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 Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-201)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers, children hold small Japanese and American flags, adult holds wooden blocks, in front of a crowd. Adult Obon dancer identified as Harue Akiyama (the Odori teacher). Crowd standing on the right side of a large wooden pole: second from the left is Ruby (Takashima) Sumino, third from the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-201/

img Sorelles Group Photo (ddr-one-1-9)

Black and white photographic negative of the Sorelles, a high school social group. Back Row (left to right): Elsie Okazaki, Anges (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, Kathleen …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-9/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- float 23 "Story Book Hour" (ddr-one-1-537)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 23 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Blue Eagle Café on the corner of NW Second Ave. The float has three children in white sitting on the float waving at the crowd. One woman in a white dress stands at the back of float …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-537/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-267)

Black and white photographic negative of two young girls posing for the camera at Obon in front of crowd seated on bleachers. Second from the left is Janice (Matsunaga) Okamoto. 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-1-267/

img Obon Festival- Odori folk dance (ddr-one-1-218)

Black and white photographic negative of Obon dancers performing before a crowd. Obon dancers from left to right: fifth from the left is Shig Yuzuriha, seventh from the left is Nobyo Sato, ninth from the left is Hana Hanada. Obon is an annual event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as Oregon Buddhist Temple) …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-218/

img Indoor Carnival Fundraiser- Bingo (ddr-one-1-88)

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: Joe Namba, Nobi Saito, Henry "Wimpy" Kawata, George Kasahara, Terry Mishiro, Diane (Ando) Harder, and Minoru "Bob" Ando. Standing in front of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-88/

img Obon Festival- Dancers (ddr-one-1-314)

Black and white photographic negative of Susan Shizuko (Yoshida) Kurimoto posing with 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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-314/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade Float- "Catholic Organizations Dove of Peace" (ddr-one-1-493)

Color slide of the Catholic Organizations Dove of Peace 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 in the Portland Rose Festival Parade. On the float sit three visible women dressed in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-493/

img Oregon Buddhist Church Bingo (ddr-one-1-423)

Black and white photographic negative of a bingo game with prizes displayed in the center. Event hosted by the Oregon Buddhist Church (now know as the Oregon Buddhist Temple). Bingo workers from left to right: Aki (Shiraishi) Dong, Ben Kasubuchi, unidentified, and Betty Nakashimada. Sitting in far left corner talking with Aki (Shiraishi) Dong is Mary …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-423/

img Portland Rose Festival Parade- Float 35 "Portland Fire Department" (ddr-one-1-165)

Color slide of Rose Festival Parade float 35 driving down W Burnside in front of a crowd outside the Shoreline Hotel and Anchor Inn. The float is made of pink and red flowers, a seal made of red flowers sits on top of the float, a man leans out of the float's window waving at the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-165/

img Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) Odori Performance (ddr-one-1-408)

Black and white photographic negative of an unidentified Odori dancer performing with a woven basket in hand on stage for Hanamatsuri (birth of Buddha celebration) inside the Oregon Buddhist Church (now known as the Oregon Buddhist Temple).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-408/

img Nisei women (ddr-one-1-345)

Black and white photographic negative of three women standing in front of a piano possibly singing, two women seated to the side listening. From left to right: Jayne (Katada) Furukawa, Betty Ishida, Beti ann (Minamoto) Wantroba, May (Ebihara) Gelfand, and Lillian (Niimi) Mikariya. This photograph may have been taken during the Northwest Methodist Rally.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-345/

doc Telegrams from Edward N. Scheiberling (ddr-densho-1007-948)

Responses to requests to restore 15 Japanese Americans, including Frank Hachiya, to the Honor Roll of the American Legion.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-948/

Message from the Director of the War Relocation Authority and Summery of WRA Policies and Procedures for the Final Phase of the Relocation Program (ddr-densho-356-923)

doc Message from the Director of the War Relocation Authority and Summery of WRA Policies and Procedures for the Final Phase of the Relocation Program (ddr-densho-356-923)

Written message from Dillon S. Myer, Director of the War Relocation Authority to internees regarding the reopening of the West Coast to Japanese Americans. Attached to the message is policy guidelines for resettlement out of WRA camps.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-923/

doc Letter to Yuri Tsukada from Sadame Nomi (ddr-densho-356-396)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Sadame Nomi in which Sadame thanks Yuri for her wedding portrait, provides details about the way she celebrated the holidays and provides details about mutual friends. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-321 and ddr-densho-356-413.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-396/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Mary Suzuki (ddr-densho-356-333)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Mary Suzuki in which she details the summer courses she is taking and her new living arrangements and ask Yuriko for some details about government resettlement programs so she can pass them along to her advisor. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-321 and ddr-densho-356-413.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-333/

doc Letter to Yuri Tsukada from Tak Negi (ddr-densho-356-397)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Tak Nomi in which Tak writes about her life in New York City, how she celebrated the holidays, plans for a 10 year college reunion, and thanks for the wedding portrait. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-321 and ddr-densho-356-413.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-397/

doc Statement to the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, written by Elaine Yoneda (ddr-densho-1007-892)

Elaine Yoneda was married to Karl Yoneda, an American-born Japanese man who was raised in Hiroshima. This statement describes their family's incarceration at the Manzanar camp.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-892/

doc Vandals' Signs Scare Wife (ddr-densho-1007-644)

Slide of newspaper clipping, created in September 1984.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-644/

doc Oregon War Hero Honored (ddr-densho-1007-949)

Article from The Oregonian describing the upcoming memorial for Frank Hachiya.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-949/

doc Testimony Submittal of Nobuko Y. Suzuki (ddr-densho-1007-1819)

Nobuko Y. Suzuki's statement to the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians in September, 1981 describing her life before, during, and after the war especially in regard to discrimination she faced throughout her life. She then argues her support for redress.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1819/

doc The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 46 (November 16, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-98)

Selected article titles: "1 Month Left for Planning: More Than 3000 Leave Since First of the Year" (p. 1), "Minors Born in U.S. May Return as U.S. Citizens" (pp. 1-2), and "400 Islanders Slated to Return Home Soon" (p. 2), and "Tuleans Receive Surprise on Way to Seabrook Farms" (p. 3).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-98/

doc Information Bulletin No. 3 (January 29, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-53)

Tule Lake Center informational bulletin which includes a statement by WRA National Director, Dillon S. Myer, regarding the future of the center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-53/

doc The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 12 (March 23, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-61)

Selected article titles: "Statement Given on Special Project Rules" (p. 1), "Relocators Get Kindly Welcome on Return Home" (p. 2), "Japanese School Damaged in Second Delano Fire" (p. 2), and "Two-Day 'Shibai and Buyo' Begins Tonight at Aud." (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-61/

doc The Newell Star, Vol. II, No. 35 (August 31, 1945) (ddr-densho-284-83)

Selected article titles: "Less Work: Tule to Go on 40-Hour Work Week from Sept. 9" (p. 1), "Ration-Free Shoes May Be Available" (p. 1), "Return of Evacuees Topic of Renton, Wash. Meeting" (p. 3), and "Survey Shows Many Tuleans Now in Sacramento Area" (p. 4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-284-83/