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 (871)
Nihonmachi ("Japantowns") (205)

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205 items
New Tokyo Bar (ddr-one-1-81)
img New Tokyo Bar (ddr-one-1-81)
Black and white photographic negative of two women behind the bar with the bartender at the New Tokyo Bar in Portland, Oregon. From left to right: unidentified, Rose Mae Hara and George Ninomiya.
An Oral History with Katsuma Mukaeda (ddr-csujad-29-56)
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 …
Tomoye Hotel (ddr-csujad-29-241)
img Tomoye Hotel (ddr-csujad-29-241)
Photograph of the front of the Tomoye Hotel. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: P184
An oral history with Katsumi Kunitsugu (ddr-csujad-29-66)
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
Gidra, Vol. I, No. 8 (November 1969) (ddr-densho-297-8)
doc Gidra, Vol. I, No. 8 (November 1969) (ddr-densho-297-8)
Selected article titles: "Moratorium Day" (p. 2), "1969 Internal Security Act" (p. 2), "Pioneer Center Opens in Little Tokyo" (p. 3), "Yellow and Proud" (p. 5), "Revelance of Ethnic Studies" (p. 5), "The High Cost of Saving Face the American Way" (p. 8-9).
Street view of 'Mary's' store (ddr-densho-298-179)
img Street view of 'Mary's' store (ddr-densho-298-179)
Caption in album: "Once popular hangout in Sacto's 'Tiny Tokyo.'"
Aiko photo studio (ddr-densho-35-296)
img Aiko photo studio (ddr-densho-35-296)
Aiko photo studio was located on Sixth and Jackson in Seattle's Nihonmachi or Japantown.
Issei women at the Astor Hotel (ddr-densho-35-298)
img Issei women at the Astor Hotel (ddr-densho-35-298)
These women and children are standing outside of the historic Astor Hotel, which housed the Nippon Kan Theatre.
Aiko photo studio (ddr-densho-35-295)
img Aiko photo studio (ddr-densho-35-295)
Aiko photo studio was located on the second floor of this building on Sixth and Jackson in Seattle.
Jiro Kaneko's Pacific Printing Company (ddr-densho-353-87)
img Jiro Kaneko's Pacific Printing Company (ddr-densho-353-87)
The Pacific Printing Company was located at 611 Main Street.
Star Laundry wagon (ddr-densho-353-72)
img Star Laundry wagon (ddr-densho-353-72)
Star Laundry was located at 1229 Jackson Street. A note on the back indicates the driver as Mr. Shimono.
Group of men with a car (ddr-densho-353-82)
img Group of men with a car (ddr-densho-353-82)
Okayama men on Main Street in front of the Mitsuwado. Note on back: " NW Nikkei caption 6-89: Mr. Yanagi (leaning against car) with friends, celebrates his graduation from the U of W's pharmacy school before returning to Japan." Another note says "set at 100, 2 sec"
Group of men with a car (ddr-densho-353-81)
img Group of men with a car (ddr-densho-353-81)
Captioned: "On Main Street in front of the Mitsuwado." The Mitsuwado was a large bookstore. A note on the back reads: "set at 200, 8 sec."
Nihonmachi Jackson Street (ddr-densho-353-73)
img Nihonmachi Jackson Street (ddr-densho-353-73)
Jackson Street, looking east from 5th Street. Note on back indicates Japanese stores in left foreground, and the Academy of Holy Names in background, built 1880. The photo was taken before the Jackson St. regrade of 1907-1909.
The Seattle Buddhist Church (ddr-densho-353-71)
img The Seattle Buddhist Church (ddr-densho-353-71)
Located at 624 Main Street. Note on back indicates the Seattle Betsuin's 75th anniversary (from 1901-1976), as well as identifying Rev. Gendo Nakai on the stairs.
Members of the Japanese Baptist Church (ddr-densho-353-69)
img Members of the Japanese Baptist Church (ddr-densho-353-69)
The church was located on Jefferson Street. A note on the back indicates the 50th anniversary.
Ten cent store (ddr-densho-353-80)
img Ten cent store (ddr-densho-353-80)
Heitaro Matsumoto's ten cent store, located at 902 Yesler Way. Note on back: "Meiji 38 Apr, went to Fife, then hotel in Seattle, Taisho 7 Feb."
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