Inventory of the Japanese diaspora collection
Finding aid prepared by Hoover Institution Library and Archives Staff
Hoover Institution Library and Archives
© 2017, 2023, 2024
434 Galvez Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003
hoover-library-archives@stanford.edu
Title: Japanese diaspora collection
Date (inclusive): 1889-2019
Collection Number: 2017C46
Contributing Institution: Hoover Institution Library and Archives
Language of Material: In Japanese and English
Physical Description:
6 manuscript boxes, 11 oversize boxes, 2 oversize folders
(15.17 Linear Feet)
Physical Description:
528 digital files
(.53 GB Gigabytes)
Abstract: Reports, pamphlets, postcards, other printed matter, photographs, and digital materials relating to Japanese immigration to
the United States and elsewhere, the Japanese community in the United States, and Japanese American internment during World
War II.
Physical Location: Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Access
The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual
or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.
Use
For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Acquisition Information
Materials were acquired by the Hoover Institution Library & Archives in 2017, 2023.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Japanese diaspora collection, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Japanese diaspora collection consists of reports, rare historical documents, digital files, rosters, photographs, maps,
pamphlets, posters, postcards, and other printed matter relating to the Japanese diaspora, primarily to the Americas. The
collection includes series such as the Japantowns of San Francisco and Los Angeles, the departing ports of Yokohama and Kobe
in Japan, Japanese export industry and shipping companies, internment camps during World War II, Japanese agriculture and
flower growing businesses in the United States, and Japanese government survey reports on the Japanese settlement in Brazil,
among others.
Separated Materials
Maui News Special Edition: Complimentary to the Japanese Community of Maui Occasion Enthronement H.M. Hirohito, 1928 November
10 separated from collection in April 2022 and placed in Japanese Hawaiian newspaper collection (2018C77).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Japanese Americans -- Forced removal and internment, 1942-1945
Japan -- Emigration and immigration
Japanese -- United States
box 1
Postcards of the Kobe port
Meiji-Taisho
Scope and Contents note
Nine postcards of the Kobe port, of which four were written and mailed (Kansas, Santa Barbara CA, Shimonokeki, Yamaguchi,
and Kagawa).
box 1
Postcard of Motomachi, Kobe
Showa 13? (1938)
Scope and Contents note
One postcard (photograph) of flooded Motomachi, Kobe.
os_folder 1
加州羅府日本人商業区域明細図 (Kashū Rafū Nihonjin shōgyō meisaizu), 近藤謙二 (Kondō, Kenji), Los Angeles
1926
Scope and Contents note
"Detailed Plan of Japanese Commercial District in Los Angeles, California." A detailed map of Japanese businesses, with a
list of establishments by type, location, and name. Advertisements by some of these businesses are on the back.
box 1
御帰朝之栞 附羅府名所案内 (Gokichō no shiori: fu Rafū meisho an'nai), Rafu Eagle Hotel (Rafū Īguru hoteru), Los Angeles
1925
Scope and Contents note
"Leaflet for Returning to Japan: Including Los Angeles Guidebook." Detailed information about immigration, marriage, and tariffs
on imported items in Japan. There are many Japanese business advertisements, which sell gift items to Japanese returning to
Japan, cruise ship companies, and hotels.
box 1
桑港航路案内 (Sanfuranshisuko kōro annai), 日本郵船会社 (Nihon Yūsen Kabushiki Gaisha)
Scope and Contents note
Guide to Sea Voyage to San Francisco. Detailed travel advice from Japan to the United States: explains the U.S. immigration laws and includes a detailed list
of sea fares from various ports in Japan and China to Hawaii and San Francisco.
box 1
桑港案内 (Sanfuranshisuko annai), 長尾 峰三郎 (Nagao, Minesaburō), 桑港日本人旅舘組合 (Sanfuranshisuko), San Francisco
1931
Scope and Contents note
Guide of San Francisco. Details about Japanese-related businesses in San Francisco.
box 1
San Francisco: Photographs in Black, A. Wittemann, The Albertype Co., New York
1889
Scope and Contents note
Photographs include Chinatown, Chinese class, and a farm in California. Likely to have been brought back as a souvenir to
Japan from San Francisco.
box 1
桑港仏教会開教三十年記念誌 (Sōkō bukkyōkai kaikyō sanjūnen kinenshi), 桑港仏教会 文書部 (Sōkō bukkyōkai bunshobu), 陰山鐵二郎 (Kageyama, Tetsujirō),
San Francisco
1930
Scope and Contents note
Thirtieth Anniversary of Buddhist Church in San Francisco. Detailed history of Japanese Buddhist church (Honpa Honganji) of San Francisco, the oldest Japanese Buddhist church in the
continental United States. Some information about Japanese-language schools. Includes many photographs of the church members
and activities, as well as a list of kakochō (deceased members by place of origin, kaimyō, and the year of death).
