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 (277)
Leaving camp (372)
Returning home (1150)

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1150 items

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/

doc Granada community analysis report, #2 (ddr-csujad-55-788)

Report on "resettlement" from Granada incarceration camp. Includes: Are you interested in leaving the Center?; Why are you hesitant about resettlement? (including subsections on uncertainty of public sentiment, lack of money, lack of information, lack of confidence in making a reasonably satisfactory living, lack of proper living quarters, family ties and responsibilities, lack of confidence in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-788/

Address to the Sheriffs of California by Robert W. Kenny, Attorney General of California, Sheriffs meeting, Sacramento, March 16, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-1674)

doc Address to the Sheriffs of California by Robert W. Kenny, Attorney General of California, Sheriffs meeting, Sacramento, March 16, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-1674)

Speech given to the Sheriffs of California at the Sheriffs meeting regarding protection, civil liberties, and discrimination against former incarcerees returning to the state. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1676

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1674/

doc Story of the Nittas (ddr-csujad-55-342)

Pamphlet on the story of the Nitta family during World War II. Covers the Nitta's "evacuation", incarceration at Poston, and "resettlement." From verso, "Reprinted from NOW, through co-operation with the Congregational Committee on Christian Democracy from original manuscript supplied by the Reports Division of the War Relocation Authority, Los Angeles, July, 1945." See this object in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-342/

doc Message from D.S. Myer, the Director of the War Relocation Authority (ddr-csujad-55-182)

Response by D.S. Meyer, director of the War Relocation Authority, to incarcerees discussing the implications and procedures following the lifting of the exclusion orders by the Western Defense Command in January 1945. Includes "Summary of WRA policies and procedures for the final phase of the relocation program" and information on relocation assistance, property assistance, welfare assistance, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-182/

doc Nisei enemy gets jail term (ddr-csujad-55-1974)

Clipping of the article, "Nisei Enemy Gets Jail Term." From the Masako Adachi scrapbook, page 20. See also sac_jaac_1953. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1977

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1974/

Memo from Frank S. Okusako, 1st Lt, Infantry, Company H, 442d Infantry to Commanding General, Western Defense Command, Presidio of San Francisco, California (Thru Channels), August 30, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-229)

doc Memo from Frank S. Okusako, 1st Lt, Infantry, Company H, 442d Infantry to Commanding General, Western Defense Command, Presidio of San Francisco, California (Thru Channels), August 30, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-229)

Memorandum of understanding from Frank S. Okusako to Commanding General, Western Defense Command regarding relocation of Okusako's family from the Tule Lake incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0231

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-229/

doc Letter from Leo Uchida to James Waegell, November 8, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-2338)

Correspondence from Leo Uchida to James Waegell regarding military service during World War II, family relocation to do farming work, and updates on daily life. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2444

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2338/

doc Letter from Rev. John M. Yamazaki, March 27, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-789)

Correspondence from Reverend John M. Yamazaki to "friends" regarding "resettlement" to the west coast. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0791

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-789/

doc Letter from Kenneth Hori to George Waegell, August 5, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-2557)

Correspondence from Kenneth Hori to George Waegell. Kenneth states he is stationed at Camp Ritchie in Maryland. Kenneth's family is expected to return to Florin, California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2664

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2557/

doc Facts about trouble at Auburn, California, given by WRA West Coast Assistant Director (ddr-csujad-55-1676)

Report on an incident of racial violence in Auburn, California against former incarceree Sumio Doi and family. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1678

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1676/

doc When you leave the relocation center (ddr-csujad-55-792)

Pamphlet on instructions for leaving the "relocation center." Covers: Giving notice of time of arrival; Travelers' aid society; Report of arrival and change of address cards; Travel and change of address for aliens; Relocation assistance payments; Special regulations in Western Defense Command; Relocation officers; War manpower restrictions on job changes; West coast security problems; Shipment of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-792/

img Children standing on a truck (ddr-densho-34-146)

The Hayashida and Kitamoto children are about to leave the Minidoka concentration camp for their homes on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Mr. Frank Yoshito Kitamoto bought this truck to transport both families' belongings. Yoshito Frank Kitamoto also went by Frank Yoshito Kitamoto.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-34-146/

img Family returning home after the incarceration (ddr-densho-34-51)

Exterior of the Hayashida's family's home on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-34-51/

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/

doc History of the Japanese Congregational Church 1907-2007 (ddr-densho-446-454)

Summary of the Japanese Congregational Church's history from 1807 to 2007 written by Bisim Lee for its 100th Anniversary Dinner (October 2007)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-454/

doc Seattle Post-Intelligencer (ddr-densho-446-451)

Selected articles: Seattle woman's saga captured in photo (p.1-2); Club Asia (p. 2)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-451/

doc Alien's travel permit (ddr-manz-4-269)

Permit allowing Shinjo Nagatomi and his family to travel to Gardena, California after leaving camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-4-269/

doc Card from Tomoye to Henri Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-153)

About possibility of buying another property in S.F.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-153/

doc Letter from Martha Nozawa to Tomoye (Nozawa) Takahashi (ddr-densho-410-418)

Describing sightseeing in Washington D.C. with their father, her plans to stay in Minneapolis, hoping Tomoye will let their father live with her and Henri even though they don't get along because she believes Mrs. Harada is a bad choice for him. Written on Hotel Annapolis stationary.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-410-418/