Finding Aid for the Akira Fujita Papers, 1946-1992
Processed by Yuji Ichioka and Eiichiro Azuma; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2002
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Finding Aid for the Akira Fujita Papers, 1946-1992
Collection number: 296
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Los Angeles, CA
Contact Information
- Manuscripts Division
- UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
- Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
- Box 951575
- Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
- Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific
Time)
- Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
- URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
- Processed by:
- Yuji Ichioka and Eiichiro Azuma, 1995
- Encoded by:
- Caroline Cubé
- Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by:
- Apex Data Services
- Online finding aid edited by:
-
- Amy Shung-Gee Wong, April 2002
- Caroline Cubé, July 2006
© 2002 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Akira Fujita Papers,
Date (inclusive): 1946-1992
Collection number: 296
Creator:
Fujita, Akira, 1920-
Extent:
32 boxes (16 linear ft.)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Fujita was born February 17, 1920 in Brawley, California. In 1922 he was taken to Miho in the city of Shimizu, Japan, where
he was raised by his maternal grandparents. He attended Waseda University from 1937-40. He returned to California and farmed
with his father in the Imperial Valley before the outbreak of World War II. Fujita was sent to internment camps at Poston,
Arizona; Tule Lake, California; and Crystal City, Texas. While at Tule Lake, he edited a literary journal,
Doto, and contributed to another,
Tessaku. In 1945 he renounced his American citizenship under duress, and did not regain his citizenship until 1957. A Kibei-Nisei
writer, he became a central figure in the literary society Nanka Bungei and of the literary journal of the same name. He also
wrote the first two novels of a projected trilogy:
Nochi no kokei (
An Agricultural Landscape, 1982) and
Tachinoki no kisetsu (
An Evacuation Season, 1984). The collection consists of diaries, manuscripts, drafts, galleys, incoming correspondence files, personal memorabilia,
copies of Akira Fujita's published writings, and books by Nanka Bungei writers and others. Most of the collection is in Japanese.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Copyright of portions of this collection has been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCLA. All requests for
permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for
publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections.
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Grace Yaeno Fujita, 1995.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Akira Fujita Papers (Collection 296). Department of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Biography
Fujita was born February 17, 1920 in Brawley, California; in 1922 he was taken to Miho in the city of Shimizu, Japan, where
he was raised by his maternal grandparents; attended Waseda University, 1937-40; returned to California and farmed with his
father in the Imperial Valley before the outbreak of World War II; Fujita was sent to internment camps at Poston, Arizona,
Tule Lake, California, and Crystal City, Texas; while at Tule Lake, he edited a literary journal,
Doto, and contributed to another,
Tessaku; in 1945 he renounced his American citizenship under duress, and did not regain his citizenship until 1957; a Kibei-Nisei
writer, he became a central figure in literary society Nanka Bungei and of the literary journal of the same name; in 1981
Fujita edited an anthology drawn from the journal, titled
Nanka Bungei Senshu, 1965-1980; wrote the first two novels of a projected trilogy:
Nochi no kokei (
An Agricultural Landscape, 1982) and
Tachinoki no kisetsu (
An Evacuation Season, 1984).
Additional Biographical Narrative
Note
[characters]
indicates Japanese characters included in the print version of this online finding aid, available for consultation at the
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections.
Fujita Akira [characters], a Kibei-Nisei writer. A native of Brawley, California, Fujita was born February 17, 1920 as the
second son of Fujita Keijiro and Kan [characters]. His Japanese immigrant parents originated from Miho [characters] in the
city of Shimizu [characters] in Shizuoka Prefecture [characters]. His father was a longtime tenant farmer in the Imperial
Valley. In 1922 Fujita was taken to Japan where he was raised in Miho by his maternal grandparents. He attended grammar school
in Miho and middle school in Shimizu. In 1937 he matriculated into Waseda University and studied economics, but withdrew from
this school in 1940 to return to the United States. Upon his return, he attended high school in Los Angeles, while working
as a so-called school boy. Before the outbreak of the Pacific War, he was farming with his father in the Imperial Valley.
