mess halls, school closings, V-E Day, and a suicide. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1664/

Memo from Henry C. Freeland, Relocation Advisor, Gila River Project to Whom It May Concern re: Permission for Shige Abe to travel, October 24, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-29)

doc Memo from Henry C. Freeland, Relocation Advisor, Gila River Project to Whom It May Concern re: Permission for Shige Abe to travel, October 24, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-29)

Certification letter granting Shige Abe permission to travel to Gardena, California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_00032

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-29/

doc Report of survey on West Coast (ddr-csujad-55-790)

Report regarding a survey of incarcerees who intend to return to the west coast after leaving the incarceration camp. Conducted by Rev. John M. Yamazaki. Yamazaki provides a descriptive account of his travel to survey the conditions on the west coast and outlines several factors impacting incarcerees return including "housing problem," "job situation," and "local sentiment …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-790/

doc Community analysis report, no. 70 (April 18, 1945) (ddr-csujad-55-1662)

Report on "Destination of Leaves to the Evacuated Area, January to March, 1945." Covers number of incarcerees taking indefinite leave from Poston incarceration camp, their destination in California, and the conditions for incarcerees returning to regions of California. "Community analysis section." See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1664

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1662/

doc Leave program of the War Relocation Authority (ddr-csujad-55-1670)

Report on the leave program of the War Relocation Authority. Covers west coast evacuation, development of the "relocation program," relocation offices, registration ("loyalty questionnaire"), changes in leave procedures, security investigation, leave clearance, project investigations, hearings, and review, evacuee support, change of address, community acceptance, and current problems with relocation. See this object in the California State …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1670/

doc Memo from V.R. Miller, Colonel, Infantry, Commanding, to the Adjutant General, War Department, Washington 25, D.C., September 6, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-230)

Memorandum of understanding from V. R. Miller regarding Frank Okusako's request for relocation of his family from the Tule Lake incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0232

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-230/