Kenjinkai Publications, 1955-2014

Printable guide [HTML]

Summary

Creators:
Nanka Fukushima Kenjinkai. 南加福島県人会, Nanka Hiroshima Kenjinkai, Nanka Mie Kenjinkai, and Nanka Wakayama Kenjinkai
Abstract:
This collection consists of publications by prefectural associations, that is, "kenjinkais 県人会," in Southern California and Japanese Prefectural Association of Southern California, "Nanka Kenjin Kyogikai 南加県人会協議会." The organizations have compiled commemorative publications to celebrate their major anniversary milestones, and those publications are not widely known about but distributed among the members only. Anniversary booklets include an overview of their history, historical images, biographical information on the members, information about events and activities, and local businesses' advertisements.
Extent:
4 boxes (4 document boxes) and 1.46 Linear Feet (4 boxes)
Language:
Japanese , English .
Preferred citation:

For information about citing archival material, see the Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of publications by prefectural associations, that is, "kenjinkais 県人会," and Japanese Prefectural Association of Southern California, "Nanka Kenjinkai Kyogikai 南加県人会協議会." These organizations have compiled commemorative publications to celebrate their major anniversary milestones, and those publications are not widely known about but distributed among the members only. Anniversary booklets document an overview of the community's history, historical images, and biographical information on the members, information about events and activities, and local businesses' advertisements.

Biographical / historical:

Kenjinkais, that is, Japanese prefectural associations, were formed by the Issei, who immigrated from the same prefectures in Japan. Although the associations were politically active at one time when competing for the seats of the Japanese Associations, "Nihonjinkais," which functioned as a proxy for the Japanese government in the United States, kenjinkais mainly served as mutual aid societies in the community. They provided services to meet Japanese immigrants' needs, bringing together the people who shared the same dialects and lifestyles in their hometowns, promoting the community network to support businesses and hiring, aiding the people struggling from hardships, and coordinating funerals for the members who had no family in the U.S. The first kenjinkai established in Southern California was the Nanka Kagoshima Kenjinkai in 1899, and other earlier kenjinkais emerged between 1904 and 1915. Their auxiliary women's societies and youth groups followed, enhancing the network and supporting educational programs.

While the Nisei and the Sansei played a central role in the community, reestablishing their lives after the war, kenjinkais' activities declined initially. In the 1950s, kenjinkais were revitalized, responding to the community's needs. They sponsored social events for the community as the Issei were aging and became nostalgic and strongly desired to be united with their friends sharing the same roots. While post-war Japan was struggling from the war damage and devastation, kenjinkais provided their hometowns with disaster relief aids and supported the postwar Japanese immigrants from their prefectures.

Decades later, the Japanese American community has transformed and the community demographics have changed. The number of Japanese immigrants to the United States remains low. Kenjinkais have been transformed accordingly, inviting members in a broader scope and shifting their original missions to fostering the U.S.-Japan friendship by promoting cultural exchanges among the youth and providing disaster relief funds when affected. They have offered scholarships to the youth so that they can be involved in kenjinkais' activities and recognize their ancestors' homelands.

Japanese Prefectural Association of Southern California 南加県人会協議会 is a federation of kenjinkais which was initiated by Consul General Toshiro Shimanouchi of Japan in 1964 to promote communication and collaboration among them. As of 2023, 39 prefectures among 47 prefectures in Japan exist in the Southern California.

Acquisition information:
Gerth Archives and Special Collections hosted an outreach event, "Kenjinkai Open House," inviting Southern California kenjinkai members on January 26, 2019. Their anniversary booklets were donated by the attendees during the event. The Gerth Archives has actively collected publications by the local community-based organizations, which are not widely known about but distributed among the community members only.
Processing information:

The collection was processed by Yoko Okunishi in 2023.

The Gerth Archives and Special Collections created digitized materials (born-analog objects) 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. Most of the collection has been digitized and are available online. Some of the access files (access derivatives) have been redacted to protect personal identifiable information and others have been compressed for greater efficiency online. For more information on digitization production, please see CSU Japanese American Digitization Project technical reference guide.

The set of digital reproduction preservation files is stored on the Gerth Archives and Special Collections' department drive for preservation purpose and duplicate image requests in TIFF.

The set of access files (access derivatives) was created for the digital management system and is stored on the Gerth Archives and Special Collections' department external drive for staff use.

Arrangement:

Materials are arranged following the numbering system assigned to prefectures by the Japanese govenement:

  • 北海道地方区分 Hokkaido Region: 01 北海道 Hokkaido;
  • 東北地方区分 Tohoku Region: 02 青森県 Aomori-ken; 03 岩手県 Iwate-ken; 04 宮城県 Miyagi-ken; 05 秋田県 Akita-ken; 06 山形県 Yamagata-ken; 07 福島県 Fukushima-ken;
  • 関東地方区分 Kanto Region: 08 茨城県 Ibaraki-ken; 09 栃木県 Tochigi-ken; 10 群馬県 Gunma-ken; 11 埼玉県 Saitama-ken; 12 千葉県 Chiba-ken; 13 東京都 Tokyo-to; 14 神奈川県 Kanagawa-ken;
  • 中部地方区分 Chubu Region: 15 新潟県 Niigata-ken; 16 富山県 Toyama-ken; 17 石川県 Ishikawa-ken; 18 福井県 Fukui-ken; 19 山梨県 Yamanashi-ken; 20 長野県 Nagano-ken; 21 岐阜県 Gifu-ken; 22 静岡県 Shizuoka-ken; 23 愛知県 Aichi-ken;
  • 近畿地方区分 Kinki Region: 24 三重県 Mie-ken; 25 滋賀県 Shiga-ken; 26 京都府 Kyoto-fu; 27 大阪府 Osaka-fu; 28 兵庫県 Hyogo-ken; 29 奈良県 Nara-ken; 30 和歌山県 Wakayama-ken;
  • 四国地方区分 Shikoku Region: 36 徳島県 Tokushima-ken; 37 香川県 Kagawa-ken; 38 愛媛県 Ehime-ken; 39 高知県 Kochi-ken;
  • 九州地方区分 Kyushu Region: 40 福岡県 Fukuoka-ken; 41 佐賀県 Saga-ken; 42 長崎県 Nagasaki-ken; 43 熊本県 Kumamoto-ken; 44 大分県 Oita-ken; 45 宮崎県 Miyazaki-ken; 46 鹿児島県 Kagoshima-ken; 47 沖縄県 Okinawa-ken.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:

For information about citing archival material, see the Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.

Location of this collection:
University Library, 5th Flr (5039)
1000 E. Victoria Street
Carson, CA 90747, US
Contact:
(310) 243-3895
archives@csudh.edu
Website