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)

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

1049 items

doc [Travel permit] (ddr-csujad-5-99)

A travel permit issued by Leave Officer of "Rohwer Relocation Center." It certifies that Tomeyo Okine is permitted to leave for Long Beach, California with the permission of the United States Attorney. Enclosed with the letter (csudh_oki_0098). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_01_30_003

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-99/

doc Letter from Mrs. K. Befu to Mr. and Mrs. S. Okine, January 15, 1946 [in Japanese] (ddr-csujad-5-119)

A letter from Komaki Befu in Los Angeles, California to Seiichi and Tomeyo Okine, in Hawthorne, California. She thanks Mr. and Mrs. Okine for their visit and the mochi mailed to her. She also informs that Mr. Yoshikawa has given her son, Masuo Befu, a farewell gift. The handwritten notes on the back of the envelope …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-119/

doc Letter from Ayame Okine to Mr. and Mrs. Okine, December 13, 1945 [in Japanese] (ddr-csujad-5-112)

Ayame Okine writes from Bartlett, Illinois, to her parents-in-law, Seiichi and Tomeyo Okine in Hawthorne, California. She states that she is glad to hear that they have returned to California safely and would be able to spend winter holidays at home. She also describes the Japanese community in Chicago, making mochi for new year's day. The …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-112/

doc Letter from Makoto Okine to Seiichi Okine, October 12, [1945] [in Japanese] (ddr-csujad-5-187)

A letter from Makoto Okine to his father, Seiichi Okine in the Rohwer incarceration camp. It appears that he writes from Italy where he is stationed as a U. S. Army solder. He assumes that many people has left the Rohwer incarceration camp and it appears empty. He mentions that his brother, Masao's request [probably for …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-187/

Letter from Corine Key, Relocation Adviser, Rohwer Relocation Center, to Federal Public Housing Authority Project Director, November 1, 1945 (ddr-csujad-5-97)

doc Letter from Corine Key, Relocation Adviser, Rohwer Relocation Center, to Federal Public Housing Authority Project Director, November 1, 1945 (ddr-csujad-5-97)

A letter from Corine Key, Relocation Advisor at the Rohwer incarceration camp to Federal Federal Public Housing Authority Project Director in Long Beach, California. It certifies that the Okines are eligible for federal housing on the basis of their sons' service with the U.S. Army. Enclosed with other items: csudh_oki_0099, csudh_oki_0100, and csudh_oki_0101. See this object …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-97/

doc Letter from Mrs. T. Nakagawa to Mr. and Mrs. Okine, January 17, [1946], [in Japanese] (ddr-csujad-5-188)

A letter from Mrs. T. Nakagawa, a former incarceree in the Rhower incarceration camp, to Seiichi and Tomeyo Okine. She informs that her family is doing well and thanks them for their kindness when her daughter, Shizue, visited them. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: oki_02_32_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-188/

doc Letter from Makoto Okine to Mr. S. Okine, January 15, 1946 [in Japanese] (ddr-csujad-5-123)

A letter from Makoto Okine to his father, Seiichi Okine in Hawthorne, California. This letter is probably written in Italy where Makoto is stationed as a U.S. Army soldier and mailed via New York by the U.S. Army Postal Service. He regrets not being able to write to his father for a long time because he …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-5-123/

av Interview with George Hamamoto, (audio) (ddr-csujad-56-1)

Sonoma County resident George Hamamoto was interviewed on June 20, 1978, by a Sonoma State University student for the North Bay Ethnic Archive Project. He discusses growing up in Sebastopol, the family grocery store, removal to Assembly Center in Merced, then incarceration at Granada (Amache) camp. Discusses organization and administration of camp, and return to Napa …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-56-1/

doc George and Jean Abe interview (ddr-csujad-6-1)

Oral history interview with George and Jean Abe. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_ABE_GEORGE_AND_JEAN

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-1/

doc Sam Maeda interview (ddr-csujad-6-18)

Oral history interview with Sam Maeda. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_MAEDA_SAM

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-18/

doc James Kirihara interview (ddr-csujad-6-12)

Oral history interview with James Kirihara. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_KIRIHARA_JAMES

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-12/

doc George Okada interview (ddr-csujad-6-28)

Oral history interview with George Okada. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_OKADA_GEORGE

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-28/

doc Sadawo Yonaki interview (ddr-csujad-6-37)

Oral history interview with Sadawo Yonaki. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_YONAKI_SADAWO

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-37/

doc Takashi Tsutsui interview (ddr-csujad-6-35)

Oral history interview with Takashi Tsutsui. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_TSUTSUI_TAKASHI

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-35/

doc Robert Ohki interview (ddr-csujad-6-27)

Oral history interview with Robert Ohki. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_OHKI_ROBERT

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-27/

doc Johnny and Yo Niizawa interview (ddr-csujad-6-25)

Oral history interview with Johnny and Yo Niizawa. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_NIIZAWA_JOHNNY_AND_YO

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-25/

doc Fred Hashimoto interview (ddr-csujad-6-4)

Oral history interview with Fred Hashimoto. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_HASHIMOTO_FRED

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-4/

doc Dr. Frank Nishio interview (ddr-csujad-6-26)

Oral history interview with Dr. Frank Nishio. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_NISHIO_FRANK

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-26/

doc Mamoru Masuda interview (ddr-csujad-6-21)

Oral history interview with Mamoru Masuda. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_MASUDA_MAMORU

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-21/

doc Saburo Masada interview (ddr-csujad-6-20)

Oral history interview with Saburo Masada. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_MASADA_SABURO

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-20/

doc Fude Tanioka interview (ddr-csujad-6-32)

Oral history interview with Fude Tanioka. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_TANIOKA_FUDE

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-32/

doc Izumi Taniguchi interview (ddr-csujad-6-31)

Oral history interview with Izumi Taniguchi. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_TANIGUCHI_IZUMI

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-31/

doc Dr. Kikuo H. Taira (ddr-csujad-8-70)

Oral history interview with Dr. Kikuo H. Taira. Information on the oral history project is found in: csuf_stp_0012A; Glossary in: csuf_stp_0014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: FCPL Taira, Dr Kikuo

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-8-70/

doc Dr. George Suda (ddr-csujad-8-65)

Oral history interview with Dr. George Suda. Information on the oral history project is found in: csuf_stp_0012A; Glossary in: csuf_stp_0014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: FCPL Suda, Dr George

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-8-65/

doc Bessie Ezaki (ddr-csujad-8-11)

Oral history interview with Aiko Bessie Ezaki. Information on the oral history project is found in: csuf_stp_0012A; Glossary in: csuf_stp_0014. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: FCPL Ezaki, Bessie

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-8-11/