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 Dance (ddr-one-1-99)

Black and white photographic negative of three unidentified couples dancing together at an informal dance, possibly a Sorelles (a high school social group) event.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-99/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-437)

Black and white photographic print 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. Negative ONLC 3131 (ddr-one-1-312).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-437/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-202)

Black and white photographic negative of five Obon dancers in straw hats posing for the camera in front of a crowd. Obon dancers from left to right: Yukiye Itoyama, Noboru Takashima, and all others unidentified. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) and attended by the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-202/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance Tanko Bushi (ddr-one-1-196)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers dancing the Tanko Bushi. Obon dancers: Patricia “Pat” (Ikata) Iboshi, Joe Shiraishi, Mrs. Okiyama, Thomas "Tom" Honma, and Jean Yasuko (Kida) Tomita. Couple to the left of the light pole are Mary (Muramatsu) Shiiki and Ray Shiiki. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-196/

img Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) Odori Performance (ddr-one-1-409)

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). First dancer on the left: Sakae Kobayashi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-409/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-42)

Black and white photographic negative of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto's wedding from above and behind. Original print ONLC 2804 (ddr-one-1-31).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-42/

img Sorelles Beach Outing (ddr-one-1-394)

Black and white photographic negative of Lillian (Niimi) Mikariya kneeling on the sand at the Oregon Coast at a beach outing planned by the Sorrelles (a high school social group).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-394/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-33)

Original black and white photographic print of Bride and Groom, Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto and Sam Sakamoto, in front of the alter, bride's train twisted and laying on the stairs. Negative ONLC 2817. (ddr-one-1-44).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-33/

img Wedding portrait of Tatsu Watanabe and Ruth Sono (ddr-one-1-131)

Black and white photographic negative of Tatsu "Dutch" Watanabe and Ruth (Sono) Watanabe looking at each other in their wedding attire.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-131/

img Wedding Reception Dance at Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (ddr-one-1-95)

Black and white photographic negative of a possible wedding reception dance at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association's main hall. Band playing the dance is the Jay Howard Band.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-95/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade Float- "Old Oregon Trail" (ddr-one-1-519)

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 is of a covered wagon and red ox. The covered wagon has "Beaverton or Bust" …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-519/

img Corral (ddr-one-1-449)

Color slide of five horses inside a wooden corral. Two horses stand to the left with backs to the camera, others laying inside the corral on the ground. Outside of the corral is lined with straw. According to donor processed on June 20, 1951.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-449/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-30)

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

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-30/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Grandview High School Drill and Marching Band (ddr-one-1-152)

Color slide of Grandview High School's Drill team, in white and gold uniforms, and Marching Band, in red and gray uniforms, marching in Portland's Rose Festival Parade down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the W.L. Reid Company Building Hardware Specialties and the Riverside Hotel and Cafe. The Rose Festival Parade is an annual …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-152/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 11 "Foxy" (ddr-one-1-544)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 11 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside Blue Eagle Café on NW 2nd Ave, a sign for the Chinese Medicine Co is visible on the building next-door. The float depicts Paul Bunyan and his ox Babe made out of flowers. A child made of red …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-544/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-243)

Black and white photographic negative of three Obon dancers posing for the camera wearing straw hats. From left to right: Atsuko "Alice" (Matsumoto) Ando, Atsuko "Alice" Kida, Jean Yasuko (Kida) Tomita. 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-1-243/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-257)

Black and white photographic negative of unidentified Obon dancer performing in front of a crowd. 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-1-257/

img Obon Festival (ddr-one-1-295)

Black and white photographic negative of two unidentified Japanese women in western style clothing with "tenugui" (light cotton towels) around their necks. They are holding "uchiwa" (fan) posing for the camera indoors. 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-1-295/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-4)

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-1-4/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-389)

Black and white photographic negative of five women sitting at a table eating with chopsticks at a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Mitsy (Kiyomura) Takeoka, Frances (Kinoshita) Mayeda, Sumi "Sue" (Kaga) Hasegawa, Mrs. Kiyomura, and Jean (Kiyomura) Tamiyashi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-389/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-190)

Black and white photographic negative of three Obon dancers in front of a crowd. Second Obon dancer from left is Sumi Hachiya. 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-1-190/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-384)

Black and white photographic negative of Nisei sitting at a picnic table enjoying a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). From left to right: Ted Tatsuo Tamaki, Shizuko "Shiz" (Ochiai) Ota Okazaki, Eddie Tamiyasu, Nobuko (Ochiai) Susaki, and unidentified.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-384/

img Indoor Carnival Fundraiser- Penny pitch (ddr-one-1-89)

Black and white photographic negative of an indoor carnival fundraiser possibly hosted by the Sorelles or Adelphons (Japanese American young women's groups). Young men pitching pennies. Left to right: Ko Hirata, Thomas "Tom" Fujita, Ko Tambara, Frank Furukawa Jr.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-89/

img Community Picnic (ddr-one-1-370)

Black and white photographic negative of Ben Kasubuchi eating a piece of chicken at a picnic table at a community picnic at Viking Park hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-370/

img Wedding of Sam Sakamoto and Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto (ddr-one-1-43)

Black and white photographic negative of bride, Hanaye (Fujiwara) Sakamoto, walking towards the center aisle escorted by an unidentified man.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-43/