During the Second World War, Fujita was successively interned at Poston, Arizona, Tule Lake, California, and Crystal City,
Texas. While interned at Tule Lake, he edited a literary journal called
Doto [characters]. Seven issues of this journal were issued in 1944 and 1945. Fujita also contributed to the
Tessaku [characters], another literary journal published at Tule Lake, also in 1944 and 1945. In 1945 he renounced his American citizenship
under duress, and in the following year he was transferred to Crystal City. After his release from this final internment camp,
he settled down in Southern California where he worked as a gardener until his retirement. In 1955 he married Grace Yaeno
Hironaka [characters], a Kibei. And in 1957 he regained his American citizenship.
In the postwar era, Fujita was the central figure in a Southern California literary society called the Nanka Bungei [characters].
From 1965 to 1985 this society published the
Nanka Bungei, a literary journal named after the society. The initial membership of the society consisted primarily of those former Tule
Lake internees who had been associated with the
Tessaku. In 1981 Fujita edited an anthology of selected writings from the
Nanka Bungei published under the title
Nanka Bungei Senshu [characters], 1965 - 1980. In the succeeding years, he published his own fictional works, beginning with
Nochi no Kokei [characters] in 1982 followed by
Tachinoki no Kisetsu [characters] in 1984, the first two novels in a projected trilogy spanning the prewar, wartime, and postwar periods. Unfortunately,
he never completed the third volume.
The Akira Fujita Papers consist of diaries, 1946, 1978-1989; drafts, galleys, and manuscripts; incoming correspondence files,
1972-1989; personal memorabilia; copies of Fujita's published writings; and books by Nanka Bungei writers and others. The
incoming correspondence files include letters from Nanka Bungei writers, members, and associates, 1972-1992, letters from
Japanese scholars, writers, and publishers, 1976-1989; letters from Fujita family relatives in Japan, 1971-1987; letters and
cards from Fujita family friends, 1972-1986; and miscellaneous letters, 1973 - 1986.
Scope and Content
Collection consists of diaries, manuscripts, drafts, galleys, incoming correspondence files, personal memorabilia, copies
of Akira Fujita's published writings, and books by Nanka Bungei writers and others. Incoming correspondence files include
letters from Nanka Bungei writers, members, and associates; letters from Japanese scholars, writers and publishers; letters
from Fujita family members in Japan; letters and cards from Fujita family friends; and miscellaneous letters.
Most of the collection is in Japanese.
Organization and Arrangement
Arranged in the following series:
- Diaries: 1946 & 1978-89 (Boxes 1-5).
- Manuscripts (Boxes 6-8).
- Incoming correspondence files (Boxes 9-16).
- Personal memorabilia (Boxes 17-18).
- Published works (Boxes 19-25).
- Publications of Nanka Bungei writers (Boxes 26-28).
- Publications of other writers (Boxes 29-32).
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects
Fujita, Akira, 1920- --Archives.
Nanka Bungei (Literary society).
American literature--Japanese American authors--Archival resources.
Japanese literature--California, Southern--Archival resources.
Genres and Forms of Material
Diaries.
Related Material
Container List
Box 1, Folder 1
January 1-February 26, 1946.
Box 1, Folder 3
June 28-December 31, 1978.
Box 1, Folder 5
June 12-December 31, 1979.
Box 2, Folder 3
November 4, 1980-April 30, 1981.
Box 2, Folder 4
May 1-September 14, 1981.
Box 2, Folder 5
September 15, 1981-January 17, 1982.
Box 3, Folder 1
January 18-April 25, 1982.
Box 3, Folder 2
April 26-August 26, 1982.
Box 3, Folder 3
August 27, 1982-January 7, 1983.
Box 3, Folder 4
January 8-August 31, 1983.
Box 3, Folder 5
September 1, 1983-May 21, 1984.
Box 4, Folder 1
October 30, 1984-March 18, 1985.
Box 4, Folder 2
March 19-November 24, 1985.
Box 4, Folder 4
June 25-November 30, 1986.
Box 5, Folder 1
December 1, 1986-August 1, 1987.
Box 5, Folder 2
March 17-November 30, 1988.
Box 5, Folder 3
December 1, 1988-December 29, 1989.
Box 6, Folder 1
Drafts of chapters 5 and 6,
Nochi no Kokei.
Box 6, Folder 2
First galleys,
Nochi no Kokei.
