The journey

The Issei (first-generation Japanese immigrants) crossed the Pacific in crowded steamships for the two-week journey to the West Coast of the United States. Thousands of immigrants left Japan from Yokohama Harbor outside Tokyo and entered the U.S. at Angel Island, the immigration station in San Francisco Bay. The immigrants were examined and inoculated for communicable diseases upon boarding and examined again upon arrival. Because it took time to obtain a visa and the necessary health clearances, the journey from one's hometown in Japan could extend up to a month.

Immigration and citizenship (431)
The journey (71)

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

Use <Ctrl> or (⌘) keys to select multiple terms

Gallery view
List view

71 items

av An Oral History with J.S. Kishiyama and Y. Kishiyama (ddr-csujad-29-3)

Reflections of an elderly Orange County, California couple on their experiences in America. He recounts his years as an immigrant; she discusses her family background, makeup of Japanese-American community, and rural living. This oral history was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project, Oral History Program, California State University, Fullerton; interview conducted by Pat Morgan. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-3/

img Issei man on a train (ddr-densho-259-460)

Renichi Fujimoto on a train, preparing for a journey to Japan to return with his wife, Matsuyo.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-460/

img Japanese family on a ship to America (ddr-densho-259-122)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "Picture of [Renichi Fujimoto] and [Matsuyo Fujimoto] and another Japanese man, standing on the deck of a ship. Since Obasan is wearing a kimono, this must have been taken when she left for American with [Renichi, her husband]. They arrived in Seattle on March 10, 1931."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-122/

img Issei man preparing for journey to Japan (ddr-densho-259-459)

Renichi Fujimoto at the Hood River railroad station.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-459/

img Issei man preparing for journey to Japan (ddr-densho-259-458)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "Can [Renichi Fujimoto] and Ches [Tsuyoshi Yasui] at the Hood River railroad station, where Chan left for Japan in late 1929 to get his wife, Matsuyo."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-458/

img Issei man and children at train station (ddr-densho-259-195)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "Min[oru], Michi, Roku, Shu, Homer & Yuka standing with Chan [Renichi Fujimoto] at the Hood River train depot. This was probably taken in the winter of 1929, when Chan went back to Japan to bring Obasan [Matsuyo Fujimoto] home to Hood River."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-195/

doc Steerage check ticket (ddr-densho-390-11)

A steerage check ticket for Juyo Matsuoka's voyage on the S.S. Persia Maru from Nagasaki to San Francisco.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-11/

doc Bessie Matsuoka's inoculation certificate (ddr-densho-390-13)

Certification that Haruko (Bessie) Matsuoka has been inoculated.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-13/

doc Passport document (ddr-densho-390-27)

A document about Tomio (Harry) Matsuoka's passport, written in Japanese with some English annotations.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-27/

doc Certificate with decorative border (ddr-densho-390-30)

A certificate written in Japanese with a decorative border and stamp, possibly related to a Matsuoka family member's journey from Japan to the United States.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-30/

doc Bessie Matsuoka's inoculation certificate (ddr-densho-390-12)

Certification that Haruko (Bessie) Matsuoka has been twice inoculated against cerebrospinal meningitis.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-12/

doc Juyo Matsuoka's passenger inspection card (ddr-densho-390-10)

Passenger inspection card for Juyo Matsuoka, on a voyage from Japan to the United States aboard the S.S. Persia Maru.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-10/

doc Matsuoka family history (ddr-densho-390-29)

A document written in Japanese, with some English annotations, with important dates and names for the Matsuoka family.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-29/

doc Bessie Matsuoka's passenger inspection card (ddr-densho-390-9)

Passengers inspection card for Haruko (Bessie) Matsuoka, on a voyage from Japan to the United States aboard the S.S. Persia Maru.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-9/

doc Juyo and Bessie Matsuoka's Japanese passport (ddr-densho-390-19)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-390-19/

img Kiyoko and 3 men (ddr-densho-391-48)

Photograph of Kiyoko (Maeda) Yoshioka on the deck of ship holding a lifebuoy surrounded by three men, one identified as Haruo Narita. Written on the back "3rd from left- Kiyoko (Maeda) Yoshioka and Haruo Narita."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-391-48/

img Kiyoko on board Asama Maru (ddr-densho-391-42)

Photograph of 4 women posing on the deck of the Asama Maru with a lifebuoy with the ship's name written on it. Kiyoko (Maeda) Yoshioka is identified as the woman on the right in the back row. Written on the back "Asama Maru ship Okasan (Kiyoko Maeda) came on to America"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-391-42/

img Posing with a lifebuoy (ddr-densho-391-8)

Photograph of two men holding a lifebuoy knelt beside a railing.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-391-8/

doc Letter from Robert Cashman to American Consul General in Shanghai (ddr-densho-446-242)

Affidavit in support of Ai Chih Tsai's appeal to return to U.S. with immigration status without qualification.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-242/

doc Letter from Ryo Tsai to the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization in Philadelphia (ddr-densho-446-244)

Petition for immigration visa for Ai Chih Tsai. Education and employment history in US. Supporting financial documents.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-244/

doc Pacific Far East Line, Inc. Form P-1 No. 3242 (ddr-densho-446-258)

Receipt for cabin on SS Pacific Bear from Shanghai to San Francisco. Fare: US$375.oo. Taxes: US$8.00.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-258/

doc Pass for pier entrance check point (ddr-densho-446-259)

Permission for Ai Chih Tsai

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-259/

doc "My Life Begins" (ddr-densho-446-350)

My Life Begins (autobiography): Ai Chih's parents, conversion to Christianity, education in Japan, arrival in US on student visa, U of Chicago, Robert Cashman, Keimer Shou, Japanese Christian Church (Chicago), War, Ordination, Meeting Ryo, Marriage, Navy-Columbia U, War Dept.-D.C., MD, US Strategic Bombing Survey, UNRRA

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-350/

doc Letter from Harrison Ray Anderson to American Consulate General in Shanghai (ddr-densho-446-243)

Letter in support of Ai Chih Tsai's return to the United States [copy]

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-243/

doc Longevity Guarantee (ddr-densho-446-5)

"Longevity Guarantee" certificate from the Taiyo Maru Ocean Liner on passing 180th Meridian.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-446-5/