box 1
明治期米国桑港(サンフランシスコ)地震震災邦人義金募集 (Meijiki Beikoku Sōkō (San Francisco) jishin shinsai hōjin gikin boshū)
circa 1906
Scope and Contents note
Fund Raising for the Earthquake Disaster Relief of the Japanese in San Francisco in the Meiji Era. "San Francisco has suffered from an unprecedented natural disaster. We have heard that our imperial court has gifted relief
fund and we sincerely feel the benevolence of the emperor. We feel compassionate for our countrymen who have suffered from
this natural disaster, thousands of miles away from home. We have collected disaster relief funds and telegraphed the Imperial
Japanese counsel general in San Francisco." A list of founders of the Association of San Francisco Natural Disaster Relief:
trade companies from Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Yokkaichi, Nagoya, Shizuoka, Yokohama, and Tokyo
box 1
於桑港ペンシルバニア号 大日本帝国艦隊歓迎プログラム (Itaru Sōkō Penshirubania gō Dainihon teikoku kantai kangei puroguramu)
1926 August 2
Scope and Contents note
"Welcoming the Japanese Imperial Navy, the Pennsylvania, San Francisco." The program includes various events and finishes
with the United States national anthem.
box 1
"Sample Exhibition of Exports in Japan Is Displayed at the Yokohama Commercial and Industrial Museum under Management of the
Yokohama Chamber of Commerce and Industry,"
circa 1929
Scope and Contents note
The Yokohama Commercial and Industrial Museum was opened in 1929 as part of the Yokohama restoration projects after the Great
Kanto Earthquake. It played a pivotal role in commercial development of Yokohama, where the largest port in Japan is located.
box 1
昭和三年於横浜港内 御大礼特別大観艦式 (Shōwa 3nen oite Yokohama kōnai gotairei tokubetsu taikan kanshik)
undated
Scope and Contents note
"Navy Ship Parade Inspected by the Emperor at Yokohama Port in 1928." Postcards depicting the Japanese imperial navy parade
at Yokohama port.
Agricultural and Flower Growing Businesses
box 3
One black and white photo of agricultural activities by Japanese American farmers
1941 February 1
box 3
Photo album of California Chrysanthemum Growers Association and their families
box 1
帝国製麻株式会社 八 亞麻碎莖 (Teikoku seima kabushiki kaisha amasa saikei)
Meiji-Taisho
Scope and Contents note
"Linen Breaker at the Teikoku Linen Co." Four postcards showing different export industries in Japan during the Meiji and
Taisho eras.
box 1
足尾銅山通銅選鉱場内部 (Ashio dōzan tsūdō senkōjō naibu)
Meiji-Taisho
Scope and Contents note
Inner view of the Tsudo dressing plants, Ashio copper mines.
box 1
二本松輸出羽二重株式会社織物工場 (Nihonmatsu yushutsu Habutae kabushiki kaisha orimono kōjō)
Meiji-Taisho
Scope and Contents note
The weaving department of Nihonmatsu exportation Habutae Co. Ltd.
box 1
若林製糸紡績株式会社浪江工場 工場全景/繰糸場の一部 (Wakabayashi seishi bōseki kabushiki kaisha Namie kōjō)
Meiji-Taisho
Scope and Contents note
Namie factory of the Wakabayashi Silk Mill Textile Co. Ltd.
box 2
Two black and white photos
1940
box 8
Japanese American family photo albums
1900s
Scope and Contents
Japanese American family photo album in Palo Alto
box 9
Japanese American family photo albums
1900s
Scope and Contents
Japanese American family photo album in Palo Alto
box 10
Japanese American family photo albums
1900s
Scope and Contents
Japanese American family photo album in Palo Alto
box 11
Japanese American family photo albums
1900s
Scope and Contents
Japanese American family photo album in Palo Alto
box 12
Japanese American family photo albums
1900s
Scope and Contents
Japanese American family photo album in Palo Alto
box 1
北海道移住民汽車賃汽船賃割引券 (Hokkaidō ijū jūmin kishachin kisenchin waribiki ken)
Scope and Contents note
Discount coupon for trains and ships for immigrants to Hokkaido, used by a Japanese immigrant to Hokkaido in ?.
box 1
第五 北海道移住案内 (Daigo Hokkaidō ijū an'nai), Editor:北海道拓殖部 (Hokkaidō Takushokubu), Sapporo
1897
Scope and Contents note
Guide for Immigration to Hokkaido, Vol. 5.