Box 6, Folder 3
Two second galleys,
Nochi no Kokei.
Box 6, Folder 4
Drafts of parts 1 to 4,
Tachinoki no Kisetsu.
Box 6, Folder 5
Drafts of parts 5 to 9,
Tachinoki no Kisetsu.
Box 6, Folder 6
Other drafts,
Tachinoki no Kisetsu.
Box 6, Folder 7
Galleys,
Tachinoki no Kisetsu.
Box 7, Folder 1
Tule Lake Senji Kakurisho [characters].
Box 7, Folders 2 & 3
Miscellaneous essays, stories, and commentaries.
Box 7, Folder 5
Papers pertaining to the compilation of
Nanka Bungei Senshu.
Box 7, Folder 6
Papers pertaining to the publication of
Nochi no Kokei.
Box 8, Folder 1
Incomplete draft of
Okidokei [characters] by Kagawa Bunichi [characters].
Box 8, Folder 2
2 stories by Mitogawa Mitsuo [characters].
Box 8, Folder 3
5 stories by various writers.
Box 8, Folder 4
Miscellaneous essays, poems, and commentaries.
Boxes 9-16
Incoming Correspondence Files
Boxes 9-11
Nanka Bungei Writers, Members, and Associates
Box 9, Folder 1
Tomiko Stahl [characters]
1979-1982.
Physical Description: 17 letters
Box 9, Folder 2
Tomiko Stahl.
1983-1989.
Physical Description: 20 letters
Box 9, Folder 3
Yoshie Stagg [characters]
1978-1981.
Physical Description: 16 letters
Box 9, Folder 4
Ao Tokio [characters] (aka So Ryuichi [characters])
1972-1986.
Physical Description: 13 letters and 2 postcards
Box 10, Folder 1
Furuta Soichi [characters]
1979-1990.
Physical Description: 14 letters and 1 postcard.
Box 10, Folder 2
Shigeko Garcia [characters]
1983-1986.
Physical Description: 9 letters.
Box 10, Folder 3
Yamashiro Masao [characters]
1974-1985.
Physical Description: 9 letters and 1 postcard.
Box 10, Folder 4
Norimoto Keizo [characters] (aka Nomoto Ippei [characters])
1976-1986.
Physical Description: 9 letters.
Box 10, Folder 5
Karl S. Tsuji (aka Tsuji Akihiko [characters])
1980-1983.
Physical Description: 6 letters.
Box 10, Folder 6
Masuda Itsuko [characters] (aka Sonegawa Itsuko [characters])
1971-1987.
Physical Description: 5 letters
Box 10, Folder 7
Karaki Yasko [characters] (aka Karaki Yasue [characters])
1981-1987.
Physical Description: 5 letters
Box 10, Folder 8
Yamazaki Hitomi [characters] (aka Yamazaki Isshin [characters])
1983-1987.
Physical Description: 5 letters.
Box 10, Folder 9
Kosaka Miyoko [characters]
1979-1983.
Physical Description: 5 letters.
Box 10, Folder 10
Tomoko Poquette (aka Kamioka Tomoko [characters])
1978-1979.
Physical Description: 4 letters.
Box 11, Folder 1
Yamazaki Jiro [characters]
1980-1983.
Physical Description: 4 letters
Box 11, Folder 2
Togawa Akira and Kimi [characters]
1979-1984.
Physical Description: 4 letters
Box 11, Folder 3
Kagawa Bunichi and Shizuko [characters]
1978-1984.
Physical Description: 3 letters
Box 11, Folder 4
Hiratsuka Unichi [characters]
1981-1985.
Physical Description: 6 letters
Box 11, Folder 5
Takemoto Yoshihito [characters]
1979-1989.
Physical Description: 7 letters
Box 11, Folder 6
Arthur Iwasaki
1986-1988.
Physical Description: 6 letters
Box 11, Folder 7
Yashima Taro [characters]
1981-1984.
Physical Description: 6 letters
Box 11, Folder 8
Maeda Sei [characters]
1979-1981.
Physical Description: 4 letters and 1 postcard
Box 11, Folder 9
Miscellaneous correspondence
1974-1982.
Physical Description: 16 letters and 1 postcard
Box 11, Folder 10
Miscellaneous correspondence
1983-1992.
