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

Memo from Frank S. Okusako, 1st Lt, Infantry, Company H, 442d Infantry to Commanding General, Western Defense Command, Presidio of San Francisco, California (Thru Channels), August 30, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-229)

doc Memo from Frank S. Okusako, 1st Lt, Infantry, Company H, 442d Infantry to Commanding General, Western Defense Command, Presidio of San Francisco, California (Thru Channels), August 30, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-229)

Memorandum of understanding from Frank S. Okusako to Commanding General, Western Defense Command regarding relocation of Okusako's family from the Tule Lake incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0231

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-229/

doc Letter from Leo Uchida to James Waegell, November 8, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-2338)

Correspondence from Leo Uchida to James Waegell regarding military service during World War II, family relocation to do farming work, and updates on daily life. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2444

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2338/

doc Letter from Rev. John M. Yamazaki, March 27, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-789)

Correspondence from Reverend John M. Yamazaki to "friends" regarding "resettlement" to the west coast. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0791

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-789/

doc Letter from Kenneth Hori to George Waegell, August 5, 1945 (ddr-csujad-55-2557)

Correspondence from Kenneth Hori to George Waegell. Kenneth states he is stationed at Camp Ritchie in Maryland. Kenneth's family is expected to return to Florin, California. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2664

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2557/

doc Facts about trouble at Auburn, California, given by WRA West Coast Assistant Director (ddr-csujad-55-1676)

Report on an incident of racial violence in Auburn, California against former incarceree Sumio Doi and family. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1678

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1676/

doc When you leave the relocation center (ddr-csujad-55-792)

Pamphlet on instructions for leaving the "relocation center." Covers: Giving notice of time of arrival; Travelers' aid society; Report of arrival and change of address cards; Travel and change of address for aliens; Relocation assistance payments; Special regulations in Western Defense Command; Relocation officers; War manpower restrictions on job changes; West coast security problems; Shipment of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-792/

img Children standing on a truck (ddr-densho-34-146)

The Hayashida and Kitamoto children are about to leave the Minidoka concentration camp for their homes on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Mr. Frank Yoshito Kitamoto bought this truck to transport both families' belongings. Yoshito Frank Kitamoto also went by Frank Yoshito Kitamoto.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-34-146/

img Family returning home after the incarceration (ddr-densho-34-51)

Exterior of the Hayashida's family's home on Bainbridge Island, Washington.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-34-51/

doc Alien's travel permit (ddr-manz-4-269)

Permit allowing Shinjo Nagatomi and his family to travel to Gardena, California after leaving camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-4-269/

vh Nancy Kyoko Oda Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-463-5)

Returning to California after the war where father taught judo

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-463-5/

vh Floyd Schmoe Interview II Segment 1 (ddr-densho-1000-86-1)

Giving aid to Japanese Americans returning to Washington state after the war

In this interview Mr. Schmoe refers to Aki Kurose, a former employee, fellow Quaker, peace activist, and long-time friend. At the time of this interview, Ms. Kurose had recently passed away after a long struggle with cancer. At the time of this interview, Mr. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-86-1/

vh Helen Takeshita Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-471-7)

Living in Hunters Point, California

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-471-7/

vh Alan Nishio Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-450-2)

Distant relationship with father while helping with gardening route

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-450-2/

vh Yoshiye Handa Yasuda Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-485-9)

Remembering social groups postwar

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-485-9/

vh Yoshiye Handa Yasuda Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-485-10)

Reviving father's carpentry business after the war

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-485-10/

vh Yoshiye Handa Yasuda Interview Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-485-8)

Returning to San Francisco, going back to school

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-485-8/

vh Lon Inaba Interview Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-537-14)

Family's return to the Yakima valley: mixed reception

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-537-14/

vh Kazuko Iwahashi Interview Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-337-20)

Leaving camp and returning home

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-337-20/