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 (488)
The journey (73)

Filters

Facilities

Format

Genre

Usage

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

Gallery view
List view

73 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/

img Noboru Shirai aboard Tatsuta Maru (ddr-csujad-55-1316)

Black and white photograph depicting Noboru Shirai standing next to a life preserver aboard the Tatsuta Maru bound for the United States. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1318

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1316/

doc Declaration of alien about to depart for the United States (ddr-csujad-55-2012)

Declaration form for Yosaku Yoneda's departure from Kobe, Japan to Sacramento, California. Includes list of references and photograph of Yoneda. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2115

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2012/

doc Imperial Japanese Government passport Yoneshiro Ono (ddr-csujad-55-2457)

A passport belonging to Yoneshiro Ono, no. 223754. Includes photograph of Ono and admittance stamp from the U.S. Immigration Service for arrival to the United States via the SS Alabama Maru. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2563

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2457/

img Noboru Shirai aboard Tatsuta Maru (ddr-csujad-55-1315)

Black and white photograph depicting Noboro Shirai with other passengers aboard the Tatsuta Maru bound for the United States. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1317

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1315/

doc Imperial Japanese Government passport, Tome Ono (ddr-csujad-55-2458)

A passport belonging to Tome Ono, no. 223755. Includes photograph of Ono and admittance stamp from the U.S. Immigration Service for arrival to the United States via the SS Alabama Maru. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2564

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2458/

img Group photo on the S.S. Persia Maru (ddr-densho-494-47)

Torayoshi (Muraki) Maida is seated on the far right. Caption on website: "Sailing to America" and "Torayoshi on the Persia Maru 1919"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-494-47/

doc Japanese American Courier Vol. 6, No. 286 (July 1, 1933) (ddr-densho-96-319)

Selected article titles: "Brave Boy, Girl Ready to Fight Hard Problems" (p. 1), "Out-of-Town News" (p. 2), "Officials Urge Spirit of Sportsmanship Rule Northwest Baseball Tournament" (p. 3), "Pink Tea" (p. 4), "America Mecca of All Seeking Equality, P

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-96-319/