Nihonmachi ("Japantowns")

Because of housing and employment discrimination, Japanese Americans tended to cluster in ethnic neighborhoods known as Nihonmachi, or "Japantowns." Living, working, studying, and worshiping in close proximity made for tight-knit communities. With the forced removal of Japanese Americans in the spring of 1942, the bustling Nihonmachis of the West Coast closed down and never fully recovered, even after the war ended.

Community activities (601)
Nihonmachi ("Japantowns") (192)

Gallery view
List view

192 items

vh An Oral History with Katsuma Mukaeda (ddr-csujad-29-56)

Chairman of Japanese American Cultural Center and former president of Japanese Chamber of Commerce recounts conditions of prewar Los Angeles's Little Tokyo, its wartime conversion into a black community, postwar reestablishment as a Japanese-American cultural and commercial center. Includes comments on discriminatory legislation, prewar Japan-American relations. World War II removal and incarceration, camp conditions, wartime repatriation ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-56/

vh An oral history with Katsumi Kunitsugu (ddr-csujad-29-66)

An oral interview with Katsumi Kunitsugu, longtime volunteer and leader in Little Tokyo. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0164. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 3378_T01

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-66/

img Interior of Mitsuwado store (ddr-densho-13-32)

The Mitsuwado store, located at 522 Main Street, was owned by Kinzo Asaba (right). The store sold a variety of items including books, records, record players, and fishing tackle. Asaba's daughter, Chiyo, stands next to him.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-13-32/

img Family and friends in Nihonmachi (ddr-densho-13-38)

Top to bottom: Yayeko Asaba, unidentified, Kimiko Asaba, and Yeichi Asaba in front of Sagamiya, a Japanese confectionery, located at 524 Main Street in Seattle's Nihonmachi.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-13-38/

img Mitsuwado store's window display (ddr-densho-13-34)

The Mitsuwado store was located at 522 Main Street in Seattle's Nihonmachi, or Japantown. In this display are matsutake (pine mushrooms) and various prizes to be awarded to fishing derby winners.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-13-34/

img Classical dance performance (ddr-densho-13-15)

This dance performance took place at the Nippon Kan Theatre in Seattle's Nihonmachi (Japantown) area.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-13-15/

img Interior of Higo Ten-Cent Store (ddr-densho-16-25)

This photo shows the store's original light fixtures.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-16-25/

img Interior of Higo Ten-Cent Store (ddr-densho-16-2)

The Higo Ten-Cent Store, located in Seattle's Nihonmachi (Japantown), was owned and operated by Sanzo and Matsuyo Murakami. Established in the early 1900s, the store sold a wide variety of American- and Japanese-made goods to serve the surrounding Issei and Nisei community.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-16-2/

img Nihonmachi covered in snow (ddr-densho-16-13)

This photo shows Seattle's Nihonmachi or Japantown in the winter.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-16-13/

img Nihonmachi covered in snow (ddr-densho-16-15)

This photo shows Seattle's Nihonmachi or Japantown in the winter.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-16-15/

img Nihonmachi covered in snow (ddr-densho-16-12)

This photo was taken on Jackson Street in Seattle's Nihonmachi or Japantown.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-16-12/

img Yokohama Tailor and Laundry (ddr-densho-12-10)

Fusa Kunitsugu (left) and her son, Teruo, inside the Yokohama Tailor and Laundry, located at 515 Yesler Way in Seattle's Nihonmachi, or Japantown.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-12-10/

doc Satoshi Kuwamoto interview (ddr-csujad-6-17)

Oral history interview with Satoshi Kuwamoto. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: SCRC_KUWAMOTO_SATOSHI

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-17/

doc Nori Masuda interview (ddr-csujad-6-22)

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

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-6-22/

doc Fresno West Side (ddr-csujad-8-13)

Oral history interview with Mr. Nori Masuda, Mrs. Masako Inada, Mrs. Fumi Nakajima, and Mrs. Setsu Hirasuna. 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 Fresno West Side

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-8-13/

img Sagamiya confectionery (ddr-densho-13-1)

The Sagamiya confectionery was located at 524 Main Street in the area previously known as Nihonmachi, now Seattle's International District. Sagamiya closed in the early 1970s. Left to right: Yoshi Mamiya, Shuzo Asaba, Nobujiro Shibata, Kinzo Asaba, and Rick Mamiya.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-13-1/

img Family in front of their store (ddr-densho-13-39)

Left to right: Mr. Kawai, unidentified, Haruye (last name unknown) holding Teruo Shibata, Kinzo Asaba, and Nobujiro Shibata in front of Sagamiya, a Japanese confectionery, which was located at 524 Main in Seattle's Nihonmachi, or Japantown. Sagamiya was an institution in Seattle's Nihonmachi, well known for its mochigashi (Japanese rice cakes). Founded in the early 1900s ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-13-39/

img Three Issei men and child outside the Mitsuwado store (ddr-densho-13-2)

Mitsuwado was located at 522 Main Street in Seattle's Nihonmachi, or Japantown. The store sold a variety of items including books, records, record players, and fishing tackle. Left to right: Kinzo Asaba (the store's owner), Mr. Osawa, unidentified, and unidentified.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-13-2/

img Mitsuwado store (ddr-densho-13-31)

The Mitsuwado store, located at 522 Main Street, was owned by Kinzo Asaba. The store sold a variety of items including books, records, record players, and fishing tackle. Left to right: Mr. Izui, Denny Yoshimura, Nobujiro Shibata, Ayako Shibata, Yoshiko Hagiya, Shuzo Asaba, and Kinzo Asaba.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-13-31/

img Two Issei men outside the Mitsuwado store (ddr-densho-13-16)

The Mitsuwado store was located at 522 Main Street in Seattle's Nihonmachi, or Japantown. The store sold a variety of items including books, records, record players, and fishing tackle. The store's owner, Kinzo Asaba, is on the left.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-13-16/

img Exterior of Higo Ten-Cent Store (ddr-densho-16-1)

Sanzo and Matsuyo Murakami owned and operated the Higo Ten-Cent Store which was located on Weller Street in Seattle's Nihonmachi, or Japantown. The Higo Ten-Cent Store is currently called the Higo Variety Store and continues to be a landmark business in Seattle's International District which was known as Nihonmachi before World War II. The store is ...

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-16-1/

img Nihonmachi covered in snow (ddr-densho-16-14)

This photo shows Seattle's Nihonmachi or Japantown in the winter.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-16-14/

img Interior of Higo Ten-Cent Store (ddr-densho-16-3)

The Higo Ten-Cent Store, established in the early 1900s by Sanzo Murakami and his wife Matsuyo, is one of the last prewar Japanese American businesses in Seattle's International District, formerly known as Nihonmachi. The store sold a wide variety of American- and Japanese-made goods to the surrounding Issei and Nisei community.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-16-3/

img Nihonmachi covered in snow (ddr-densho-16-16)

This photo shows Seattle's Nihonmachi or Japantown in the winter.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-16-16/

img Aiko Studio (ddr-densho-20-11)

Aiko Studio, located in Seattle's Nihonmachi area, was one of several photography studios that catered to the Japanese American community before World War II.

http://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-20-11/