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

img Pelican (ddr-one-1-542)

Color slide of a pelican perched on a rock. Image was most likely at the Portland Zoo in Washington Park (later moved to its current location from what is now the Japanese Gardans and renamed Oregon Zoo). According to donor processed on June 14, 1964.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-542/

img Obon Festival- Mayoral speech (ddr-one-1-254)

Black and white photographic negative of Portland Mayor Dorothy McCullough Lee speaking at Obon. Playing the taiko drum is Henry Matsunaga. Behind the drum is Tom Shigeto Tamiyasu. 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-1-254/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-29)

Black and white photographic print of a wedding between Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto. The couple is kneeling before Reverend Francis Hayashi. Bridal Party from Left to Right: Yoichi "Jack" Nomi, Keso Kuwahara, Tamaye (Fujiwara) Nomi and Lilly (Kobayashi) Irinaga.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-29/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-250)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers performing in front of a crowd. From left to right in foreground: Ruth Saito, Kathleen "Kathie" Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, and Grace (Tachibana) Ishikawa. 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-1-250/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade Float- "Hot Cross Buns" (ddr-one-1-494)

Color slide of the Bakers of Oregon Rose Festival Parade float as it drives 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.. On the float ride two women in pink dresses and white bonnets, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-494/

img Obon Festival Dance Rehearsal (ddr-one-1-311)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers rehearsing an Odori folk dance in front of a small audience inside Norse Hall. Obon dancers from left to right: Shig Yuzuriha, Shig Oka, Hiro Okayama, unidentified, and Arthur Ojiro “Art” Sasaki. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-311/

img Third Annual Oregon Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance- Seated couple (ddr-one-1-122)

Black and white photographic negative of couples sitting around two tables at the Third Annual Nisei Bowling League Tournament Dance at McElroy's Ballroom in Portland, Oregon. One couple is smiling for the camera. Left to right: Yuri Sasaki, Sam "Pompadour Sam" Sasaki, May Sono, and George Sono. Woman standing in left background is identified as May …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-122/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-248)

Black and white photographic negative of Eddie Tamiyasu posing for the camera in his Obon costume. 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-1-248/

img Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church (ddr-one-1-341)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church most likely during the Northwest Methodist Rally. Nisei are gathered around a table filling out sheets of paper. Standing at the head of the table leaning over the table is Elsie (Morita) Onishi. Standing on the left side of the table, leaning over filling …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-341/

img Nisei Bowling League Women's Team (ddr-one-1-128)

Original black and white photographic print of a Nisei women's bowling team. The team is posed in front of a Ford sedan with a bowling ball and monogrammed shirts. Back row left to right: Kathleen Sasaki, Yoko (Hishikawa) Iwata, and Takako Inukai. Front row left to right: Toshi (Tamiyasu) Fukuhara, and Sachi (Nakata) Nakashima. Negative ONLC …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-128/

img Oregon Buddhist Church 50th Anniversary Celebration Procession (ddr-one-1-49)

Color slide of procession in front of the US Customs House in Northwest Portland. Women in brightly colored kimonos or yukatas form two lines. Followed by four more women in somber colored kimonos or yukatas. Procession from left to right: Betty Nakashimada, Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando, Jean Matsumoto, Kathleen "Kathie" Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, Aki (Shiraishi) Dong, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-49/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-313)

Black and white photographic negative of two Obon dancers in costume. From left to right: Joyce (Sasaki) Olsen and Susanne Mineko (Sasaki) Myers. 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-1-313/

img Record DJ (ddr-one-1-97)

Black and white photographic negative of Jayne (Katada) Furukawa at a record table with 78 rpm records. She and Oscar Murahashi are exchanging a record.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-97/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-219)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers performing before a crowd. First woman in crowd on left side: Marian Hara. Obon dancers left line from right to left: Haru Fujii, Tamuro Miura, and Nobuko Yoshida. Obon dancers right line from right to left: Jimmy Yoshida. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-219/

img Valentine's Day potluck at Oregon Buddhist Church (ddr-one-1-61)

Color slide of young men and women filling plates at Valentine's Day potluck at Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Ben Ishida, Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando, Frances (Kinoshita) Mayeda, and Arthur "Art" Ojiro Sasaki.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-61/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-215)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers performing before a crowd. Obon dancers from left to right: Susanne Mineko (Sasaki) Myer, Susan Shizuko (Yoshida) Kurimoto, Mrs. Okayama, unidentified, Mary Yamaguchi, Jean (Tsujimura) Takashima, Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando, Noburo Takashima, Atsuko "Alice" Kida, remaining dancer unidentified. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-215/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Float 43 "Kiwanis" (ddr-one-1-159)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 43 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Shoreline Hotel. The sign for the Blue Eagle Cafe is visible in the background as well as a woman dressed in a Native American costume riding a Paint horse. The float is a large clown head with …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-159/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-274)

Black and white photographic negative of two Obon dancers with tenugui (light cotton towels) around their necks posing for the camera. On left is 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-1-274/

img Northwest Methodist Rally Portland (ddr-one-1-74)

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

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-74/

img Obon Festival Dancers (ddr-one-1-75)

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

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-75/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 10 "Pasadena Tournament of Roses" (ddr-one-1-499)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 10 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 decorated in pink and white flowers. A woman stands near the back of the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-499/

img Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church (ddr-one-1-325)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church most likely during the Northwest Methodist Rally. They sit in two rows around a bay window. Front row left to right: unidentified, Martha (Kondo) Miyasaki, Mitsy (Kiyomura) Takeoka, Atsuko "Alice" Kida and Nami (Miura) Koida. Back row: unidentified, Yone (Kanda) Terada, Gloria (Osawa) Fujii, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-325/

img Obon dragon dance (ddr-one-1-112)

Black and white photographic negative of four unidentified men playing traditional Japanese instruments at the Obon Festival in front a microphone. All are dressed in happi coast and have tenugui (light cotton towel) headbands. Two dancers in a dragon costume dance in front of the musicians. Man sitting on far right identified as Henry Matsunaga. Obon …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-112/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-195)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers in front of a large crowd. First Oban dancer from the left: Masano Hachiya Yamasaki, fourth Obon dancer from the left: Haru Fujita. 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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-195/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade float- "PGE" (ddr-one-1-503)

Color slide of a Rose Festival Parade float 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 knight with a shield that has PGE written on it, riding on a …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-503/