Issei

The earliest wave of Japanese immigrants, the Issei (first generation), had a strong sense of their ethnic identity and retained the values and traditions of their country of birth. Most came to the United States as sojourners and planned to return to Japan after earning their fortunes. In addition, discriminatory laws forbade them from becoming American citizens and from exercising other basic rights, such as owning or leasing land. Since they were thus prevented from fully taking part in American life, it is not surprising that many still identified strongly with the culture of their homeland.

Identity and values (200)
Issei (1023)

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1023 items

img Kamie Taenaka (ddr-csujad-25-226)

A page from the Taenaka family photo album. Pasted on the page are five photographs of Kamie Taenaka [Shibuya]. Include Haruko and Tamesaburo Taenaka. The photographs are taken around the early 1910s in Los Angeles, California. Also include Kamie Taenaka's photographs most likely taken in Japan before the marriage. See this object in the California State …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-226/

img Japanese family (ddr-csujad-25-293)

A page from a photo album including Japanese family photographs. Men and children are included. The photographs were most likely taken in the early 1900s. Location is unknown. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: jia_10_01_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-25-293/

img Bishop Matsukage (ddr-csujad-11-26)

This photograph depicts Bishop Matsukage dressed in traditional clothing along with a procession on Buddhist Day on Treasure Island near San Francisco. From page 13 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_13_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-26/

img Bishop Ryotei Matsukage (ddr-csujad-11-24)

A photograph of men dressed in suits sit together on the grass. Includes Bishop Ryotei Matsukage. From page 12 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_12_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-24/

img Tazu and Chisano Kawamoto (ddr-csujad-11-199)

Photographed are Tazu Kawamoto posing with another woman, perhaps her mother, Chisano Kawamoto. This photograph might have been taken at the Gila River incarceration camp, Arizona. From page 80 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_80_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-199/

img Family "portraits," Mother and daughter (ddr-csujad-11-160)

Photographed are Tazu Kawamoto and her mother, Chisono Kawamoto, standing in front of their house. From page 57 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_57_003

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-160/

img Reverend Tansai Terakawa (ddr-csujad-11-25)

A photograph of men dressed in suits sit together on the grass. Includes Reverend Tansai K. Terakawa. From page 12 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_12_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-25/

img Two people in a park (ddr-csujad-11-178)

A man and a woman pose together in a park or garden. The caption reads: June 1943, Rivers Arizona. From page 64 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_64_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-178/

img Family "portraits," soldier comes home (ddr-csujad-11-159)

A family portrait with a soldier. From page 57 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_57_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-159/

img Reverend Tokuno (ddr-csujad-11-132)

A photograph of a man and woman. The man in the photograph is identified as Reverend Tokuno. From page 48 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_48_007

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-132/

img Day at the Fair with Father (ddr-csujad-11-94)

A man and two women are photographed together. The woman to the left of the man is most likely Tazu Kawamoto. The man is therefore her father, Sadaichi Kawamoto, as the caption reads: Day at the Fair with Father. The fair she is referring to is the 1939 San Francisco World's Fair. The woman to the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-94/

img Large group of people with a rope (ddr-csujad-11-179)

A large group of formally dressed men and women pose together holding a rope. From page 65 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_65_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-179/

img Mother and son (ddr-csujad-11-125)

Photographed are a mother and son, probably Chisono and Casey Kawamoto, posing together on the porch of a house. From page 47 of: Tazu Kawamoto photo album (csudh_taz_0001). See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: taz_01_47_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-11-125/

img Emiko and Grandma (ddr-csujad-38-313)

Photographed are Koyuta Masukawa and Emiko. The caption reads: Emiko and Grandma, 7 yrs, 58 yrs old. Title from caption. The handwritten note on the back side reads: The photo was taken on April 15, 1946. Mother age at 58. Emiko age at 7. Papa took it. I became an old grandma. [In Japanese]. A photo …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-313/

doc Account with T. Masukawa (ddr-csujad-38-538)

Moneta Commercial Bank's account book for Tomosuke Masukawa. It records transactions between 1915-1919. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_05_05_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-538/

img Masukawa family (ddr-csujad-38-218)

Photographed are Masukawa family members incarcerated at the Poston camp in Arizona, including Koyuta, Mitzi, Keiko Kay, and Junko June. Keiko is holding a cat. "214" is stamped on the backside. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 1. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_08_003

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-218/

doc Gila news-courier supplement (ddr-csujad-42-176)

An issue of "Gila news-courier supplement," which cites an article, "Issei, Nise, Kibei: the U.S. put 110,000 people of Japanese blood in 'protective custody,'" published in an magazine, "Fortune," in April 1944. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_84_004

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-176/

doc Letter from Tsuruno Meguro to Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano, May 20, 1942 (ddr-csujad-42-44)

A letter from Tsuruno Meguro in the Pomona Assembly Center to her son-in-law and daughter, Fumio Fred and Yoneko Takano in the Santa Anita Assembly Center. In the letter, Tsuruno expresses her disappointment about the result that Fumio and Yoneko were sent to the Santa Anita Assembly Center. She was hoping to reunite at the Pomona …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-44/

doc Social security documents, envelope (ddr-csujad-42-31)

An envelope containing certificates of social insurance award for Itsuhei and Tomoye Takano issued on March 24, 1954. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: tak_01_20_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-42-31/

img Yokota family (ddr-csujad-38-283)

Photographed is the Yokota family standing in front of their barrack in the Jerome camp in Arkansas. The photo was sent from Sally Sakaye Sasaki at the Jerome camp to Mitzi Masukawa Naohara at the Poston camp in Arizona. The caption reads: Denson, Arkansas. The handwritten note on the back side reads: Shige Masukawa and the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-283/

doc Certificate of inoculation (ddr-csujad-38-535)

A certificate of inoculation for Tomosuke Masukawa. It certifies that Tomosuke had been inoculated by a surgeon for the passengers of Tatuta [Tatsuta] Maru on November 7 and 16, 1938. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_05_02_003

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-535/

doc Imperial Japanese Government passport = 日本帝國海外旅券, Koyuta Masukawa (ddr-csujad-38-536)

A Japanese passport issued for Koyuta Masukawa from Hiroshima, Japan. English and French translations attached. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_05_03_001

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-536/

img Masukawa family (ddr-csujad-38-209)

Photographed is the Masukawa family incarcerated at the Poston camp in Arizona, including Tomosuke, Koyuta, Tsutomu, Yukie, Mitzi, and children of Tsutomu and Yukie, Keiko Kay and Junko June. "Hammond Photo Service, Meridian, Miss., Mar 15, 1944" stamped on the back side. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 7. See this object in …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-209/

doc Alien's travel permit (to be used only in cases of terminal departure), WRA-394 (ddr-csujad-38-547)

An alien's travel permit, WRA-394, for Koyuta Masukawa an incarceree in the Poston camp, Arizona. It certifies that her travel to Glendale, California, has been permitted by the Department of Justice and is singed by Project Leave Officer in the camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_05_11_002

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-547/

img Masukawa family (ddr-csujad-38-249)

Photographed is the Masukawa family incarcerated at the Poston camp in Arizona. Includes children, and Koyuta, Mitzi, Tsotomu and Yukie. The caption reads: Me, gang. A photo from: Mitzi Naohara photo album (csudh_nao_0200), page 12. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: nao_02_12_007

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-38-249/