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 Portland Rose Festival Parade Float (ddr-one-1-469)

Color slide of a Rose Festival Parade float driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd gathered outside the Noon Bag Company building. A woman stands behind a white cake made of flowers on the float and waves a red ribbon. The Portland Rose Festival Parade is an annual event in which floats are made …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-469/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-247)

Black and white photographic negative of three Japanese American women posing in costumes used to dance during Obon. They are holding tenugui (towels used in traditional Japanese folk dance). From left to right: Jean Yasuko (Kida) Tomita, Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando, Atsuko "Alice" Kida. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-247/

img Buddhist Convention (ddr-one-1-332)

Black and white photographic negative of large crowd of Buddhists gathered outside Collin's Field House in Seattle, Washington for a Buddhist convention. Seated in front row from left to right: Yasashi Ichikawa, Reverend Seiji Kobara from Seattle, Reverend Shoko Masunaga, Reverend Akira Jotetsu Ono, Reverend Tatsuya Ichikawa, Reverend Bishop Kenryu Tsuji, Reverend Eiyu Terao from Spokane, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-332/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 19 "Junior Court" (ddr-one-1-490)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 19 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 has six visible young couples dressed in white suits and pink dresses. They are standing …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-490/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 38 "Alice in Wonderland" (ddr-one-1-463)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 38 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Shoreline Hotel. The float contains a depiction of Alice from "Alice in Wonderland" wearing blue dress with a white apron made from flowers. Sitting on the float in front of Alice next to a yellow sign with …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-463/

img Sorelles Beach Outing (ddr-one-1-392)

Black and white photographic negative of crowd of Nisei at a beach outing planned by the Sorrelles (a high school social group).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-392/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-207)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers in a partial circle in front of a crowd that encloses the dancers. Obon dancers: left corner of image in front of dancer wearing a headscarf is Phyllis Midori (Ando) Muramatsu, behind woman in headscarf is Mabel (Maekawa) Ota followed by Kathleen "Kathie" Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, ninth from …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-207/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-191)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers waving small Japanese flags. Left line from left to right: Hisano Sakamoto, Kaoru Funatake and unidentified women. Right line from left to right: Grace Mieko (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Shizuko "Shiz" (Ochiai) Ota Okazaki, Betty Nakashimada, Shiz (Fujita) Inaba and an unidentified woman. Obon is an annual event hosted by …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-191/

img Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) Odori Performance (ddr-one-1-406)

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. A man is visible looking around the curtain …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-406/

img Congregation (ddr-one-1-328)

Black and white photographic negative of a Christian congregation sitting in pews looking forward. Man setting on the far left is Tsugo Ikeda. No one identified in first pew. Second pew from left to right: Betty Ishida, and Jayne (Katada) Furukawa, others unidentified. Note on identification sheets says saddle shoes worn in image were made by …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-328/

img Wedding Reception (ddr-one-1-133)

Black and white photographic negative of a unknown wedding reception with a group of wedding guests standing next to the gift table. Standing in the back behind the gifts is Mitsy (Kiyomura) Takeoka.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-133/

img Nisei in formal dress (ddr-one-1-562)

Black and white photographic negative of four Nisei standing outside in formal dress. From left to right: Kay Endo, Akiko “Aki” (Endo) Akagi, Mieko Fujita, and Kazuko "Kazzie" (Endo) Hara.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-562/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Victoria Girl's Drill Corps (ddr-one-1-145)

Color slide of all girl's drill corps team from Victoria marching in the Rose Festival Parade down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Riverside Hotel and Cafe. An advertisement for Chevrolet is visible in the background on the side of the Portland Commons Annex. The women are dressed in white uniforms with pink …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-145/

img Wading at the Oregon Coast (ddr-one-1-456)

Color slide of five Nisei girls wading into the water at the Oregon Coast while others wonder around the rock edge in the distance, two men can be seen fishing. Woman on far right in the water is May (Ebihara) Gelfand. According to donor processed on September 12, 1952.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-456/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 15 "Fox Furniture Company" (ddr-one-1-153)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 15 driving down W Burnside in front of the W.L. Reid Company Building Hardware Specialties. The float depicts a large fox head wearing glasses and a graduation cap. The Rose Festival Parade is an annual event in which floats are made out of flowers and paraded down the streets …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-153/

img Obon dance (ddr-one-1-76)

Black and white photographic print of large group dancing Odori (a traditional folk dance) with "uchiwa" (fans) during Obon Festival in front a large seated crowed outside. Outer circle of Obon dancers from right to left, starting left of podium: Tomi Tsujimura, Shizuko Oda, unidentified woman, Phyllis Midori (Ando) Muramatsu, all remaining unidentified. Inner circle of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-76/

img Leopard horse and rider (ddr-one-1-534)

A color slide of an unidentified rider in a pink shirt and white pants riding on a black and white leopard horse in the Portland Rose Festival Parade. The horse has a black saddle and red reins. The horse and rider are posed in front of a crowd outside the Blue Eagle Cafe on the corner …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-534/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-197)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers in front of a crowd with one arm raised. Obon dancers: second from the left dressed in a pattered kimono is Shiz (Fujita) Inaba, fourth from the left is Ben Kasubuchi, fifth from the left in back is Mary Yamaguchi. Obon is an annual event hosted by the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-197/

img Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance- First Place Men's Team (ddr-one-1-115)

Black and white photographic negative of the first place men's team at the Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. Man holding trophy identified as John Asahara from Tacoma; it is possible that the winning team was from Seattle-Tacoma.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-115/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-188)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers in front of a large crowd on a hill. From left to right dancers in right hand line: Aki (Shiraishi) Dong, Shiz (Fujita) Inaba, Ben Kasubuchi, Eddie Tamiyasu, Kathleen "Kathie" Haruko (Matsuda) Sato. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-188/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 5 "Church Choir" (ddr-one-1-480)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 5 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd gathered outside Bekins Storage, a sign for Edwards Furniture is visible in background. A church choir sits on a float made of white flowers with a open bible made of flowers that has the words "Holy Bible" written in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-480/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-387)

Black and white photographic negative of five people sitting around a picnic table during a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Robert “Bob” Sunamoto, Jack Ouchida, Yosh Hasuike, Sachi Hasuike and unidentified.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-387/

img Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) Odori Performance (ddr-one-1-412)

Black and white photographic negative of Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando speaking to a large seated audience, inside the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple) at Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-412/

img Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) at Oregon Buddhist Church (ddr-one-1-401)

Black and white photographic negative of a crowd at Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) at Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-401/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 7 "Hillsboro JC" (ddr-one-1-553)

Color slide of Portland Rose Parade float 7 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Chinese Medicine Building. The float is made of cream flowers and has a large automobile on top made of red and orange flowers, a red ribbon hangs off the windshield. Two men and one woman ride inside …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-553/