Industry and employment

At the turn of the century, Japanese immigrants (Issei) came to the United States to work on the rapidly expanding plantations of Hawaii and the farms, lumber mills, railroads and canneries of the Pacific Coast. They quickly realized this type of work was not going to bring them wealth, and many began looking for more promising opportunities. Farming, fishing and small businesses were often seen as the answer.

Industry and employment (582)

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img Textile factory workers in Japan (ddr-densho-259-295)

Saburo Miyake's textile factory. Caption by Homer Yasui: "A textile or weaving factory, with the relatives and workers inside the shop. I've always understood that Saburo's and [Shidzuyo Yasui]'s father, Ichiro, ran a fishnet making factory. On the machine just before it reaches the completed roll of fabric, the material does look like netting."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-295/

img Girls by the Japanese seaside (ddr-densho-259-123)

Shidzuyo Yasui (standing at the top of the photograph) with a group of young women, probably her students, at the seaside on Awaji Island, Japan.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-123/

img Japanese women on Awaji Island (ddr-densho-259-101)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "4 posed group photographs in which [Shidzuyo Yasui] appears they must have been taken at Sumoto School in Awaji." Shidzuyo Yasui is pictured in the center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-101/

img Teacher and students in Japan (ddr-densho-259-111)

Caption by Homer Yasui: "In this posed group photo, [Shidzuyo Yasui] looks quite a bit older than a bunch of young girls, so this may have been a class of her students."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-259-111/

img Reference letter for Mr. K. Yanagihara (ddr-densho-26-281)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-26-281/

img Mitsubishi factory remains (ddr-densho-299-132)

Caption: "Remains of Mitsubishi aircraft factory in Yokohama after air raid"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-132/

img Japanese glassworker cools down a cocktail glass with a fan (ddr-densho-299-67)

Caption on reverse: "FEC-49-2057. 23 April 49 / Manufacturing glassware in Japan / After twisting, a Japanese worker at / the Hoya Glass Factory, Tokyo, Japan, / fans the stem of a cocktail glass to / cool it to prevent it from losing its / shape. / Photographer - Girard / Photograph by U.S. Army."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-67/

img Japanese men and women working in front of a shack (ddr-densho-299-50)

Caption on reverse: "FEC-49-1947. 25 March 49 / NRS Project: / Home industry -- Typical home industry / carried on in front of wooden shack / in metropolitan Tokyo. Wooden chips / used as fuel. / Photographer - Orzio / Photograph by U.S. Army"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-50/

img Telephone operators before starting work (ddr-densho-299-193)

Caption: "Telephone operators bowing respectfully to their supervisor before beginning work."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-193/

img Japanese glassblower making a cocktail glass (ddr-densho-299-66)

Caption on reverse: "FEC-49-2860. 23 April 49 / Manufacturing glassware in Japan: / A youthful employee at the Hoya Glass / Factory, Tokyo, Japan, uses a blowing / tube during the first stage of making / a cocktail glass. / Photographer - Girard / Photograph by U.S. Army."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-66/

img Workfloor of a factory showing the following writing on the wall: "Do Your Best! For the New Nippon Revival" (ddr-densho-299-37)

Caption on reverse: "FEC-47-75959. 17 June 47 / E.S.S. project: / Sign in the Hitachi Seiko Kaish- / a Ltd. machine tool plant, Chiba / Prefecture, Tokyo, Japan. This / factory is not currently slated for / reparations. / Photographer - Kondis / Photograph by U.S. Army Signal Corps."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-37/

img Japanese glassworker making a bowl (ddr-densho-299-65)

Caption on reverse: "FEC-49-2855. 23 April 49 / Manufacturing of glassware in Japan: / With painstaking care a Japanese employee / at the Hoya Glass Factory, Tokyo, Japan, / fashions a glass bowl. / Photographer - Girard / Photograph by U.S. Army."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-299-65/

doc Power of attorney (ddr-densho-308-7)

International Oyster Co., Ltd grants Kanamatsu Kanazawa power of attorney in connection to its dealings with Padilla Oyster Beds and Padilla Point Oyster Company. Kanazawa helped to start the oyster business in the Pacific Northwest when he learned that the cooler waters accelerated the growth of oysters. Oysters grown in the Pacific Northwest could reach commercial …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-308-7/

img Silk making demonstration at the Golden Gate International Exposition (ddr-densho-300-267)

Caption in album: "Silk making demonstration."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-300-267/

doc Letter sent to Yutaka "Tak" Terasaki at T.K. Pharmacy (ddr-densho-319-233)

Correspondence regarding a gift of scotch.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-319-233/

doc Set of correspondence regarding sale of Godefroy Manufacturing Co. (ddr-densho-319-234)

A series of letters sent regarding the sale of black hair dye to the incarcerated Japanese American community.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-319-234/

doc Letter from the Office for Emergency Management, War Manpower Commission (ddr-densho-319-574)

Letter and informational materials about the shortage of manpower available to employers during World War II.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-319-574/

img Work ceremony (ddr-densho-325-149)

Sumito Horiuchi participating in a work ceremony.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-325-149/

img Work ceremony (ddr-densho-325-152)

Sumito Horiuchi accepts a watch during a work ceremony.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-325-152/

img Company photograph (ddr-densho-325-146)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-325-146/

doc Fire pot donors (ddr-densho-335-8)

Upon returning to his hometown, Yamagata, during a trip to Japan in 1921, Thomas Rockrise was gifted an iron fire pot from a welcome committee. The Yamagata region was known for its work in decorative iron. This hero's welcome contrasted greatly with his departure over twenty years earlier when Thomas left in disgrace after making a …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-335-8/

doc The Nisei Weekender, Vol. 1, No. 30 (August 2, 1946) (ddr-densho-358-9)

Selected article titles: "Nation's Capital Honors 442nd" (p.1), "Rescue of Lost Battalion Hailed as Most Heroic Act" (p.1), "The Nisei Comes of Age" (p.2-3), "Top Generals Battled Over 442nd" (p.4).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-358-9/

doc Crossroads, Vol. 1, No. 36 (February 4, 1949) (ddr-densho-358-10)

Selected article titles: "Plan Local Business Association" (p.1), "Eleventh in Series of Q's and A's on Claims Law" (p.2), "Peace: Has MacArthur Failed?" (p.6).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-358-10/

doc Crossroads, Vol. 1, No. 44 (April 1, 1949) (ddr-densho-358-18)

Selected article titles: "Nisei Growers Garner Prizes" (p.1), "Nisei Progressives Sponsor Discussion on Civic Center" (p.1), "Hitler and Goebbels Would Both Have Been Proud of It" (p.2).

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-358-18/

img Woman answering phone (ddr-densho-397-58)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-397-58/