Physical Description: 11 letters and 1 postcard
Boxes 12
Japanese Scholars, Writers, and Publishers
Box 12, Folder 1
Ishikawa Yoshimi and Minako [characters]
1981-1987.
Physical Description: 23 letters and 3 postcards
Box 12, Folder 2
Tsurutani Hisashi [characters]
1978-1989.
Physical Description: 26 letters and 1 postcard
Box 12, Folder 3
Hazumi Eiji [characters]
1977-1989.
Physical Description: 14 letters and 3 postcards
Box 12, Folder 4
Ito Kazuo [characters]
1976.
Physical Description: 5 letters
Box 12, Folder 5
Murakami Yumiko [characters]
1983-1986.
Physical Description: 3 letters and 1 postcard
Box 12, Folder 6
Suzuki Makoto [characters] (Renga Shobo Shinsha [characters])
1981-1982.
Physical Description: 6 letters
Box 12, Folder 7
Yoshimura Chikai [characters] (Heibonsha [characters])
1983-1988.
Physical Description: 6 letters
Box 12, Folder 8
Yatsuhashi Takayuki [characters] (Chunichi Shimbun [characters])
1980-1982.
Physical Description: 5 letters
Box 12, Folder 9
Other scholars
1976-1988.
Physical Description: 6 letters and 1 postcard
Box 13, Folder 1
Fujita Namie, Kiyoo, Kazuko, and Akio [characters]
1971-1986.
Physical Description: 26 letters
Box 13, Folder 2
Ishino Yuriko, Isao, and Harumi [characters]
1975-1987.
Physical Description: 9 letters
Box 13, Folder 3
Omura Kiyoko, Takashi, Midori, and Fumiko [characters]
1978-1981.
Physical Description: 9 letters
Box 13, Folder 4
Hirata Michiko and Yumiko [characters]
1980-1984.
Physical Description: 8 letters
Box 13, Folder 5
Tsuboi Koichi [characters]
1972-1984.
Physical Description: 8 letters
Box 13, Folder 6
Other relatives
1975-1982.
Physical Description: 3 letters
Box 14
Family Friends in America and in Japan
Box 14, Folder 1
Christy and Eric Rosa
1972-1983.
Physical Description: 24 letters and 1 postcard
Box 14, Folder 2
Mimori Robertson
1983-1989.
Physical Description: 5 letters
Box 14, Folder 3
Frank and Frances Shoda
1979-1980.
Physical Description: 4 letters
Box 14, Folder 4
Dai Koichi, Teruko, and Kumie
1979-1980.
Physical Description: 3 letters and 1 postcard
Box 14, Folder 5
Otera Shizuko [characters]
1979-1984.
Physical Description: 4 letters
Box 14, Folder 6
Ogawa Masao and Eiko [characters]
1972-1985.
Physical Description: 12 letters
Box 14, Folder 7
Kita Yuji, Motoko, Hisako, and Yuko [characters]
1980-1986.
Physical Description: 2 letters and 7 postcards
Boxes 15 & 16
Miscellaneous Letters and Postcards
Box 15, Folder 1
13 letters and 2 postcards
1973-1979.
Box 16, Folder 1
12 letters and 2 postcards
1985-1986.
Box 16, Folder 4
4 letters, UCLA Library
1982-1985.
Box 17, Folder 1
Japanese family registry of the Fujita family.
Box 17, Folder 2
Fujita Keijiro Japanese passport and wartime identifications.
Box 17, Folder 3
Papers pertaining to father's funeral
(1948).
Box 17, Folder 4
Papers pertaining to wartime internment camps.
Box 17, Folder 5
Tule Lake internees autograph book.
Box 17, Folder 6
Papers pertaining to the United States Citizenship Retrieval suit.
Box 17, Folder 7
Affidavits pertaining to the United States Citizenship Retrieval suit.
Box 17, Folder 8
Correspondence between the Fujitas and Wayne M. Collins, Attorney at Law, 1953-1958.
Box 17, Folder 9
3 English word practice notebooks.
Box 17, Folder 10
4 English word practice notebooks.
Box 18, Folder 1
Address books and phone books.
Box 19, Folder 3
Vol. 4
November 10, 1944.
Box 19, Folder 6
Collection of prefaces and editorials, Vols. 1-7.
