Arrest, searches, and seizures

Many Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) can vividly recall their fathers being hauled off by FBI agents to unidentified destinations for an unknown duration. Not surprisingly, anxiety and uncertainty spread quickly after Pearl Harbor. Many precious heirlooms were burned by families wanting to rid themselves of any connection to Japan. FBI agents raided Japanese American homes, confiscating short wave radios, cameras, and books. With the systematic removal of Issei (first-generation) leaders, the Nisei -- children and teenagers for the most part -- were abruptly asked to represent the larger group as well as their own families. They found themselves translating FBI and military orders for their parents and helping to keep family businesses going.

World War II (231)
Pearl Harbor and aftermath (251)
Arrest, searches, and seizures (354)

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354 items

doc Police Report of confiscated items (ddr-densho-140-28)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-140-28/

doc FBI arrest warrant (ddr-densho-157-201)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-157-201/

av Oral history with Amy Uno Ishii (ddr-csujad-29-379)

An oral interview with Amy Uno Ishii, a Nisei woman. The interview was conducted for the Japanese American Oral History Project by California State University, Fullerton. Transcript is found in item: csufccop_jaoh_0938. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: 1342.2_T01

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-29-379/

av Edwin (Ed) Sasaki oral history interview (ddr-csujad-9-1)

Oral history interview of Edwin (Ed) Sasaki, a professor of the Psychology Department, conducted by the Public History Institute at California State University, Bakersfield. Professor Sasaki was born in Sacramento, California, in November 1940 and grew up in Weiser, Idaho. He recollects his family's experiences during the World War II, being arrested as a suspect and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-9-1/

doc Warrant for the arrest of alien enemies issued on December 7, 1941 (ddr-densho-122-703)

From Office of the Attorney General to the Director of the FBI

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-703/

doc Memo to War Department (ddr-densho-122-559)

Discussion of plan to determine loyalty of Japanese-Americans

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-122-559/

doc Transcript of internment hearing (ddr-densho-314-1)

Besides the transcript of the internment hearing, this document also includes Kasuichi Takanishi's warrant of arrest.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-314-1/

doc "Alien enemy" personnel record (ddr-densho-314-2)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-314-2/

img Scene still of Ko Wakatsuki's (Yuki Shimada) interrogation (ddr-densho-317-11)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-317-11/

doc Telegram sent to Kinuta Uno at Fort Missoula (ddr-densho-324-101)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-324-101/

img Man stacking confiscated radios (ddr-densho-36-31)

Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were ordered by government officials to surrender their cameras and radios, ostensibly to prevent their use in treasonable activities. It is important to note that there are no documented cases of Japanese Americans taking part in such activities.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-31/

doc Copy of clipping: "Evacuated Japs protecting Disloyal, Says Col. Bendetsen" (ddr-densho-383-581)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-581/

doc Interpreter Releases Vol. XVIII No. 57 Series C: The Foreign Born in U.S.A., No. 13 Supplement No. I (ddr-densho-356-839)

Supplement to Interpreter Releases Vol. XVIII No. 57 Series C: The Foreign Born in U.S.A., No. 13. Supplement includes information about individuals arrested by the FBI and Naturalization of Enemy Aliens.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-839/

doc Memo recommending the detention (ddr-densho-411-2)

Form memo to L. M. C. Smith from J. Edgar Hoover recommending the arrest and detainment of Dr. Rikita Honda.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-411-2/

img Yuhachi Miyagi's FBI file (ddr-densho-416-13)

Photocopy of part of Yuhachi Miyagi's FBI files. Includes dates of arrest, transfers, hearings and paroled.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-416-13/

doc Short story: "Heavy fog rolled in from the Pacific" (ddr-densho-468-75)

Assignment for English 211, Section II. Part 1 ("Hope") is set in 1941 and follows a Japanese American who moved to Yokohama in 1939 and returned to the US disillusioned two years later. The main character, Johnny Obata, then faces anti-Japanese racism and unemployment. Part two ("Faith") follows Johnny's experiences following Pearl Harbor. In Part 3 …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-75/

doc Chimata Sumida Department of Justice Case File (ddr-densho-379-750)

Chimata Sumida's Department of Justice File includes the warrant for his arrest on January 19, 1942; a FBI investigation report that focused on Sumida's store and the inclusion of a stock of radios with short-wave capabilities; Sumida's Alien Enemy Questionnaire; and a transcript of his hearing for parole from Fort Missoula. Chimata Sumida's hearing for parole …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-750/

doc Petition and supporters' letter asking for Rev. Motoyoshi's release from Sharp Park (ddr-ajah-6-656)

Request from Rev. Joshin Motoyoshi to join his family incarcerated at Topaz Camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-656/

vh Yuriko Hohri Interview Segment 9 (ddr-densho-1000-353-9)

Father's arrest by the FBI

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-353-9/

vh Haruye Murakami Hagiwara Interview Segment 16 (ddr-densho-1000-284-16)

Father's arrest by a Japanese American police officer

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-284-16/

vh James "Turk" Suzuki Interview Segment 11 (ddr-densho-1000-204-11)

Visiting father after his arrest by FBI and asking guard, "What sort of justice is this?"

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-204-11/

vh Yukiko Miyake Segment 23 (ddr-densho-1000-49-23)

Effect of father's detention on daughter

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-49-23/

vh Yukiko Miyake Segment 25 (ddr-densho-1000-49-25)

Feelings of resentment toward the FBI after a neighbor's arrest: "He was just a harmless old man..."

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-49-25/

vh Yukiko Miyake Segment 22 (ddr-densho-1000-49-22)

Husband's pickup and detention by the FBI, ostracization by the community

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-49-22/

vh Fred Shiosaki Interview Segment 13 (ddr-densho-1000-190-13)

Recalling the period following Pearl Harbor: barred from taking photos as editor of school annual

This interview was conducted as part of a project to capture stories of the Japanese American community of Spokane, Washington. Densho worked in collaboration with the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-190-13/