Student clubs
At West Coast universities before World War II, Japanese clubs were formed for students from Japan and Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) who were reaching college age. Because it was understood that people of Japanese ancestry would not be accepted at white fraternities, the solution was to form segregated clubs.
Community activities
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Associations and organizations
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Student clubs
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76 items
76 items
![Toru Sakahara - Kiyo Sakahara Interview I Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-76-21)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/6e/30/6e300a0862cd32820255475ed8f47317.jpg)
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Toru Sakahara - Kiyo Sakahara Interview I Segment 21 (ddr-densho-1000-76-21)
Activities of the University Students Club
This interview was conducted over two days at the Sakaharas' home.
![Frank Miyamoto Interview II Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-51-13)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/fe/a4/fea438719f91a5e1e4269698af955391.jpg)
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Frank Miyamoto Interview II Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-51-13)
Attending the University of Washington and joining the Japanese Students Club
![Valeda freshmen installation ceremony (ddr-densho-45-4)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/97/66/976610eae2b3ea93440b84e7c1d82a56.jpg)
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Valeda freshmen installation ceremony (ddr-densho-45-4)
In fall 1947, women of Japanese ancestry started a new student group called Valeda ("wise women" in Greek). Like the Fuyokai, Valeda supported Japanese American women students and encouraged them to join other organizations on campus. Valeda participated in numerous projects on campus and in the community until it disbanded in 1965. Left to right: Setsuko …
![Fuyokai members in front of four columns (ddr-densho-45-3)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/b8/e7/b8e705d12cfa0fb086ef616a5967fbd6.jpg)
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Fuyokai members in front of four columns (ddr-densho-45-3)
In 1925, twelve women formed the Fuyokai, which is Japanese for "Hibiscus Club." Their goal was to support Japanese American students and develop an understanding of "the highest ideals of Japan and America."
![Japanese Students Club (ddr-densho-45-1)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/14/e9/14e9e7b4bacab14d919de6f2635817c8.jpg)
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Japanese Students Club (ddr-densho-45-1)
Members of the Japanese Students Club pose in front of the clubhouse fireplace. The Japanese Students Club (JSC) was the precursor of the current UW Nikkei Alumni Association at the University of Washington. The JSC was started in the early 1920s. Japanese Americans were excluded from the Greek-system fraternities because of their Japanese ancestry. In response …
![Members of SYNKOA in front of the Japanese Students Club clubhouse (ddr-densho-45-2)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/9a/b4/9ab488128b92360dee068c4f64812080.jpg)
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Members of SYNKOA in front of the Japanese Students Club clubhouse (ddr-densho-45-2)
After World War II, the Japanese Students Club became known as SYNKOA to honor members who had died during the war. The first letters of the following members' last names make up the acronym: George T. Sawada, Frank M. Shigemura, George Yamaguchi, Hideo H. Yasui, Shigeo Yoshioka, William K. Nakamura, Ben Ninomiya, Jiro Kanetomi, Yoshio Kato, …
![Japanese Students Ready to Aid U.S. (December 11, 1941) (ddr-densho-56-538)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/dd/cc/ddcc099af0cb5b93c1acb971765967f2.jpg)
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Japanese Students Ready to Aid U.S. (December 11, 1941) (ddr-densho-56-538)
The Seattle Daily Times, December 11, 1941, p. 5
![The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 53 (July 2, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-220)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/6c/f6/6cf6ba69db995218740e298162b96fe8.jpg)
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The Northwest Times Vol. 3 No. 53 (July 2, 1949) (ddr-densho-229-220)
"Poetess Depicts Mass Evacuation of B.C. Japanese" (p. 1), "Otoshi Describes Experiences at Evergreen Boys' State" (p. 1).
