Expatriation/repatriation/deportation

From 1943 to 1946, over 20,000 Japanese Americans applied to leave the United States for Japan in a process called "repatriation" (for Issei as non-citizens) or "expatriation" (for Nisei as citizens). Some Issei considered repatriation preferable to remaining in a country that had long discriminated against them. For Nisei, who had rarely been to Japan, expatriation meant renouncing their U.S. citizenship. Some were pressured to do so by family members or extremists; others were bitter about their mistreatment by the government. In total, only 4,724 ended up leaving for Japan directly from the camps and many eventually returned to the U.S. Nearly all Nisei who wanted to were able to regain their citizenship, although the process was long and difficult.

World War II (283)
Resistance and dissidence (97)
Expatriation/repatriation/deportation (253)

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253 items

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 45 (ddr-densho-1000-164-45)

Working for the Saga Prefecture military government, encouraged by boss to return to the United States

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-45/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-164-24)

Feeling shocked upon hearing of family's decision to go to Japan; labeled a "disloyal" by peers

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-24/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 36 (ddr-densho-1000-164-36)

Personal feelings after father's arrest: angry, but "kind of proud"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-36/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 41 (ddr-densho-1000-164-41)

Preparing for life in Japan: learning the language, feeling worried

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-41/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 42 (ddr-densho-1000-164-42)

Arrival in Japan: confronted with poverty and despair: "it was a dismal, dismal situation"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-42/

vh Marion Tsutakawa Kanemoto Interview Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1000-148-30)

Leaving for Japan on the SS Gripsholm, part of the U.S. government-sponsored "exchange"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-148-30/

vh Marion Tsutakawa Kanemoto Interview Segment 31 (ddr-densho-1000-148-31)

Stopping in Goa, India, to board the Japanese troop ship Teiya maru; memories of terrible food, Japanese language classes

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-148-31/

vh Frank Sumida Interview Segment 33 (ddr-densho-1000-261-33)

First impressions of Japan

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-1000-261-33/

vh Hitoshi "Hank" Naito Interview Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-286-21)

Making the decision to renounce U.S. citizenship (audio-only)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-286-21/

vh Arthur Ogami Interview Segment 32 (ddr-densho-1000-154-32)

Disembarking in Japan: staying behind at the port to help unload baggage

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-154-32/

vh Arthur Ogami Interview Segment 27 (ddr-densho-1000-154-27)

Undergoing an interview prior to expatriation: questioned regarding possibly joining the Japanese Imperial Army

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-154-27/

vh Arthur Ogami Interview Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1000-154-30)

A difficult journey by boat to Japan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-154-30/

vh Noboru Kamibayashi Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-477-8)

Family's decision to go to Japan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-477-8/

vh Noboru Kamibayashi Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-477-11)

The journey by boat to Japan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-477-11/

vh Noboru Kamibayashi Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-477-12)

Difficulties subsisting in Japan during the war

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-477-12/

vh Yae Aihara Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-221-9)

Father's decision to take the family to Japan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-221-9/

vh Yae Aihara Interview Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-221-12)

Reuniting with father at Ellis Island

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-221-12/

vh Yaeko Nakano - Hiroshi Nakano - Kenichi Nakano - Stanley Nakano Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-70-13)

The decision at to repatriate to Japan, then to remain in the U.S.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-70-13/

vh Kenji Ogawa Interview Segment 12 (ddr-manz-1-170-12)

First arriving in Japan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-manz-1-170-12/

vh Toyoko Okumura Interview Segment 17 (ddr-janm-13-6-17)

Reunion with father and brother on ship to Japan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-janm-13-6-17/

vh Yoji J. Matsushima Interview Segment 7 (ddr-one-7-54-7)

Parents' decision to repatriate to Japan; being left off the boat

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-7-54-7/

vh Grace Hata Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1003-10-18)

Memories of expatriating to Japan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1003-10-18/

vh Hiroshi Kashiwagi Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1002-4-5)

Discussion of decision in camp to renounce U.S. citizenship, family's near-deportation to Japan

This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1002-4-5/

vh Satsuki Ina Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-474-11)

Parents disagree on whether to live in Japan after World War II

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-474-11/

vh Richard E. Yamashiro Interview Segment 20 (ddr-densho-1000-333-20)

Arriving in Japan, witnessing the devastation

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-333-20/