The journey

The journey from temporary "assembly centers" to permanent concentration camps was a difficult and disorienting experience. Japanese Americans were transported in buses and trains to desolate regions of the country guarded by armed soldiers. Forced to keep the window shades drawn, camp inmates were unaware of where they were going, and were often shocked by the harsh landscape upon arrival.

World War II (231)
Concentration camps (1434)
The journey (109)

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109 items

doc Letter from Bill to Tama (ddr-densho-383-554)

Advice on travelling to Minidoka from Camp Harmony, conditions at Minidoka and progress on building camp

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-383-554/

doc Administrative Notice No. 27 Transfer to Amache (ddr-densho-356-802)

Administrative Notice No. 27 from Santa Anita Assembly Center contains information regarding personal belongings in storage outside of the camp remaining their until settled at Amache at which point individuals my request their items be shipped to camp at the WRA's expense. It also provides instructions regarding train travel to Amache including water conservation, cleanliness, and …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-802/

doc Memo on escorts to Tule Lake (ddr-densho-356-907)

Memo regarding transfer of inmates to Tule Lake and what routes and stations have escorts to take them from the station to Tule Lake. Item stapled together with ddr-densho-356-887, 890, 902, 906 and 907.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-907/

doc Two letters to Yuri from Min Yonekura (ddr-densho-356-285)

Two letters to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Minoru "Min" Yonekura. Both letters stored in one envelope, unclear if they were mailed together or separately. Letter 5/11: describes forced removal, details items needed in assembly center to make barracks feel homey, food quality in the assembly center and general life there. Letter 2: discusses plans to move …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-285/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Mitsuko Nakamura (ddr-densho-356-381)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Mitsuko Nakamura in which Mistuko tells about her first days in Crystal City and how it differs from Amache. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-321 and ddr-densho-356-413.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-381/

doc Evacuation of Merced Assembly Center (ddr-densho-356-794)

Instructions for internees at Merced on the camp wide transfer to Topaz.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-794/

doc Letter to Yuri Domoto from Min Yonekura (ddr-densho-356-295)

Letter to Yuriko Domoto Tsukada from Minoru "Min" Yonekura. In the letter Min writes about his first few days at Topaz and the trip there. Item tied together with all objects between ddr-densho-356-277 and ddr-densho-356-320.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-295/

doc Instructions to Japanese Americans enroute to War Relocation Camps (ddr-densho-356-792)

List of rules for individuals to follow while being transferred from an Assembly Center to a Relocation Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-792/

doc Instructions on Evacuation of Merced Assembly Center (ddr-densho-356-774)

Instructions for Yuriko Domoto Tsukada, her father Kanetaro Domoto, and her sister Wakako Domoto for the relocation from Merced to Granada.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-774/

doc Evacuee Information Release No. 2 Baggage Instructions (ddr-densho-356-803)

Evacuee Information Release No. 2 from Santa Anita Assembly Center informs internees about the types of baggage allowed and how each type will be transported.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-356-803/

img Japanese Americans arriving by train (ddr-densho-37-824)

Original WRA caption: Eden, Idaho. A train bringing approximately six hundred evacuees from the assembly center at Puyallup, Washington. Buses, used to transport these people to the Minidoka War Relocation Authority center, are waiting at the siding.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-37-824/

doc Letter from Joseph Ishikawa to Eva (ddr-densho-468-99)

Letter written from Granada (Amache) describing life in the concentration camp compared to Santa Anita.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-468-99/

doc Hunt High School Reunion 1983 (ddr-densho-449-1)

33 pages of memories from living and learning at Minidoka in 1943 and 1944. The book contains pictures of Minidoka, the classes, reunion program, Hunt High song, poems, directory, and a memoriam for classmates who were not able to make the reunion.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-449-1/

doc Letter from Torao Takahashi to Chimata Sumida and family (ddr-densho-379-208)

Letter from Torao Tahahashi to Chimata Sumida "and others" at Ft. Missoula after his transfer from Ft. Missoula to Manzanar Relocation Center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-208/

doc Letter from Chimata Sumida to Bert H. Fraser (ddr-densho-379-230)

Chimata Sumida wrote to Bert H. Fraser requesting his excess baggage be forwarded to him from Ft. Missoula to Rohwer; and stated "I can truthfully say that it has been both a pleasure and a privilege to know you, not only as the Officer-in-charge of the camp, but as a friend as well. Kindly convery my …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-379-230/

doc Postcard from Mitzi (Nakahara) Isoshima to Takeo Isoshima (ddr-densho-477-143)

Postcard in both English and Japanese. English portion discusses crossing the Snake River Canyon on the way to Minidoka. Japanese portion is not translated.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-477-143/

doc Letter to Rev. Robert Inglis from Shin Tanaka (ddr-densho-498-43)

Letter to Robert Inglis from Shin Tanaka telling him about the journey from Tanforan Assembly Center to Topaz Relocation Center

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-498-43/

doc Letter to Rev. Robert Inglis from Isao Tanaka (ddr-densho-498-46)

Letter to Robert Inglis from Isao Tanaka detailing the journey from Tanforan Assembly Center to Topaz Relocation Center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-498-46/

doc My personal Thoughts on the Re-evacuation from Tanforan to Topaz (ddr-densho-498-50)

Thoughts on re-evacuation and the journey from Tanforan to Topaz

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-498-50/

vh Nobu Suzuki Interview I Segment 27 (ddr-densho-1000-84-27)

Initial impressions of Minidoka

References are made to several of Nobu Suzuki's personal papers, which are currently available for public perusal at the University of Washington's Manuscripts and University Archives.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-84-27/

vh Tsuguo "Ike" Ikeda Interview I Segment 14 (ddr-densho-1000-123-14)

Journey to Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho; booing a teacher who spoke of "democracy" in camp

As a teenager prior to World War II, began keeping scrapbooks with newspaper articles and memorabilia, a lifetime habit.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-123-14/

vh Sharon Tanagi Aburano Interview II Segment 7 (ddr-densho-1000-209-7)

The journey by train to Minidoka

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-209-7/

vh Art Abe Interview Segment 18 (ddr-densho-1000-206-18)

Memories of a slow journey to Minidoka

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-206-18/

vh Kazuko Iwahashi Interview Segment 15 (ddr-densho-1000-337-15)

Memories of the train ride to camp

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-1000-337-15/

vh Ed Tsutakawa Interview Segment 17 (ddr-densho-1000-196-17)

Feeling frustrated on the difficult train ride to Minidoka concentration camp

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-1000-196-17/