Inventory of the Letters of the Tawa Family SPC.2022.021
Yoko Okunishi
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
2023-02
University Library South -5039 (Fifth Floor)
1000 E. Victoria St.
Carson, CA 90747
Business Number: 310-243-3895
archives@csudh.edu
Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Tawa Family Letters
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2022.021
Physical Description:
2 boxes
(0.83 linear feet)
Physical Description:
0.83 Linear Feet
(2 document boxes)
Date (inclusive): circa 1920-1960
Abstract: The collection consists of mainly letters to Sukegoro and Chiyoko Tawa from their family and friends between the 1920s and
1960s. Also included are wartime documents issued during the Tawas' incarceration and copies of Sukegoro Tawa's case file
as well as family and friends' portraits, and haiku poems.
Material Specific Details: English translation, synopses, and brief descriptions for Japanese language materials are available at CSU Japanese American
Digitization Project site.
Language of Material: Most of the correspondence is in Japanese.
There are no access restrictions on this collection, except for the files including the Tawa family tree and Xeroxed copies
of Sukegoro Tawa's case file and internee card which were provided by the donor for research purposes only. Those files are
available only at the Reading Room.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Gerth Archives and Special Collections acquired the Tawa Family Papers through gift in 2022 from Sukegoro and Chiyoko
Tawa's grandchild, Renee Tawa.
Availability of Digital Reproductions
Selected items in this collection have been digitized and digital reproduction access files are available at the CSU Japanese
American Digitization Project site:
Tawa Family Letter Digital Collection
田和助五郎 Tawa, Sukegoro, 1888-1985: Sukegoro Tawa was born on February 27, 1888, in Kamo-mura, Okayama, Japan and immigrated
to the U.S. in 1907. He worked as a houseboy while completing school (the Royal High School) in San Francisco. In 1920, he
returned to Japan and married his wife, Chiyoko Yoshida, and they came back to the United States in 1921. They had three American-born
children, Junko Mary, Tsuyoshi Ken, and Katsumi. He operated the Tawa Seed Co. on 2nd Street, Los Angeles, developing a special
tomato variety and selling seeds to farmers in California. His business was successful, earning approximately $150 a month,
and had continued for 22 years until the war interrupted it. He was a member of the Japanese Association of Los Angeles and
the Buddhist Church of Los Angeles, and appointed as the Treasurer of the Chuo Gakuen, a Japanese language school.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he was apprehended on March 13, 1942, and detained at the Tuna Canyon Detention Center.
He was transferred to the Santa Fe Internment Camp on March 27, and then to the Lordsburg Internment Camp on July 4, 1942.
He was again transferred back to the Santa Fe Internment camp on June 23, 1943, and further sent to the Crystal City Internment
Camp in Texas on March 21, 1944. When he was interrogated, he refused to make a statement regarding his loyalty and his attitude
appeared evasive to the interrogators. The interrogation also revealed his involvement and commitment in Japanese community
organizations, including a Japanese association, Buddhist church, and Japanese language school, as well as his large investment
in the Japanese stocks and bonds in 1940, which he purchased for his retirement. The interrogators' attention was especially
drawn by his large investment and they concluded that he was considerable loyal to Japan and "potentially dangerous."
The interrogation report, that is called, "Reference Report," categorized him as a dangerous alien, "Army Code List Number
2," and resulted in longtime confinement in the internment camps. His family and friends appealed rehearing and parole, however,
his case was never considered. In February 1944, his rehearing was authorized by the Special Hearing Board at Santa Fe and
was conducted in June 1944. Finally, he was "paroled" to the Poston incarceration camp and united with his family on August
31, 1944. His status, however, remained "paroled" and was listed on a "stop list of the Western Defense Command" which prohibited
him from returning to California and also required him to report to the immigration authorities in Los Angeles once a week
even after the war ended. On September 3, 1945, he was released and returned to Los Angeles. The rest of the family had left
earlier: Chiyoko and Katsumi returned to Los Angeles on August 29, 1945; Junko Mary left for Berkeley, California on February
5, 1945; and Tsuyoshi Ken left for New York on June 11, 1945.
田和亥之太 Tawa, Inota, 1878-1972: Inota Tawa was an elder brother of Sukegoro Tawa's and one of the prominent figures among the
earlier Japanese immigrants in the United States. When he was age 18, he left from Okayama, Japan for San Francisco. He became
a dispatcher, transmitting hundreds of workers to agricultural fields, including Japanese, Chinese, and Mexican laborers.
