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 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 Nisei at Epworth United Methodist Church (ddr-one-1-326)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei women at Epworth United Methodist Church rolling up newspapers, possibly during the Northwest Methodist Rally. From left to right: Martha (Kondo) Miyasaki, Miriam (Koyama) Kiso, Grace (Sakano) Robbs, Jean Yasuko (Kida) Tomita, unidentified, and Masae "Elsie" (Morita) Onishi. For print please see ONLC 3145 (ddr-one-1-327).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-326/

img Northwest Methodist Rally Portland (ddr-one-1-324)

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

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-324/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-268)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers posing for the camera at Obon. Second to the left is Hisako (Onishi) Saito. 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-1-268/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 37 "U.S. National Bank" (ddr-one-1-174)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 37 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Shoreline Hotel, Anchor Inn, and Sailors Union of the Pacific. The float is orange and red with a gray elephant made of flowers standing on its hind legs. Five women ride on the float holding yellow flowers …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-174/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-271)

Black and white photographic negative of unidentified male Obon dancers performing in front of audience. 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-1-271/

img Obon Festival Dance Rehearsal (ddr-one-1-305)

Black and white photographic negative of small audience watching the Obon dance rehearsal inside Norse Hall in Northeast Portland. Fifth from the right standing up in back row of the audience is Larry Tamiyasu. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) and attended by the wider …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-305/

img Oregon Buddhist Church 50th Anniversary Celebration Procession (ddr-one-1-52)

Color slide of procession in front of US Customs House in Northwest Portland. Procession led by a color guard of Boy Scouts, carrying the United States flag and the Buddhist flag. Women in kimonos or yukatas follow, then black vehicles with flowers on top, then the Chigo "children's" procession. From left to right: Kenneth "Kenny" Yasutome, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-52/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-227)

Black and white photographic negative of two Obon dancers performing in front of crowd. From left to right: Carol (Murahashi) Asakawa, Phyllis Midori (Ando) Muramatsu. 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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-227/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 32 "First Prom" (ddr-one-1-530)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 32 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Blue Eagle Café on the corner of NW Second Ave. The float has four women standing inside large oversized prom skirts made of flowers. The front of the float reads "PGE" and has a small yellow sign …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-530/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-37)

Original black and white photographic print of wedding attendants, standing in a receiving line. Left to right: Yoichi "Jack" Nomi, Lilly (Kobayashi) Irinaga, Keso Kuwahara, and Tamaye (Fujiwara) Nomi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-37/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 6 "Sunday Excursion" (ddr-one-1-547)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 6 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd has gathered outside the Chinese Medicine Co building and Dr. Geo Chan's office. The float is that of a large Paddle Steamer made of pink and red flowers. The paddle wheel reads "Pacific Power" on the side. A man …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-547/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Cowboy (ddr-one-1-485)

Color slide of a Mexican style cowboy riding a black horse down W. Burnside past a crowd gathered on the bridge where NW First Ave runs under the Burnside Bridge. The man is dressed in a black hat and tan and pink suit. Horse looking head on at the camera. The Portland Rose Festival Parade is …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-485/

img Welding (ddr-one-1-442)

Color slide of an unidentified man wearing a welding helmet and holding tools. Appears to be working on repairing a piece of machinery. According to donor processed on June 20, 1951.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-442/

img Indoor Carnival Fundraiser- Bingo (ddr-one-1-87)

Black and white photographic negative of an indoor carnival fundraiser possibly hosted by the Sorelles or Adelphons (Japanese American young women's groups). People sitting and playing bingo, watchers stand behind. Sitting left to right: Henry "Wimpy" Kawata, George Kasahara, Terry Mishiro, Diane (Ando) Harder, Minoru "Bob" Ando, unidentified woman, Betty (Hiuga) Nishimura, Tomo Saito, Fumi (Nunotani) …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-87/

img Frank Hirahara at New Tokyo Bar (ddr-one-1-79)

Original black and white photographic print of Frank Hirahara and Rose Mae Hara at the New Tokyo Bar in Portland, Oregon. For negative please see ONLC 2856 (ddr-one-1-80).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-79/

img Dance (ddr-one-1-103)

Black and white photographic negative of unidentified couples sitting on a long bench along the wall at a dance.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-103/

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/