Pearl Harbor and aftermath

The bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, stunned the Japanese American community as much as the rest of the country. Many Issei (first generation) had been receiving news from their families in Japan and were aware of the growing tension between the two countries, but few thought that Japan would provoke the United States into war. Japanese Americans would again be shocked when immediately following the bombing, the FBI began going door to door making arrests. Any issei who was at all prominent was considered a potential spy, including Japanese association officers, language-school principals, and Buddhist priests. Without any meaningful due process, these men -- mostly heads of families -- were summarily separated from their wives and children and incarcerated.

World War II (277)
Pearl Harbor and aftermath (298)

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298 items

doc 1941 Diary (ddr-densho-549-5)

Personal diary of Lois Bennett that includes personal reflections from the Pearl Harbor bombing. Pages that did not have written entries were not included as part of the scan.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-549-5/

doc Letter to Frank Abe from Franz Suhadolnik (ddr-densho-122-587)

Criticizing Abe's report on Pearl Harbor Anniversary

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-587/

img Fujii family (ddr-densho-433-1210)

From left to right: Katsu Fujii, Rutaro Fujii, unidentified, Kimiko Fujii. Written on verso: 5/8, 1962, 5/8/62.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1210/

img Fujii family portrait (ddr-densho-433-1205)

From left to right: Mary, Kenji, Rutaro, unidentified, unidentified, unidentified, Katsu, unidentified, Sally. Duplicate photocopy at ddr-densho-433-1279.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1205/

img At Mrs. Fujii's home (ddr-densho-433-1208)

Katsu Fujii is seated on the front row, on the left. Written on verso: 10-14-67, At Mrs. Fujii's Home - Hayward. Also written on verso, Japanese text.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1208/

img Fujii family and friends in garden (ddr-densho-433-1202)

Written on verso: L to R, Top Row - Papa [Rutaro Fujii], Mr. Hayakwa (Japanese school teacher), Second - Sue, Mama [Katsu Fujii], Miss Gresold, Kimiko, Third - Hanako.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1202/

img Fujii family portrait (ddr-densho-433-1204)

From left to right: Sally, Katsu (possibly holding Hana), unidentified, unidentified, Katsu, unidentified, Kenji. Duplicate photocopy at ddr-densho-433-1278.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1204/

img Fujii family portrait (ddr-densho-433-1278)

Written on verso: [left to right] Sally, Katsu (holding Hana?), [unidentified], [unidentified], 2. Rutaro Ken, 3. ?. Duplicate photocopy of ddr-densho-433-1204.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1278/

img Fujii family (ddr-densho-433-1207)

Rutaro Fujii is seated on the left. Katsu Fujii is seated on the right. Kimiko Fujii is seated behind Katsu. Written on verso: 4/[blank]/62, 1962. Also written on verso, Japanese text. See also: ddr-densho-433-1215.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1207/

img Fujii family portrait (ddr-densho-433-1276)

Written on verso: [left to right] Katsu, Ken, Rutaro, ?, Sally, Mary. Duplicate photocopy of ddr-densho-433-1203.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1276/

img Fujii family portrait (ddr-densho-433-1203)

From left to right: [left to right] Katsu, Kenji, Rutaro, unidentified, Sally, Mary. Duplicate photocopy at ddr-densho-433-1276.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1203/

img Mr. and Mrs. Fujii (ddr-densho-433-1214)

Katsu and Rutaro Fujii. Written on verso but partially obscured: 1948 / 4.3.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1214/

img Group photograph at Fujii house (ddr-densho-433-1277)

Individuals are numbered, but no identification guide provided. Duplicate photocopy of ddr-densho-433-1206.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1277/

img Group photograph at Fujii house (ddr-densho-433-1206)

Rutaro Fujii is on the left. Written on verso: 1925. Duplicate photocopy at ddr-densho-433-1277.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1206/

img Fujii family portrait (ddr-densho-433-1279)

Written on verso: [left to right] Mary, Ken, Rutaro, ?, ?, ?, Katsu, ?, Sally. Duplicate photocopy of ddr-densho-433-1205.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-433-1279/

doc Copy of FBI Case File for Tomehichi Urakawa from the National Archives (ddr-densho-474-117)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-117/

doc 70th Anniversary of the Japanese Congregational Church (ddr-densho-474-53)

The Japanese Congregational Church's 70th Anniversary book traces the history of JCC within the context of national and local events.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-474-53/

av Interview with Harry and Ken Akune, part 2 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1590)

Ken is on the left, Harry on the right. The two discuss growing up as Nisei, anti-Japanese sentiment in the US, their relationship with their mother, the difference between Japanese nationals and Japanese Americans, Pearl Harbor, their time in internment at Merced and Amache, and their decision to volunteer for the military. Video starts at 0:28. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1590/

av Interview with Barry Saiki, part 1 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1702)

Saiki discusses growing up in Stockton, CA, attending UC Berkeley, Pearl Harbor, the start of evacuation and negative press about Nisei during that time, graduating from Berkeley in 1942, entering Stockton Assembly Center, and the arrest and incarceration of his father. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: II JA #41, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1702/

doc Book Review: Covering Up Pearl (ddr-densho-1007-1862)

Book Review of "The Shadow of Pearl Harbor: Political Controversy Over the Surprise Attack" by Martin Melosi.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1862/

av Interview with John Aiso, part 5 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1578)

Aiso discusses loyalty to the US, his family's internment at Manzanar, his (and the Nisei's in general) response to Pearl Harbor, and his role in the military. Video starts at 0:26. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Interview ends at 18:30; rest of tape is b-roll of Aiso reading. Original title: 75, …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1578/

av Interview with Sen Nishiyama, part 2 of 5 (ddr-densho-1007-1672)

Nishiyama discusses working with the occupation govnerment, rebuilding telecommunications infrastructure after the war, advocating against the romanization of written Japanese, the laws imposed by the occupation government, and his reaction to Pearl Harbor. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: II JA #6, Sen Nishiyama, Fri. Jan. 31, 1986. Interview continues …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1672/

av Interview with Yukio Kawamoto, part 1 of 8 (ddr-densho-1007-1545)

Kawamoto discusses his childhood in Berkeley, his high school colleauges, Pearl Harbor, being drafted, and trying to get a job pre-war. Video starts at 1:01. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions behind the camera. Original title: 47, II NY #29, 6-85, Kawamoto. Interview continues at ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1546/

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1545/

av Interview with Henry (Hank) Gosho, part 1 of 3 (ddr-densho-1007-1768)

Gosho discusses returning to Seattle from Japan before the war, his brothers being conscripted into the Japanese army, Pearl Harbor, his father's arrest by the FBI, assuming the Nisei wouldn't be evacuated, being relocated to Puyallup/Camp Harmony, realizing that he was a prisoner, his time at Minidoka, deciding early on to join the military, and the …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1768/

av Interview with Ray Aka, part 2 of 6 (ddr-densho-1007-1686)

Aka discusses being drafted in San Francisco, his reaction to Pearl Harbor (which happened two months after he was drafted), being relieved from duties after Pearl Harbor, his prospects as a Nisei growing up in Hawaii, his father's arrest in Hawaii and incarceration in mainland US. Loni Ding can be heard asking questions in the background. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1007-1686/