He became an editor of the Shin Sekai, a Japanese American newspaper in San Francisco, turning around the company which had
been in debt. He became the executive of the Kinmon Bank which was the first Japanese bank in the United States. He was a
Japanese pioneer in the farming industry, entering large farm management in Utah. Although he was ambitious for success, he
was confronted with a series of mishaps, such as severe damages to his crops by harsh weather, a labor boycott, the San Francisco
Earthquake, recessions, etc., and unfortunately, he was not able to achieve the success. While he was committed in several
businesses in the United States for decades, he was also ambitious to succeed in his homeland by attempting to start a new
business in Japan. He left for Japan alone and hustled around a recycle business in Tokushima while his wife, Chiyoka and
their seven children remained in the U.S. His plan was supported by the local government officials and the other influentials
in Japan, however, the war broke out and terminated it. It was unknown whether he intended to call his wife and children back
to Japan once his new business had taken off, but the family was separated, and the war removed him from his family. Later,
he remarried in Japan and passed away on January 27, 1972.
Although his life was full of ups and downs, he was a pioneer venturing out business in the U.S. and inspired the Japanese
youth to depart for the United States.
三宅克己 Miyake, Katsumi "Kokki" (1874-1954) and 三宅せい子 Miyake, Seiko (d.1934): Katsumi "Kokki" Miyake was an influential watercolor
landscape painter who was pioneering and promoting watercolor painting in Japan. He was born in Tokushima, Japan in 1874 and
moved to Tokyo when he was age 6 because of his father's assignment. He grew up in the neighborhood where artists resided
and learned the Western-style painting from Sachihiko Soyama (1859–1892) and Naojiro Harada (1863–1899) who were well known
painters. While studying in Tokyo, he was inspired by watercolor paintings by John Varley Jr. (1850-1933) and Alfred Parsons
(1847-1920), and decided to pursue watercolor painting. He traveled to the U.S. in 1897 and studied at the Yale University
School of Art, and moved to England in 1898, continued his study in Europe, including France and Belgium, and retuned to Japan
in 1899. While staying in the United States, he was able to raise enough capital from his paintings and continue his study
in Europe. His study-abroad method inspired other artists, and they followed in his footsteps and studied in art in Europe,
traveling via the U.S. His wife, Seiko Miyake, was also a watercolor painter.
豊竹呂昇 Toyotake, Rosho, 1874-1930: Rosho Toyotake, whose real name is Naka Nagata, was a female gidaiyu, that is, a Japanese
puppet theatre narrator and musician. She was born in a former Owari clansman's family in Nagoya, Japan on August 4, 1874,
and professionally trained in music since early childhood. She became popular and was known for her beautiful voice and instrument
playing skills as well as her good looks. She contributed to promoting female status of gidaiyu and building its golden age
in Japan. She retired in 1923 and passed away on June 7, 1930.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
The Gerth Archives and Special Collections created digital reproductions from original items for long-term preservation and
electronic access, adhering to best practice and standards to ensure the authenticity, integrity, and security of material.
For more information on digitization process, please see
CSU Japanese American Digitization Project technical reference guide .
Most of the items in this collection have been digitized. The set of digital reproduction preservation files is stored on
the Gerth Archives and Special Collections' department drive for both preservation purposes and duplication requests.
This collection was processed and English translation, synopses, and brief descriptions for Japanese language materials were
provided by Yoko Okunishi in 2022.
Rob Aft Japanese Internment Collection
CSU Japanese American Digitization Project
This collection is part of the California State University Japanese American Digitization Project. Other collections about
the history of Japanese Americans are found in the digital repository:
CSU Japanese American Digitization Project
The collection consists of mainly letters that Sukegoro and Chiyoko Tawa (田和助五郎・千代子) received from their family and friends
between the 1920s and 1950s. Included are letters written by Katsumi "Kokki" and Seiko Miyake (三宅克己・せい子), who were Japanese
water color artists; Rosho Toyotake (豊竹呂昇), or Naka Nagata (永田仲), who was a female gidaiyu, that is, a Japanese puppet theatre
narrator and musician; Tomojiro Kunitomi (國富友次郎), who was an educator and the mayor of Okayama, Japan; Bishop Dojun Ochi (越智堂順)
of the Soto Zen Buddhism, who was interned in the Lordsburg Internment Camp and the Santa Fe Internment Camp in New Mexico
during the war and worked at Seabrook Farms in New Jersey after being released; and Father Hugh Lavery, who was a Japanese-speaking
priest of Maryknoll School in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles and an advocate for the community. In addition, there are wartime
documents issued during the Tawas' incarceration and copies of Sukegoro Tawa's case file as well as family and friends' portraits,
haiku poems, and other items. The letters and documents during the war present their anxiety for Sukegoro Tawa who had been
detained in several internment camps separately and struggle for his release.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Fujioka, Shiro.
