Economic losses

The economic and emotional toll associated with the uprooting of Japanese Americans from their homes and businesses was enormous. The cost was especially high for the issei (first-generation immigrants), who had worked most of their lives to establish financial security for themselves and their children. Many Japanese Americans bitterly recall being forced to sell property, personal belongings, and business equipment for a fraction of their value to opportunistic scavengers. Evacuees could take only what they could carry. They left behind heirlooms, cherished toys, and family pets. Farmers continued to work for a harvest they would never see, told it would be "disloyal" to stop. The bustling Nihonmachis (Japantowns) of the West Coast closed down and never fully recovered, even after the war ended.

World War II (277)
Economic losses (565)

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565 items

img Nihonmachi (Japantown) after mass removal (ddr-densho-36-57)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-36-57/

img Boarded-up store formerly run by Japanese Americans (ddr-densho-37-303)

Original WRA caption: Stores and homes formerly inhabited by Japanese. Some of them are now used by Chinese people. Note boarded up windows and doors.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-303/

img Boarded-up store formerly run by Japanese Americans (ddr-densho-37-304)

Original WRA caption: Stores and homes formerly inhabited by Japanese. Some of them are now used by Chinese people. Note boarded up windows and doors.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-304/

img Vandalism of Japanese American property (ddr-densho-37-283)

Original WRA caption: Scene showing the results of vandalism at the Nichiren Buddhist Temple, 2800 East 3rd Street, Los Angeles, California.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-283/

img Vandalism of Japanese American property (ddr-densho-37-284)

Original WRA caption: View of the results of vandalism at the White Star Soda Works, 416 Jackson Street, Los Angeles, California.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-284/

img Vandalism of Japanese American property (ddr-densho-37-285)

Original WRA caption: View of the results of vandalism at the White Star Soda Works, 416 Jackson Street, Los Angeles, California.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-285/

img Letter from Min Tamesa to Adam Beller (ddr-densho-333-27)

Letter regarding seeking financial restitution for highway being put across Tamesa property

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-333-27/

doc Claim for damage to or loss of real or personal property by a person of Japanese Ancestry (ddr-densho-383-514)

Form filed by George Tokuda, Page 3 and 4 Statement of Claim due to evacuation with inventory of property lost.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-514/

doc WRA Evacuee Property Report (ddr-densho-383-516)

Receipt for George Tokuda's property stored at the Pacific Hotel basement

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-516/

doc Letter from O.M. Moen to George Tokuda (ddr-densho-383-553)

Re: sale of Tokuda's store on Yesler Way, and disposition of personal property

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-553/

doc Letter to George Tokuda from O.M. Moen (ddr-densho-383-515)

Re: the storage and disposition of Tokuda's property from his pharmacies, and settling of accounts

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-515/

doc Letter to Clarence Thomas from Elmer Feathers (ddr-densho-383-517)

Letter of personal recommendation for George Tokuda from his friend Elmer Feathers, letter and envelope

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-517/

doc Receipt for $20.00 paid to Catherine Johnson (ddr-densho-383-523)

For Payment on Store. Tokuda purchased the Johnson Pharmacy in 1935, was forced to sell while in camp and then repurchased the store in 1947.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-523/

doc Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "Frozen Money Worries Japanese" (ddr-densho-483-473)

Clipping from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer of Japanese Americans standing in line at the Sumitomo Bank with an accompanying caption.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-473/

doc Sachi Fudenna Recalls the Washington Township and Tanforan during World War II (ddr-ajah-6-404)

Document with biographical information for Sachiko Kamiji Fudenna, transcription of interview and clipping

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-6-404/

doc Scrapbook of newspaper clipping (ddr-densho-483-100)

Loose scrapbook pages containing newspaper and magazine clipping, a press release, and a speech transcript. Selected article titles: Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "Seattle Japs return home" (p. 1), "The National Director speaks to residents" (p. 2), "237 Bainbridge Japs leave, head south" (p. 3), "No refunds for japs, says city" (p. 4), "Sad farewells while troops stand by" …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-100/

doc Form No. CL. 1: Claim for Damage to or Loss of Real or Personal Property by a Person of Japanese Ancestry (ddr-densho-483-67)

Claim filed by Fukuyama family for damages and lost property during World War II incarceration. Claim filed for $1106. Approved for $829 on 11/1/25.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-483-67/

doc What About Our Japanese-Americans? (ddr-densho-493-36)

31-page pamphlet authored by Carey McWilliams for the American Council of the Institute of Pacific Relations, published by the Public Affairs Committee, Inc. as part of a Public Affairs Pamphlets series. Inner note says that the text was also to be published shortly by Little, Brown and Company under the title of Prejudice. The Japanese-Americans: a …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-493-36/

doc Personal property of Takanori Tsuchiyama (ddr-csujad-55-889)

List of personal property belonging to Takanori Tsuchiyama. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0891

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-889/

doc Claim of Toshi Shimomaye (ddr-csujad-55-2128)

Claim of Toshi Shimomaye, no. 146-35-270. Decided April 14, 1950. From Precedent Adjudications of the Attorney General of the United States Volume I, Precedent Decisions Under the Japanese American Evacuation Claims Act. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2231

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2128/

doc US payments on Japanese claims top $35,000,000 (ddr-csujad-55-2409)

Newspaper clipping published in an unknown source regarding claims filed by Japanese Americans after World War II to recover losses on property and personal items due to forced removal. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2515

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2409/

doc Economic loss survey of Pacific Coast evacuees (ddr-csujad-55-176)

Survey form on economic loss of incarcerees, completed by George A. Nakano. Includes personal data, estimated losses, accounts, fees, and household losses due to relocation and incarceration. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0178

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-176/

doc Notes on forced removal and expenses (ddr-csujad-55-2408)

Notes about the Nakamura family's forced removal from Marysville, California and the expenses incurred as part of the removal. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2514

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2408/

doc Evacuated Japanese asks crop accounting (ddr-csujad-55-210)

Newspaper article published in "Sacramento Bee" in 1947, reporting on a suit filed by Masanobu Tim Yoshimiya against Mary E. Patterson and A. Ostrom regarding return of farm equipment and accounting of proceeds from Yoshimiya's farm after the forced evacuation. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0212

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-210/

doc Information concerning clams under the evacuation claims law (ddr-csujad-55-2427)

Informational pamphlet for all "evacuee-claimants" filing claims for losses incurred during forced removal and incarceration during World War II. Includes analysis of public law 886, assistance in preparing claims, how to answer form questions, and types of real and personal property. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_2533

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-2427/