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 Valentine's Day potluck at Oregon Buddhist Church (ddr-one-1-60)

Color slide of young women filling plates at a Valentine's Day potluck at Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Kathleen "Kathie" Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, unidentified, Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Jean Matsumoto, and Michiko (Masuoka) Nishioka.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-60/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-231)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers performing in front of a crowd. Obon dancers from left to right: Joe Shiraishi, unidentified woman, Harue Akiyama, and Wako Henjyoji. 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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-231/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-204)

Black and white photographic negative of three young Obon dancers posing for camera in front of large crowd. Obon dancers from left to right: Jeanne Tanaka, Toshiko (Maekawa) Okino, and Eileen Tanaka. Crowd: first sitting from the left is Joyce (Tanaka) Fedler, first from the right sitting on bench is Joe Ikata. Obon is an annual …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-204/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-199)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers posing for camera in front of small crowd with their backs bent slightly and arms extended. Fourth from the left is Yukiye Itoyama, fifth from the left is Eki Yumibe. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-199/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-38)

Original black and white photographic print of wedding attendants posed. Left to right Tamaye (Fujiwara) Nomi and Yoichi "Jack" Nomi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-38/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 31 "Newberg" (ddr-one-1-531)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 31 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside a Blue Eagle Café on NW Second Ave. A sign for the Chinese Medicine Co can be seen in background. The float is a carriage covered in white and purple flowers with two women sitting inside waving at …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-531/

img Reed College (ddr-one-1-358)

Black and white photographic print of Ayame Ogimi and her brother Carlos Ogimi staring at a large document or drawing on a table in front of them. This photograph was taken at Reed College where Ayame and Carlos were both students. Negative ONLC 3178 (ddr-one-1-370).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-358/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade Float- Vancouver, Washington Cenaqua (ddr-one-1-161)

Color slide of a Rose Festival Parade float driving down W Burnside in front of the Shoreline Hotel and Anchor Inn. The float depicts a carousel with women in pink dresses and silver sequin sitting around the edge. One woman is holding a blue ribbon. The side of the float reads "1950-1825 Vancouver WN, Cenaqua". The …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-161/

img Portrait of Mary Abe's family (ddr-one-1-78)

Black and white photographic negative of Mary Abe's family posed seated in her living room. Photo portrait of an unknown man on the side table. Back row left to right: Marge Horigami, Florence "Flo" (Teshima) Anazawa, remaining unidentified. Front row left to right: May (Abe) Endo, unidentified woman.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-78/

img Reed College (ddr-one-1-367)

Black and white photographic negative of Ayame Ogimi playing ukulele for two unidentified friends in her dorm room at Reed College. Original print ONLC 3183 (ddr-one-1-365)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-367/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-221)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers turning a corner in front of large crowd. Woman in front of line: Shizuko Oda, man at back of line: Arthur Ojiro “Art” Sasaki. 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-1-221/

img Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) Odori Performance (ddr-one-1-410)

Black and white photographic negative of an Odori folk dance performance on stage for Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) inside the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). Dancer on far right is identified as Mrs. Hasagawa, dancer in back center is identified as Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-410/

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/

img Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance (ddr-one-1-118)

Black and white photographic negative of unidentified couples dancing at the Third Annual Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. To the far right in front of the stage in black heels and light color skirt and jacket is Kathleen Sasaki dancing with an unidentified man.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-118/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-205)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers with arms raised to their left shoulder. In the upper center is a large podium with lanterns. Crowd sits on grass or park benches. 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-1-205/

img Northwest Methodist Rally Portland (ddr-one-1-323)

Black and white photographic negative of a street lined with cars. Inscription reads "Northwest Methodist Rally Portland/Northwest Methodist Rally - Portland/Northwest Methodist Rally Portland/Northwest Methodist Rally - Portland/Nov. 23-25, 1951/Northwest Rally Portland."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-323/

img Electrical tower (ddr-one-1-443)

Color slide of what appears to be the inside of an electrical tower looking up towards a clear sky. According to donor processed on June 20, 1951.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-443/

img Obon Festival- Children dancers (ddr-one-1-253)

Black and white photographic negative of five unidentified children dancing at Obon. 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-1-253/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Women's Drill Team (ddr-one-1-156)

Color slide of an unknown women's drill team in white uniforms marching in the Portland Rose Festival Parade down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Shoreline Hotel and Cafe. Sign for the Blue Eagle Cafe and Dr. Geo Chan is visible in the background. The Rose Festival Parade is an annual event in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-156/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Women's Marching Band (ddr-one-1-172)

Color slide of a baton twirler in a white and orange uniform in front of an all women's marching band in red and white uniforms marching in the Portland Rose Festival Parade in W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Shoreline Hotel and Cafe. The sign for the Blue Eagle Cafe is visible in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-172/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade float- "Shell Oil Co" (ddr-one-1-536)

Color slide of the Shell Oil Co float driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd gathered outside the Blue Eagle Café on the corner of NW Second Ave for the Portland Rose Festival Parade. The float has a large Jack-in-a-box made of red and white flowers at the back that is open with a …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-536/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-378)

Black and white photographic negative of a group sitting around a picnic table at a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple) being photographed by Ted Tamaki. Woman sitting second from the right is identified as Shiz (Fujita) Inaba.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-378/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-312)

Black and white photographic negative of two Obon dancers in costume, Mrs. Okayama is holding an "uchiwa" (fan), Yukiye Itoyama is holding a tenugui (light cotton towel). Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) and attended by the wider Nikkei community. Original print ONLC 3261 (ddr-one-1-437).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-312/

img Community picnic (ddr-one-1-453)

Color slide of people sitting around a picnic table at a community picnic. From left to right: Ted Tamaki, Shizuko "Shiz" (Ochiai) Ota Okazaki, Eddie Tamiyasu, Nobuko (Ochiai) Susaki, and unidentified. According to donor processed on September 12, 1952.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-453/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 18 "Sailing" (ddr-one-1-472)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 18 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd gathered outside the Noon Bag Company building. On the side of the building is an advertisement for San Juan Slacks. The float is a large sailboat with six women riding inside, one is holding a pink ribbon. The sail …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-472/