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)

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

1049 items

img Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance- Couple seated (ddr-one-1-124)

Original black and white photographic print of couple sitting at table at the Third Annual Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. The couple is smiling for the camera. From left to right: Bob Luck and Doris Chan. Negative ONLC 2940 (ddr-one-1-123).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-124/

img Obon Festival Dance Rehearsal (ddr-one-1-298)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers rehearsing an Odori folk dance inside Norse Hall in Northeast Portland. Dancers form two lines in front of a small seated audience on the floor and in the balcony. Adult male Obon dancers on far right of image identified from right to left: Arthur Ojiro “Art” Sasaki, Reverend …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-298/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Marine Color Guard (ddr-one-1-506)

Color slide of a formal four man Marine Corps Color Guard in dress blues marching in the Portland Rose Festival Parade carrying the American and Marine Corps flags. They are marching on SW Third Ave past a crowd gathered in front of a Signal gas station and San Francisco Tailor, behind the Signal gas station is …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-506/

img Northwest Buddhist Convention (ddr-one-1-430)

Black and white photographic negative of two Nisei women standing holding binders and notepads in front of a chalkboard at the Northwest Buddhist Convention in Seattle, Washington at the Seattle Buddhist Church. Woman on the right identified as Yasuko Hashimoto.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-430/

doc The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 46 (November 16, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-98)

Selected article titles: "1 Month Left for Planning: More Than 3000 Leave Since First of the Year" (p. 1), "Minors Born in U.S. May Return as U.S. Citizens" (pp. 1-2), and "400 Islanders Slated to Return Home Soon" (p. 2), and "Tuleans Receive Surprise on Way to Seabrook Farms" (p. 3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-98/

doc Information Bulletin No. 3 (January 29, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-53)

Tule Lake Center informational bulletin which includes a statement by WRA National Director, Dillon S. Myer, regarding the future of the center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-53/

doc The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 35 (August 31, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-83)

Selected article titles: "Less Work: Tule to Go on 40-Hour Work Week from Sept. 9" (p. 1), "Ration-Free Shoes May Be Available" (p. 1), "Return of Evacuees Topic of Renton, Wash. Meeting" (p. 3), and "Survey Shows Many Tuleans Now in Sacramento Area" (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-83/

doc The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 10 (March 9, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-59)

Selected article titles: "Japan Sends New Memo on Exchange of Nationals" (p. 1), "Night Attack Reported on Santa Clara Evacuee" (p. 1), and "Long Beach YWCA Ready to Give Assistance" (p. 3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-59/

doc The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 9 (March 2, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-58)

Selected article titles: "More Internees to Leave Sunday" (p. 1), "WRA Determined to Close Centers-Myer" (p. 2), and "GI's May Visit Interned Kins" (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-58/

doc The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 12 (March 23, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-61)

Selected article titles: "Statement Given on Special Project Rules" (p. 1), "Relocators Get Kindly Welcome on Return Home" (p. 2), "Japanese School Damaged in Second Delano Fire" (p. 2), and "Two-Day 'Shibai and Buyo' Begins Tonight at Aud." (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-61/

doc 70th Anniversary of the Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-474-53)

The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary book traces the history of JCC within the context of national and local events.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-53/

doc 50th Anniversary of the Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-474-52)

This book traces the first fifty years of the history of the JCC in Seattle. The first four pages covering the introduction from Rev. Archie H. Hook and the brief overview of the church's history are in English, as are the photo captions throughout the book.The bulk of the text is in Japanese. The JCC members' …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-52/

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/

img Roses (ddr-one-1-523)

Color slide of a side of a hill covered in pink and red rose bushes. Image was most likely taken at the Rose Test Garden in Washington Park. According to donor processed on June 14, 1964.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-523/

img Community Picnic- playing cards (ddr-one-1-371)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei playing cards at a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Alfred Tsutomu Ando, Kathleen "Kathie" Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, and Shoji Kiyomura.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-371/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 20 "Insurance with a heart" (ddr-one-1-470)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 20 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd gathered outside the Noon Bag Company building. A woman is riding on the back of the float in front of a large red heart with an arrow through it. A young boy in a bowler hat stands in the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-470/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-214)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers in two lines dancing before a crowd. Obon dancers from right to left, left line: unidentified, Helen Hachiya, Sumi Hachiya, and Arthur Ojiro “Art” Sasaki. Obon dancers from right to left, right line: Betty Nakashimada, and Aki (Shiraishi) Dong, remaining dancers unidentified. Obon is an annual event hosted …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-214/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-388)

Black and white photographic negative of three Nisei men playing cards laying down on a blanket during a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Shig Oka, unidentified, and Tom Takeoka.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-388/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-209)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers in front of a large crowd. Obon dancers from left to right: unidentified, Hisako (Onishi) Saito, unidentified, Loretta (Fujii) Kaneko, Mr. Yoshihara, unidentified, Beti ann (Minamoto) Wantroba, Nami (Miura) Koida, Mabel (Maekawa) Ota. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-209/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-369)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei sitting at a picnic table enjoying the community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Mieko Fujita, Sam "Pompadour Sam" Sasaki, and Fude (Fujita) Kagawa.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-369/

img Obon Festival Dance Rehearsal (ddr-one-1-304)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers practicing an Odori folk dance inside Norse Hall in Northeast Portland. First Obon dancer from the left is identified as Yukiye Itoyama. 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-1-304/

img Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church (ddr-one-1-438)

Black and white photographic print of unidentified Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church. This photograph may have been taken during the Northwest Methodist Rally. Negative ONLC 3158 (ddr-one-1-340).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-438/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-23)

Original black and white photographic print 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, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-23/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-198)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers in front of a crowd with arms raised. Obon dancers: second from the left is Yori Tomita, third from the left is Tomi Tsujimura, fourth from the left is Noboru Takashima, fifth from the left is Shizuko "Shiz" (Ninomiya) Onishi, eighth from the left is Shizuko "Shiz" (Ochiai) …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-198/