Box 19, Folder 8
Essays, notes, and stories.
Box 24, Folder 4
Nanka Bungei Tokubetsugo [characters]
1986.
Box 25, Folder 4
Newspaper clippings of essays and commentaries.
Boxes 26-28
Publications of Nanka Bungei Writers
Box 26, Folder 1
Kagawa Bunichi,
Zuihitsu Wagamishi Hoho [characters].
Box 26, Folder 2
Kagawa Bunichi,
Shishu [characters].
Box 26, Folder 3
Kagawa Bunichi,
Okidokei [characters].
Box 26, Folder 4
Kagawa Bunichi,
Hidden Frame.
Box 26, Folder 5
Yamazaki Isshin,
Amerika Horo Zakki [characters].
Box 26, Folder 6
Hagio Imosaku [characters],
Imin no Uta [characters].
Box 26, Folder 7
Togawa Akira,
Mitsubachi no Uta [characters].
Box 27, Folder 1
So Ryuichi, essays and story.
Physical Description: 4 items.
Box 27, Folder 2
So Ryuichi,
Akishi no Kawa [characters].
Box 27, Folder 3
Nomoto Ippei,
Karifuorunia Orai [characters].
Box 27, Folder 4
Nomoto Ippei,
Amerika Nikkei Kijinden [characters].
Box 27, Folder 5
Nomoto Ippei,
Shihen Danso [characters].
Box 27, Folder 6
Yashima Taro and Nomoto Ippei,
Yakaranda [characters].
Box 27, Folder 7
Furuta Soichi,
A Man Never Becoming a Line.
Box 27, Folder 8
Yamashiro Masao,
Toi Taigan [characters].
Box 27, Folder 9
Newspaper clippings of essays and commentaries by various writers.
Box 28, Folder 1
Senryu Tsubame [characters].
Physical Description: 11 items.
Box 28, Folder 2
Kodama [characters].
Physical Description: 7 items.
Box 28, Folder 3
Karifuorunia Tanka [characters].
Physical Description: 4 items.
Box 28, Folder 4
Shigeko Garcia,
Kushu Amerika [characters].
Box 28, Folder 5
Yonashiro Seishin [characters],
Topazu no Yuyake [characters].
Box 28, Folder 6
Uesu Yoshiko [characters],
Remon no Niwa [characters].
Box 28, Folder 7
Shiso no Kagaku [characters].
Box 28, Folder 8
Noda Kasen [characters], incomplete photocopy of
Amerika ni Oyu [characters].
Boxes 29-32
Publications of Other Writers
Box 29, Folder 1
Inoue Yasushi [characters],
Wadatsumi Dai-ichibu [characters].
Box 29, Folder 2
Inoue Yasushi,
Wadatsumi Dai-nibu [characters].
Box 29, Folder 3
Inoue Yasushi,
Wadatsumi Dai-sanbu [characters].
Box 30, Folder 1
Kita Morio [characters],
Kagayakeru Aoki Sora no Shitade [characters].
Box 30, Folder 2
Kita Morio,
Kagayakeru Aoki Sora no Shitade 2.
Box 30, Folder 3
Saotome Mitsugu [characters],
Okei [characters], Vols. 1-2.
Box 31, Folder 1
Ishikawa Yoshimi,
Sutoroberi Boi [characters].
Box 31, Folder 2
Watanabe Kieko [characters],
Purumeria no Kokageni [characters].
Box 31, Folder 3
Watanabe Kieko.
Tantarasu no Niji [characters].
Box 31, Folder 4
Sanga Moyu [characters], abbreviated version for NHK television drama.
Box 32, Folder 1
Tsurutani Hisashi,
America-Bound. Translated by Betsy Scheiner.
Box 32, Folder 2
Tsurutani Hisashi, translator,
Amerika Seibu Bungaku [characters]. Originally written by J. K. Folsom..
Box 32, Folder 3
Tsurutani Hisashi, miscellaneous essays and newspaper articles.
Box 32, Folder 4
Shirai Noboru [characters],
Karifuorunia Nikkeijin Kyosei Shuyojo [characters].
Box 32, Folder 5
Yamaguchi Chiyo and Hideo [characters],
Yashi no Hazure [characters].
