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 Nisei on stage (ddr-one-1-346)

Black and white photographic negative of four Nisei standing on a stage, two additional Nisei sitting to the side. The four standing Nisei are each holding an object- possibly performing some kind of skit. From left to right: Miriam (Koyama) Kiso, Eugene Hayashi, Rose Namba, Nami (Miura) Koida, Toyse "Toy" Muira, and Ko Tambara. This photograph …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-346/

img Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) Odori Performance (ddr-one-1-408)

Black and white photographic negative of an unidentified Odori dancer performing with a woven basket in hand on stage for Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) inside the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-408/

img Nisei women (ddr-one-1-345)

Black and white photographic negative of three women standing in front of a piano possibly singing, two women seated to the side listening. From left to right: Jayne (Katada) Furukawa, Betty Ishida, Beti ann (Minamoto) Wantroba, May (Ebihara) Gelfand, and Lillian (Niimi) Mikariya. This photograph may have been taken during the Northwest Methodist Rally.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-345/

img Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) Odori Performance (ddr-one-1-403)

Black and white photographic negative of an Odori folk dance performance on the stage for Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) at Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Mary (Nakata) Fujii, Shiz (Fujita) Inaba, Hanako Terakawa Tamura, unidentified, and Sakae Kobayashi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-403/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 22 "Pacific Telephone" (ddr-one-1-488)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 22 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 red and black flowers, with two young girls dressed as a Native …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-488/

img Adelphons Group Photo (ddr-one-1-2)

Black and white photographic negative of the Adelphons, a young women's service group of the Portland Chapter of the Japanese American Citizen's League, in formal attire. Back Row (left to right): Sumiko “Sue” (Kawasaki) Fujino, unidentified, Minnie (Oyama) Abe, Ochiyo (Nishioka) Hasuike, unidentified, Mary (Furusho) Iwasaki, Tamae "Butch" Yamamoto, Kathryn (Kawata) Niita, Irene (Kawata) Nakagawa, Sophie …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-2/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-241)

Black and white photographic negative of six Obon dancers posing for the camera with one arm touching straw hats. From left to right: Shizuko "Shiz" (Ochiai) Ota Okazaki, Jean (Tsujimura) Takashima, Atsuko "Alice" Kida, Jean Yasuko (Kida) Tomita, Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando, and Eddie Tamiyasu. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-241/

img Oregon Buddhist Church Bingo (ddr-one-1-422)

Black and white photographic negative of a bingo game with prizes displayed in the center. Event is hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now know as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Aki (Shiraishi) Dong, Mary (Nakata) Fujii, Mitsy (Kiyomura) Takeoka, Ben Kasubuchi, unidentified, unidentified, James “Jim” Mamoru Fujii, Susie "Jinx" (Tamiyasu) Fujii carrying …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-422/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 4 Queen and Court (ddr-one-1-143)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 4 with the Rose Festival Queen and Court on red and white float driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd gathered outside W.L. Reid Company Building Hardware Specialties and the Riverside Hotel. An advertisement for Chevrolet is visible in the background on the side of the Portland …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-143/

img Tractors (ddr-one-1-452)

Color slide of two parked John Deere tractors in a field, appears to be an old John Deere 1940s model M and a newer 1950s Model A with a fork loader attached to the front. According to donor processed on June 20, 1951. For black and white negative please see ONLC 4821, for black and white …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-452/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-8)

Original black and white photographic print of the Sorelles, a high school social group. Back Row (left to right): Elsie Okazaki, Anges (Inouye) Kitayama, Atsuko "Alice" Kida, Atsuko “Alice” (Matsumoto) Ando, Nami (Miura) Koida, Kimi Wakabayashi, Grace Mieko (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Masae “Elsie” (Morita) Onishi, and Betty Nakashimada. Middle Row (left to right): Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-8/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 11 "The Calliope" (ddr-one-1-137)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 11 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside W.L. Reid Company Building Hardware Specialties. Float depicts a calliope with a player dressed as a clown on top. Three female riders sit up front in short poofy dresses, one holds a blue ribbon while the other two …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-137/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 23 "Fountain of Youth" (ddr-one-1-517)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 23 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 depicts a Spanish conquistadors discovering the fountain of youth under a pink willow tree. The …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-517/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 26 "Beaverton" (ddr-one-1-535)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 26 driving down W Burnside past a crowd outside Dr. Geo Chan's office and the Chinese Medicine Company during the Rose Festival Parade. The float is made of red flowers and has a carriage on top made of red and white flowers and is pulled by a horse made …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-535/

img Obon Festival- Dancer (ddr-one-1-235)

Black and white photographic negative of Beti ann (Minamoto) Wantroba posing for the camera with one arm raised above her head. 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-1-235/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-189)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers with arms extended in front. Dancers: first from left Shizuko "Shiz" (Ninomiya) Onishi, fourth from left Ed Honma, fifth from left Tom Shigeto Tamiyasu, first from right Ted Tetsuo Tamaki. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-189/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Marching Band (ddr-one-1-170)

Color slide of a drum major and three majorettes in white uniforms leading a marching band in dark red uniforms along the Portland Rose Festival parade route in front of a crowd gathered outside W.L. Reid Company Building Hardware Specialties and the Riverfront Hotel on W Burnside. An advertisement for Chevrolet is visible on the side …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-170/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade Float- "The Phaeton" (ddr-one-1-548)

Color slide of a float driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Blue Eagle Café on the corner of NW Second Ave. The float is of a phaeton style carriage made of white flowers with a blue flowers on the trim and red flowers for the wheels. Two horses made of white …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-548/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-285)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers in flower hats performing an Odori folk dance at Obon. Woman in center of image is identified as Masano Hachiya Yamasaki. 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-1-285/

img Northwest Methodist Rally Portland (ddr-one-1-322)

Black and white photographic negative of the attendees of the Northwest Methodist Rally in Portland on November 23-25, 1951. Inscription on negative reads "Northwest methodis Rally Portla Nov. 23-25, 1951." The group is posed in front of the old Epworth Methodist Church building. Front row left to right starting third from left: Rupert Fujii, Shig Tada, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-322/

img Reed College (ddr-one-1-361)

Black and white photographic print 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. Negative ONLC 3181 (ddr-one-1-363).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-361/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-240)

Black and white photographic negative of six Obon dancers posing for the camera with arms held up wearing straw hats. From left to right: Shizuko "Shiz" (Ochiai) Ota Okazaki, Jean (Tsujimura) Takashima, Atsuko "Alice" Kida, Jean Yasuko (Kida) Tomita, Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando, and Eddie Tamiyasu. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-240/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 45 "Pendleton Roundup" (ddr-one-1-157)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 45 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd gathered outside the Shoreline Hotel, Anchor Inn, and Sailors Union of the Pacific. On the side of the float is an image of a bronco rider with a caption "let 'em buck." Five women ride on the float, four …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-157/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-6)

Black and white photographic negative of the Sorelles, a high school social group. Back Row (left to right): Elsie Okazaki, Agnes (Inouye) Kitayama, Atsuko “Alice” Kida, Atsuko “Alice” (Matsumoto) Ando, Nami (Miura) Koida, Kimi Wakabayashi, Grace Mieko (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Masae “Elsie” (Morita) Onishi, and Betty Nakashimada. Middle Row (left to right): Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Kathleen …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-6/

img Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) Odori Performance (ddr-one-1-407)

Black and white photographic negative of two unidentified dancers with fans performing an Odori folk dance on stage for Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) inside the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple). Two woman sit on stage in western style clothes, one playing a shamisen.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-407/