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 (1965)
Nihonmachi ("Japantowns") (210)

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210 items

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-71/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-69/

img A group gathers on a balcony (ddr-densho-353-75)

This photo was used as the cover for the 1985 reprint of S. Frank Miyamoto's "Social Solidarity among Japanese in Seattle," originally published in 1939.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-75/

img Inside of Mitsuwado (ddr-densho-353-68)

Mitsuwado was a large bookstore on Main Street.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-68/

img Children play on the eastern edge of Nihonmachi (ddr-densho-353-77)

Located at Brodway and Yesler Way.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-353-77/

doc Crystal City Chatter Issue 88 (ddr-densho-537-97)

Issue 88 includes letters to the editor, an excerpt from the book about the Japanese American memorial in Washington D. C., an article about San Francisco's Japantown, and more.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-537-97/

av Redefining Community: The Evolution of Sawtelle Japantown (ddr-densho-1024-120)

Redefining Community: The Evolution of Sawtelle Japantown is an animated documentary about the history of Japanese Americans in the Sawtelle Japantown area of Los Angeles. Narration of the documentary comes directly from over 20 oral history interviews of people who resided in Sawtelle before and after World War II. The film covers the initial formation of …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1024-120/

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.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-81/

img New Tokyo Bar (ddr-one-1-82)

Black and white photographic negative of unidentified men playing Gibson guitars at the New Tokyo Bar. For print please see ONLC 4949 (ddr-one-1-720)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-82/

img New Tokyo Bar (ddr-one-1-83)

Black and white photographic negative of an unidentified patron in the New Tokyo Bar sitting in a booth near two unidentified guitar players.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-83/

img Frank Hirahara at New Tokyo Bar (ddr-one-1-80)

Black and white photographic negative of Frank Hirahara and Rose Mae Hara at the New Tokyo Bar in Portland, Oregon. For original print please ONLC 2855 (ddr-one-1-79).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-80/

img New Tokyo Bar (ddr-one-1-84)

Black and white photographic negative of unidentified bar patrons at the New Tokyo Bar. Bartender George Ninomiya is behind the bar.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-84/

img Frank Hirahara at New Tokyo Bar (ddr-one-1-79)

Original black and white photographic print of Frank Hirahara and Rose Mae Hara at the New Tokyo Bar in Portland, Oregon. For negative please see ONLC 2856 (ddr-one-1-80).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-one-1-79/

av Alice Tanaka: her story (ddr-densho-525-2)

Alice Tanaka shares about her life growing up in the Trent Alley district in Spokane, Washington.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-525-2/

av Trent Alley: a Japanese - American Legacy (ddr-densho-525-1)

Short film about the history of the Trent Alley neighborhood in Spokane, Washington.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-525-1/

img Historic Trent Alley (ddr-densho-525-3)

Five photographs of the historic marker for the Trent Alley district in Spokane, Washington. The historic marker includes the proclamation from the governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, a map of the former district, and two plaques about the Trent Alley and Alice Tanaka films including in this collection.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-525-3/

vh Chris Kato - Yoshi Mamiya - Tad Sato Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-33-11)

Clothing styles and apparel shops

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-33-11/

vh Chris Kato - Yoshi Mamiya - Tad Sato Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-33-2)

Description of size and approximate boundaries of Seattle's prewar Japantown

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-33-2/

vh Yoshiye Handa Yasuda Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1000-485-3)

Early memories of growing up in San Francisco's Japantown

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-485-3/

vh Yukiko Miyake Segment 8 (ddr-densho-1000-49-8)

Memories of the Japanese public bath

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-49-8/

vh Yukiko Miyake Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-49-7)

Description of Nihonmachi: gossipy and close-knit

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-49-7/

vh Jun Dairiki Interview Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1000-326-3)

Growing up in San Francisco's Japantown

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-326-3/

vh Frank Miyamoto Interview I Segment 3 (ddr-densho-1000-50-3)

Physical layout of Seattle's prewar Japantown

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-50-3/

vh Jim Matsuoka Interview Segment 2 (ddr-densho-1000-281-2)

Memories of Little Tokyo during the Great Depression

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 the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-281-2/

vh Ben Uyeno Segment 6 (ddr-densho-1000-100-6)

Prewar Japanese American community in Yakima, Washington

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-100-6/