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 (283)
Leaving camp (430)
Returning home (1151)

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1151 items

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 Portland Rose Festival Parade- Military Band (ddr-one-1-148)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Grant Hotel. A military band rides on the back of the float. In front are a group of men dressed as clowns, one man is holding a blue ribbon. The Rose Festival Parade is an annual event in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-148/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-372)

Black and white photographic negative of three Nisei girls sitting on a blanket at a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: unidentified, Phyllis Midori (Ando) Muramatsu, and Betty Nakashimada.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-372/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Marching Band (ddr-one-1-142)

Color slide of drum majorettes in white uniforms leading a marching band in blue-gray uniforms along the Rose Festival parade route down W Burnside past a crowd gathered outside the Shoreline Hotel and Cafe. The Rose Festival Parade is an annual event in which floats are made out of flowers and paraded down the streets of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-142/

img Obon Festival- Children dancers (ddr-one-1-262)

Black and white photographic negative of unidentified young Obon dancers sitting on grass in front of photographers. One girl appears to be eating a snack. 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-1-262/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-293)

Black and white photographic negative of two Obon dancers holding "uchiwa" (fan) and smiling for the camera indoors. From left to right: Kuni Kitayama and Chiyoko Yoshihara. 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-1-293/

img Obon Festival- Dancer (ddr-one-1-234)

Black and white photographic negative of Harue Akiyama, the Obon dance instructor, posing for camera wearing straw hat. 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-1-234/

img Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church (ddr-one-1-337)

Black and white photographic negative of about ten Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church in Portland, Oregon. The Nisei are gathered around a table looking at a leaflet together. Standing on the far right side of the table holding a leaflet up is Miriam (Koyama) Kiso. Back row from left to right: Toyse "Toy" Miura and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-337/

img Nisei (ddr-one-1-299)

Black and white photographic negative of nine Nisei smiling for the camera indoors. Women from left to right: all unidentified except fifth from the left, Irene (Fujii) Mano. Men back row left to right: unidentified, Yoichi “Cannon” Kitayama, and Shorty Kaga. Man in front: Ned Maeda.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-299/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-13)

Original black and white photographic print of the Sorelles, a high school social group. Back Row (left to right): Elsie Okazaki, Beti ann (Minamoto) Wantroba, Jean Matsumoto, Lillian (Niimi) Mikariya, Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida, Kathleen “Kathie” Haruko (Matsuda) Sato, Frances (Kinoshita) Mayeda, Grace Mieko (Muramatsu) Ouchida, and Mitsy (Kiyomura) Takeoka. Third Row: Nami (Miura) Koida, Miriam …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-13/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Margaret Whiting and Marching Band (ddr-one-1-173)

Color slide of a car with a female passenger in a fur coat and sign reading "Margaret Whiting". The car is followed by a marching band in green uniforms and three baton twirlers in white uniforms marching the Portland Rose Festival Parade. They are traveling down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Riverfront …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-173/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-291)

Black and white photographic negative of Patricia “Pat” (Ikata) Iboshi dancing an Odori folk dance 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-1-291/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-277)

Black and white photographic negative of two lines of Obon dancers performing an Odori folk dance. 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-1-277/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 9 "Central Labor Council" (ddr-one-1-500)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 9 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 eight visible women in gowns sitting around the float. Two men in dark suits …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-500/

img YBA Tacoma Baseball Team (ddr-one-1-28)

Black and white photographic negative of a Japanese American baseball team in uniforms that read "YBA". The team has been identified as from Tacoma, Washington. First from the right in the front row: Ted Taniguchi, First from the right in the back row: Stogie Kawabata.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-28/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 6 "Nursery Land" (ddr-one-1-479)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 6 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd gathered outside Bekins Storage, a sign for Edwards Furniture is visible in background. On the float is large numbered letter blocks and a teddy bear. Women sit on the corners of the float, one waving a red ribbon. A …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-479/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-376)

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, and Rose Haruye (Muramatsu) Ouchida.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-376/

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/

doc Testimony of Mitsuye T. Kamada (ddr-densho-1007-1821)

Mitsuye T. Kamada's statement to the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians in New York City, New York on November 23, 1981. She describes her family's experience at Heart Mountain and the multiple impacts of incarceration and argues her support for redress and reparations.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1821/

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/

img Northwest Buddhist Convention Banquet (ddr-one-1-417)

Black and white photographic negative of guests at the Northwest Buddhist Convention banquet dinner in the basement of the Seattle Buddhist Church. A flag with the Wheel of Dharma is visible behind the head table. Sitting at table in foreground on left hand side from left to right: Harry Toshi, unidentified, Irene (Fujii) Mano, unidentified and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-417/

img Obon Festival Dance Rehearsal (ddr-one-1-301)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers practicing an Odori folk dance inside Norse Hall in Northeast Portland. Third Obon dancer from the left is identified as Shizuko "Shiz" (Ochiai) Ota Okazaki. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) and attended by the wider Nikkei …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-301/