Alameda Japanese American History Project

Site: https://alamedajahistory.wordpress.com

The Alameda Japanese American History Project (AJAH) is a partnership between the Alameda Free Library, Buena Vista United Methodist Church, the Buddhist Temple of Alameda, Densho, the Internet Archive, and Rhythmix Cultural Works. The project partners worked together to research, document, and preserve the history of the Japanese Americans of Alameda who lived through the era of forced removal, incarceration, and post-war return. The collections of photos, documents, and oral histories available here represent the many hours of work and dedication each partner put into the project.

The AJAH Project was generously funded by the National Park Service Japanese American Confinement Sites program.

9 Collections

Collection Alameda Japanese American History Project Oral History Collection (ddr-ajah-1)

This collection consists of interviews with Nisei and Sansei talking about the Japanese American community in Alameda, California. The project partners include The Internet Archive (archive.org), the Alameda Library, the Buddhist Temple of Alameda, Buena Vista United Methodist Church, Rhythmix Cultural Works, and Densho. The Alameda Museum also contributed but was not a partner in the …

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

Collection Alameda Japanese American History Project: World War II (ddr-ajah-2)

Collection consists of photos and records of WWII military service of Joe Iwataki and Yasuharu Koike who served with the MIS in Burma and the Philippines, transcriptions of Sachi Kamiji Fudenna’s diary from Topaz and Tule Lake and photos of crafts from camp, photos and records of Heart Mountain draft resister Ichiro Morita, and transcription of …

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

Collection Alameda Japanese American History Project: Buddhist Temple of Alameda Collection (ddr-ajah-3)

Photos of members of the Buddhist Temple of Alameda, including social activities, events, historical photos of early temple locations, programs from Temple events, bylaws. Also interviews with and home movie footage of temple members.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-3/

Collection Alameda Japanese American History Project: Buena Vista United Methodist Church Collection (ddr-ajah-4)

The collection covers the history and growth of the Buena Vista United Methodist Church from it beginnings in the early 20th century, and includes early photos of the church and originally leaders and community groups. Founded as the Japanese Methodist Episcopal Church, the church became the Buena Vista Methodist church in 1950. Also includes home movie …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-ajah-4/

Collection Alameda Japanese American History Project: Alameda Sports Collection (ddr-ajah-5)

Photos and documents related to the Alameda Mudhens football team, Alameda Acorns basketball team and the Alameda Taiiku-Kai baseball teams, dedication of a plaque marking the the location of the Alameda baseball diamond as the ATK Field in honor of the pre-WWII team. The ATK played in the west coast league primarily against other Japanese American …

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

Collection Alameda Japanese American History Project: Family and Community Collection (ddr-ajah-6)

Collection includes photographs and ephemera from the Alameda community including individuals, families, businesses and community organizations such as the YMBA. There is a set of objects related to the Imagire Sewing School, including biographical notes about the founder, Shizuko Imagire. The collection also includes interviews with elders in the Alameda community, and b-roll and archival footage …

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

Collection Alameda Japanese American History Project: Alameda Japanese American Citizens League Collection (ddr-ajah-7)

Collection of documents from the Alameda and Washington Township JACL chapters, primarily Oaths of Allegiance from Alameda area residents and Evacuee Reports for Alameda families

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

Collection Alameda Japanese American History Project: Digital Stories Collection (ddr-ajah-8)

This collection contains short digital stories documenting the experience of Alameda's Japanese Americans and is part of the California of the Past: Digital Storytelling Project. The project was produced by the Alameda Free Library with a grant from the California State Library.

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

Collection Alameda Japanese American History Project: Takano Yasutaro Collection (ddr-ajah-9)

Collection consists of photos of carved wood panels done by Takano Yasutaro while incarcerated at Amache. Includes document describing the carvings, the story behind the images and biographical information about Yasutaro.

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