![Tule Lake scrapbook (ddr-csujad-26-53)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/7a/d4/7ad4d58fa11f63fdd627c2b10dd8650d.jpg)
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Tule Lake scrapbook (ddr-csujad-26-53)
Scrapbook created in Tule Lake camp by Japanese American students. Contents include drawings, art, holiday greeting cards prints, poetry and signatures of student groups. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: mei_03_20_001
![Chapter 11 personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-36)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/7e/3e/7e3e7d6800f61cbab338da18e6be84fc.jpg)
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Chapter 11 personality cards (ddr-csujad-26-36)
Journal entries written by high school students discussing their observations and perspectives on a variety of topic including a fundraising carnival, yearbooks, class subjects and discussions, sports, homework, books, and teachers. Each entry includes the full date and student name. The entries were collected as part of a class assignment and used for the Japanese American …
![Meeting of the Monterey Peninsula Japanese American Citizens League, May 18, 1938 (ddr-csujad-44-106)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/fc/f4/fcf48032579ebdf07b354d68e505aca1.jpg)
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Meeting of the Monterey Peninsula Japanese American Citizens League, May 18, 1938 (ddr-csujad-44-106)
Meeting minutes of the Monterey Peninsula Japanese American Citizens League. Includes discussion of the Japanese Student Club and whether the JACL should serve as a sponsor, the county fair, plans for a barbecue, and publicity for the oratorical contest. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: csumb_ms15_0105
![Momoyo Jane Kubota (ddr-csujad-8-32)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/07/08/0708983c692bbd4005a94316e27983c6.jpg)
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Momoyo Jane Kubota (ddr-csujad-8-32)
Oral history interview with Momoyo Jane Kubota. 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 Kubota, Momoyo Jane
![Helen Hasegawa (ddr-csujad-8-17)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/c2/31/c231d14230a66672beb6045352e7fc68.jpg)
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Helen Hasegawa (ddr-csujad-8-17)
Oral history interview with Helen Hasegawa. 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 Hasegawa, Helen
![Kazuyoshi Ky Matsuoka (ddr-csujad-8-39)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/ce/03/ce03189c6e4b04a7411b64860bf2b2bc.jpg)
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Kazuyoshi Ky Matsuoka (ddr-csujad-8-39)
Oral history interview with Kazuyoshi Ky Matsuoka. 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 Matsuoka, Kazuyoshi Ky
![Japanese Students Club members (ddr-densho-134-18)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/9c/46/9c46eb283d81631ab7b7b9c4db546b4a.jpg)
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Japanese Students Club members (ddr-densho-134-18)
Members of the Lincoln High School Japanese Students Club posing for a photo. The club held Japanese dances, tea ceremonies, and other activities. Back row (L to R): Kambe, Uchida, Abe, Kanno, Yamada, Tanaka, Fukano. Middle row (L to R): Sasaki, E. Ota, A. Ota, Hayashi, Kumasaka, Shio, Kambe. Front row (L to R): Sasaki, Suzuki, …
![Girls of the Japanese Students Club (ddr-densho-134-19)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/8c/f3/8cf3c1919052c9afff6e22420dd21bf4.jpg)
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Girls of the Japanese Students Club (ddr-densho-134-19)
Female members of the Lincoln High School Japanese Students Club posing for a photo. The club held Japanese dances, tea ceremonies, and other activities. Back row (L to R): Mariko Kumasaka, Michiko Nakawatase, Esther Kambe, Satoko Abe, Alice Ota, Ella Ota, Margaret Akiyama, Cherry Tanaka. Front row (L to R): Jane Akiyama, Yuri Hayashi, Yoshino Kano, …
![Group of young people, probably youth group (ddr-densho-122-619)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/00/e8/00e830e540aa636a6905d647ee762742.jpg)
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Group of young people, probably youth group (ddr-densho-122-619)
Jim Akutsu standing 2nd from right
![](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/d4/45/d44525268c0617a1097e9d5598aa1a6f.jpg)
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"Japan-America students society" (ddr-densho-259-297)
Caption by Homer Yasui: "Posed group photo of what I will guess was a college group. This is a mixed group of young adult Caucasians and Nisei, both men and women. Since Frances Maeda is holding the Japanese Hino maru, and the American flag crosses it, I think that this may have been a Japan-America students …
![National Intercollegiate Bowling Championship team (ddr-densho-26-254)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/0b/8b/0b8becb56c59682cff2fb2a6f4addcef.jpg)
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National Intercollegiate Bowling Championship team (ddr-densho-26-254)
The University of Washington bowling team won the Intercollegiate Bowling Championship in 1956.
![Women's Weekend Chairmen (ddr-densho-287-88)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/45/65/4565c2abcafa7d8b0b036df985a28748.jpg)
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Women's Weekend Chairmen (ddr-densho-287-88)
Photograph of the Women's Weekend chairwomen standing on the steps of a building. Second from the right is Molly (Kageyama) Maeda.
![Gidra, Vol. I, No. 3 (June 1969) (ddr-densho-297-3)](https://ddr.densho.org/media/cache/a4/2e/a42e29fbe4a7743ff5ceb7b77ef0af8b.jpg)
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Gidra, Vol. I, No. 3 (June 1969) (ddr-densho-297-3)
Selected article titlese: "The Persecution Rests" (p. 1), "CS, It's a Gas!" (p. 1), "Reflections in a Slanted Eye" (p. 2), "Grapes Are Coming!" (p. 4).