box 1
北海道移住案内 第二十八 (Hokkaidō ijū an'nai dai nijū nachi), Editor:北海道拓殖部 (Hokkaidō Takushokubu), Sapporo
1929
Scope and Contents note
Guide for Immigration to Hokkaido, Vol. 28.
box 1
北海道移住案内 第二十九 (Hokkaidō ijū an'nai dai nijūkyū), Editor:北海道拓殖部 (Hokkaidō Takushokubu), Sapporo
1931
Scope and Contents note
Guide for Immigration to Hokkaido, Vol. 29.
os_folder 1
北海道移住案内 第二十九 (Hokkaidō ijū an'nai dai nijūkyū), Map of Hokkaido
1931
box 1
北海道移住案内 第三十一 (Hokkaidō ijū an'nai dai sanjūichi), Editor:北海道拓殖部 (Hokkaidō Takushokubu), Sapporo
1933
Scope and Contents note
Guide for Immigration to Hokkaido, Vol. 31.
box 2
Nine black and white photos
box 2
ゼローム共同企業組合 記念号 (Zerōmu kyōdōn kigyō kumiai Kinen gō)
1944 April 15
Scope and Contents note
Jerome Cooperative Commemorative Issue. Records of the cooperative at Jerome relocation center, Arkansas, and directory of the incarcerated at the center by name,
birth place, age, address in the United States, profession before the relocation, and current profession. The directory is
organized by block at the camp. Directory of the cooperative members and their roles. Journal of major events at Jerome.
box MC4
Poston War Relocation Center Directory
Scope and Contents note
1 optical disk containing poston camp II directory scanned images; Poston census as of March 31, 1944 done at each camp by
a government directive. The copy was digitized by Robert Iwamasa from a hard copy given to Mas Hashimoto. P-final accountability
roster. Data extracted by Tak Kohatsu from FAR records. Two sets of data, one by name and the second by camp-block-unit.
Digital files consist of censuses, include basic identifying information about internees, taken at the Poston Internment Camp.
Two of the censuses are handwritten in Kanji.
Access
Digital materials are not available until processed. If interested in accessing these materials, please contact us for more
information.
box 1
Group of Japanese boys and girls
Scope and Contents note
One postcard in Japan during the Meiji era depicting children in the countryside. Addressed from Hornshawn (in Japan?) to
Mrs. Betteridge, Surrey, United Kingdom.
os_folder 2
Shrine Procession at Nikko Temple, Japan
Photo albums of
Mainichi News reporter, S. Onogi
Scope and Contents note
Photo albums (5 volumes) of
Mainichi Newspaper reporter and his trips to Los Angeles, Vladivostok, and China in the 1920s and 1930s. Onogi joined the
Mainichi Newspaper in 1920 and travelled to Los Angeles as a member of the Kwansei Gakuin University (based in Nishinomiya, Japan) junior high
school baseball team in 1928. Includes one photo with the Japanese actor Kamiyama Sojin, who appeared in Hollywood movies
in the 1920s.
box 2
Trip to California, including Kawansei Gakuin University baseball tour in 1928
Photo albums of Japanese women attending the Chicago World Fair
1933
Scope and Contents note
Photo albums (2 volumes) of Japanese women attendants to the Chicago World Fair (1933) from their trip on board a ship to
the United States and their activities at the Japanese pavilion.
box 6
Photos of companion activities at the Chicago World Fair
box 4
Photo albums of a Japanese General Electric employee's trip to the United States
1937-1938
Scope and Contents note
Photo albums of a Japanese General Electric employee's training trip to Hawaii, San Francisco, and New York. Includes photographs
of the first class passengers on the
Taiyo Maru from Yokohama to San Francisco, the port of San Francisco, and Stanford University.
box 6
Printed photo album of a Japanese business mission to the United States
1911
Scope and Contents note
A printed photo album (1 volume) of a Japanese business mission to the United States in 1911, led by Baron Eiichi (Yeiichi)
Shibusawa, with a list of mission members.
box 13, folder 1-4
Quakers' activities in Japan for humanitarian efforts
1930s-1960s
box 1
増訂 渡米之栞 (Zōtei tobei no shiori), 一柳松庵 (Ichiyanagi, Shō'an), 佐々木勘助 (Sasaki, Kansuke), Tokyo
1902
Scope and Contents note
Guide for Moving to America: Expanded Edition. Detailed information about how to move to America and find a job. The cover has an advertisement by Toyo Kisen Kaisha. Includes
a map of Seattle in Japanese.
