Preparation

On March 2, 1942, Public Proclamation No. 1 began to appear on telephone poles and buildings. This was the first official notice Japanese Americans had of their immediate removal from the West Coast. The notices stated that they had six or seven days to prepare, and were to take only what they could carry. They were not told where they would be taken. People rushed to sell or store, in one week, property and belongings acquired over a lifetime. Some families tucked their valuables away in their attic or basement and locked the door, hoping to return soon.

World War II (231)
Mass removal ("evacuation") (668)
Preparation (366)

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366 items

img Goods for sale in Japantown (ddr-densho-151-233)

Original caption: San Francisco, California. A common sight on the streets of the Japanese quarter of the city prior to evacuation.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-233/

img Japanese Americans registering for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-116)

Original caption: The full caption for this photograph reads: San Francisco, California. In response to the Army's Exclusion Order Number 20, residents of Japanese ancestry appear at Civil Control Station at 2031 Bush Street for registration. The evacuees will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-116/

img Family preparing for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-232)

Original caption: San Fransico, California. Street scene in Japanese quarter on day preceding evacuation to assembly center. Their household effects will be stored.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-232/

img Japanese Americans registering for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-123)

Original caption: San Francisco, California. Japanese family heads and persons living alone, form a line outside Civil Control station located in the Japanese American Citizens League Auditorium at 2031 Bush Street, to appear for "processing" in response to Civilian Exclusion Order Number 20.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-123/

img Loading baggage onto truck (ddr-densho-151-180)

Original caption: Centerville, California. Piling baggage of evacuees from this Alameda County farming community on the day before evacuation to assembly centers. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry will be transferred later to War Relocation Authority centers where they will spend the duration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-180/

img Mass removal sale (ddr-densho-151-78)

Original WRA caption: San Francisco, California. Shortly before evacuation of persons of Japanese ancestry from the Post and Buchanan Streets neighborhood, San Francisco. This dry goods store is closing out its merchandise. Evacuees will be housed at War Relocation Authority centers for duration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-78/

img Family loading baggage onto truck (ddr-densho-151-271)

Original caption: Woodland, California. Woman on farm being evacuated on the following day by farners of Japanese ancestry. This mother and her children are being assisted by a friend who has come with his truck to take their possessions to the Wartime Civil Control Administration Control station in town. The father of this family has been …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-271/

img Japanese Americans registering for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-173)

Original caption: San Francisco, California. Heads of families and single persons living alone, of Japanese ancestry, in response to Civilian Exclusion Order Number 20, line up on Bush Street for half a block at the Wartime Civil Control Administration Control Station to receive their final instructions concerning their evacuation. The evacuation of this district will be …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-173/

img Japanese American Citizens League bulletin board (ddr-densho-151-212)

Original caption: Centerville, California. Bulletin board in Japanese American Citizens League office, during period when farmers of Japanese ancestry were preparing for evacuation. Farmers and other evacuees will be given opportunities to follow their callings at War Relocation Authority centers where they will spend the duration.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-212/

img Registering for mass removal (ddr-densho-34-164)

Surrounded by U.S. army soldiers, Nisei men register their families during the exclusion from Bainbridge Island, Washington.

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

img Japanese Americans registering for mass removal (ddr-densho-151-61)

Original WRA caption: Residents of Japanese ancestry appear for registration prior to evacuation. Evacuees will be housed in War Relocation Authority centers for the duration. Updated Library of Congress summary: "Photograph shows Shizuko Ina standing behind others waiting to be assigned a "family number" before being removed from their homes and incarcerated in a detention facility …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-61/

vh Louise Kashino Segment 12 (ddr-densho-1000-31-12)

Leaving Seattle: packing extra food just in case; first impressions of the Puyallup Assembly Center

For the first hour of this interview, an additional camera crew from KCTS Television was also present.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-31-12/

vh Louise Kashino Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-31-11)

Preparing for mass removal: losing the family business

For the first hour of this interview, an additional camera crew from KCTS Television was also present.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-31-11/

vh Joe Yamakido Interview Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-167-6)

Personal reactions to mass removal, family's economic losses: "I was bitter"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-167-6/

vh Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview I Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-123-9)

Preparing for mass removal: fortunate to find people to take care of home and belongings

As a teenager prior to World War II, began keeping scrapbooks with newspaper articles and memorabilia, a lifetime habit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-123-9/

vh Hideo Hoshide Interview I Segment 35 (ddr-densho-1000-184-35)

Fiance travels to Tacoma, fearful that families would be sent to different concentration camps

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-184-35/

vh Hideo Hoshide Interview I Segment 36 (ddr-densho-1000-184-36)

Getting married to avoid separation during mass removal

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-184-36/

vh Hideo Hoshide Interview I Segment 37 (ddr-densho-1000-184-37)

Preparing for mass removal: disposing of belongings

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-184-37/

vh Yoshiye Handa Yasuda Interview Segment 5 (ddr-densho-1000-485-5)

Memories of preparing for mass removal

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-485-5/

vh Yukiko Miyake Segment 24 (ddr-densho-1000-49-24)

Preparing for mass removal: struggles in husband's absence

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-49-24/

vh Art Abe Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-206-16)

Preparing for mass removal: selling the family's grocery store

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-206-16/

vh Sharon Tanagi Aburano Interview I Segment 29 (ddr-densho-1000-208-29)

Preparing for mass removal: having an evacuation sale

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-208-29/

vh Sharon Tanagi Aburano Interview I Segment 30 (ddr-densho-1000-208-30)

Trying to operate business under curfew

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-208-30/

vh Misa Taketa Interview Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-436-13)

Leaving belongings to go to camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-436-13/

vh Lon Inaba Interview Segment 10 (ddr-densho-1000-537-10)

Still growing crops up until the mass removal

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-537-10/