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 (231)
Resistance and dissidence (84)
Expatriation/repatriation/deportation (217)

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217 items

doc Memo and a newspaper clipping regarding the repatriation process at Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp (ddr-csujad-55-1497)

Scrapbook page containing a memo from J.L. O'Rourke and a newspaper clipping regarding the repatriation process at Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp. From the Mary F. Clark scrapbook, "Before I Forget, 1942-1947," page 136. See also sac_jaac_1334 through sac_jaac_1529. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1499

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1497/

doc Memo from Thomas H. Murfin, American Vice Consul, to Masako Adachi, September 22, 1950 (ddr-csujad-55-2257)

Memorandum of understanding from Thomas Murfin to Masako Adachi regarding Adachi's application for a passport. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2360

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2257/

vh Sumiko M. Yamamoto Interview Segment 26 (ddr-densho-1000-269-26)

Released from job in Japan due to expatriate status

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-269-26/

vh Sumiko M. Yamamoto Interview Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-269-22)

Arrival in Japan: Issei parents still thought Japan had won the war

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-269-22/

vh Gene Akutsu Segment 35 (ddr-densho-1000-1-35)

Deciding between being considered a "repatriate" or an "expatriate"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-1-35/

vh Tetsujiro "Tex" Nakamura Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-263-6)

Making the decision to help renunciants regain their U.S. citizenship

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 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-263-6/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 35 (ddr-densho-1000-164-35)

Father arrested by the FBI and removed from Tule Lake along with sixty-nine others

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-35/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 34 (ddr-densho-1000-164-34)

Observing changes in the pro-Japan organizations during the institution of the renunciation program

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-34/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 44 (ddr-densho-1000-164-44)

Life in Japan, postwar: working for a land reclamation project, then finding a job with a Japanese construction company as an interpreter

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-44/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 43 (ddr-densho-1000-164-43)

Initial experiences in Japan: freezing cold, living on army surplus rations

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-43/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 40 (ddr-densho-1000-164-40)

An emotional reunion with father on ship bound for Japan

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-40/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-164-23)

Father decides to volunteer to go to Japan, wife and children insist on accompanying him

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-23/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 37 (ddr-densho-1000-164-37)

Witnessing the frenzy of people applying to renounce their U.S. citizenship

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-37/

vh Tom Akashi Interview Segment 38 (ddr-densho-1000-164-38)

Mother communicates via coded letters to try to discover father's whereabouts after his removal from Tule Lake

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-164-38/

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

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/