Ayumi no ato
. Los Angeles：Ayumi no Ato Kanko Koenkai, 1957. Wikipedia. "Toyotake Rosho." Accessed February 28, 2023. https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/豊竹呂昇
The British Museum. "Miyake Katsumi." Accessed February 28, 2023. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG176000
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Japan -- Emigration and immigration -- History
United States -- Emigration and immigration -- History
Japanese Americans -- Forced removal and internment, 1942-1945
Poston Incarceration Camp
box 1, box 2
Family and friend correspondence circa 1920-1960; undated
Physical Description: 2 boxes(0.83 linear feet)
Language of Material: Japanese, English.
Included are letters that Sukegoro and Chiyoko Tawa (田和助五郎・千代子) received from their family and friends between the 1920s and
1950s. The senders of the prewartime letters include: Katsumi "Kokki" and Seiko Miyake, who were Japanese watercolor artists;
Rosho Toyotake (豊竹呂昇), or Naka Nagata (永田仲), who was a female gidaiyu, that is, a Japanese puppet theatre narrator and musician;
Koshun Murakami (村上孝俊), a Buddhist priest in Okayama, Japan; Tomojiro Kunitomi (國富友次郎), who was an educator and the mayor
of Okayama, Japan; and Kametaro Matsuda; Tetta Koyama; Shinzo Yuasa; and Marukumo Fujinkai. The Wartime letters were written
by Bishop Dojun Ochi (越智堂順) of the Soto Zen Buddhism, who was interned in the Lordsburg Internment Camp and the Santa Fe Internment
Camp in New Mexico during the war and worked at Seabrook Farms in New Jersey after being released; Father Hugh Lavery, who
was a Japanese-speaking Maryknoll priest in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles and supported the Japanese American community, traveling
between WRA incarceration camps during the war; the Tawas' relatives and friends who were also incarcerated, including Masakazu
and Komine Tawa, Tetsuo Tawa, Shoko Murase, Kazunosuke Arai, Iwa Watanabe, Seiichi Nako, Masao Kurisu, Jutaro Narumi, and
Tokujiro Ikeda. The senders of the postwar letters include: Sadako Yoshida, George Katsutaro Yabuki, Iwataro Oka, and Joichi
and Kinuko Okubo.
- 三宅克己 Miyake, Katsumi "Kokki" and 三宅せい子 Miyake, Seiko, 1929-1939
- Box 1 Folder 1-38
- 豊竹呂昇 Toyotake, Rosho, 1925-1929
- Box 1 Folder 39-49
- 村上孝俊 Murakami, Koshun, 1935-1938
- Box 1 Folder 50-54
- Family and friends during the prewar period
- Box 1 Folder 55-60
- Family and friends during the war
- Box 2 Folder 1-23
- Family and friends during the postwar period
- Box 2 Folder 24-29
box 2
Wartime documents 1942 October 15-1945 November 15
Physical Description: 8 folders
Materials are mainly documents that Chiyoko Tawa received during her incarceration at the Poston camp. Included are letters
issued by the Department of Justice Alien Enemy Control Unit regarding Sukegoro Tawa's internment, petition signed by incarcerees
at the Poston camp requesting the release of him, correspondence issued by Security-First National Bank of Los Angeles, California
Bank City Market Office, Treasury Department Office of Collection of Internal Revenue, and other items such as, a booklet
and a card mailed from Federal Security Agency Social Security Board, and one booklet titled as "Japanese: a guide to the
spoken language." There is also a file containing Xeroxed copies of Sukegoro Tawa case file and internee card that were provided
by the donor for research purposes only.
By donor request, the use of Sukegoro Tawa case file and internee card are restricted. Onsite research uses only.
box 2
Family and friend portraits 1921; 1933; circa 1940-1960; undated
Physical Description: 4 folders
Included are portraits and wedding photos given to the Tawas from their friends. There are a portrait of Sukegoro Tawa which
was presumably taken when he married Chiyoko in 1921, a portrait of Seiko Miyake who was a Japanese watercolor painter, and
a portrait of a woman holding an infant, who were most likely Chiyoko and her grandson, Katsumi, which was taken to celebrate
Katsumi's 100 days.
box 2
Haiku poems, clipping, receipts, and family tree 1932 August; circa 1930s; circa 1942-1950; undated
Physical Description: 5 folders
Included are a clipping featuring scholarship recipients at the Poston I High School commencement, which includes Junko Tawa;
receipts for purchase in the prewar Japan; haiku poems, which were presumably written by Sukegoro Tawa in the Poston camp
during the war and after the war. There is also a file containing the Tawa family tree, which was provided by the donor for
research purposes.
There is a file including the Tawa family tree which was provided by the donor. By donor request, the use of the family tree
is restricted. The file is viewable at the Reading Room for research purposes only.