box 1
旅行安全三徳汽車時間表 (Ryokō anzen santoku kisha jikanhyō), 旅行安全合資会社 (Ryokō anzen gōshi kaisha), Tokyo
1901
Scope and Contents note
"Ryoko anzen santoku kisha Time Table." Timetable and fares of train and cruise in Japan and cruise to Europe and the United
States. Includes a telegraph request form. The front page is an advertisement by Mitsui Gofukuya, which developed into Mitsui
& Co., which worked as an immigration agency later.
box 1
N.Y.K. Orient-California, January 1933 - February 1934
circa 1934
Scope and Contents note
Assorted cruise line brochures and schedule brought back to Japan.
box 1
簡易保険で銃後を護れ 保険金五十億園突破 (Kani hoken de jūgo o Mamore. Hoken kin gojū okuen toppa)
Scope and Contents note
"Protect the Country behind the Front Line with the State Life Insurance." "Have Reached Five Billion Yen in State Life Insurance
Premiums." Two propaganda postcards in Japan during the Meiji and pre-WWII eras.
box 1
赤十字社病院船博愛丸/戦地救護事業の状況 (Sekijūjisha byō'insen Hakuai Maru: Senchi kyūgo jigyō no jōkyō)
Scope and Contents note
Red Cross hospital ship
Hakuai Maru: relief effort in the war zones.
box 7, folder 1
米国に於ける日本人 社会主義者無政府主義者沿革 (Japanese in America: Socialist and anarchist history) 極秘 (top secret)
1900s
box 7, folder 2
加奈陀戦時外貨節約法 (Canada economizing foreign currency during the war)
1940 December
os_folder 1
Company B. 34th Battalion Fort McClellan, Alabama
1944 November 17
Scope and Contents
Group photograph, "Co. B. 34th Bn. Fort McClellan Ala"
box 13, folder 5
Propaganda booklet for promoting the activities of Japanese American soldiers during WWII
1943
Scope and Contents
Formulated and executed a program for removal, relocation, maintenance, and supervision, in 10 interior relocation centers,
of persons (principally of Japanese ancestry) excluded from military areas designated in accordance with EO 9066, February
19, 1942. Operated, under policy guidance of War Refugee Board, the Fort Ontario Emergency Refugee Shelter (Oswego, NY) for
European refugees, August 1944-June 1945. After revocation by the Western Defense Command, December 17, 1944, of west coast
general exclusion order, effective January 2, 1945, WRA primarily involved in resettling Japanese-American internees.
box 14, folder 1
"Juganji Temple Revisited: January, 2019," by Tomohiro Yamada
2019
Scope and Contents
Regards Japanese POW camp victims and their postwar closing ceremony. Tomohiro Yamada made a journey to trace the family of
Japanese POW camp victims in the US.
box HD21
Hawai zairy ū Niigata kenjin ryakureki shashinch ō, photograph album
1921
Scope and Contents
USB drive containing photograph album.
Conditions Governing Access
Digital materials are not available until processed. If interested in accessing these materials, please contact us for more
information.
box HD21
Hawai Nihonjin hatten meikan : B ōchō ban, photograph album
1939-1940
Scope and Contents
USB drive containing photograph album.
Access
Digital materials are not available until processed. If interested in accessing these materials, please contact us for more
information.
os_folder 1
ハワイ: 日本人移民の150年と憧れの島のなりたち (Hawaii: 150 Years of Japanese Migration and Histories of Dream Islands)
2019
Scope and Contents
Dates for the exhibit: 2019 October 29-December 26
国立歴史民俗博物館 (National Museum of Japanese History)
os_folder 2
Russo-Japanese War map, 日露実戦一目新図 (Nichi-Ro jissen ichimoku shinzu)
1897 September 16
box 9
第2回汎太平洋仏教青年会大会記念 (Dai 2-kai Han Taiheiyō Bukkyō Seinenkai Taikai kinen) (The second general conference of Pan Pacific Young
Buddhist Associations)
1934
Incremental Materials 2022
box 16, folder 1
"West" San Jose Mercury News
1986 January 26
box 16, folder 2
Exhibit photos of Tokyo Art School at the Golden Gate International Exposition
1938
Scope and Contents
Exhibit photos of Tokyo Art School at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. It was a pre-WWII prefectural
art museum of Tokyo.
Incremental Materials 2023
box 14, folder 2-3
Personal account of wartime experience in Japan
1998-2006
Scope and Contents
A detailed, personal account of wartime experience in Japan, focusing on the POW exchange ship SS Gripsholm, including a list
of its passengers, written and compiled by Atsushi Archie Miyamoto. Includes reviews of the account that were published in
Nanka Nikkei Voices, a publication of the Japanese American Historical Society of Southern California.
box 14, folder 9-16
Japanese historical documents, reports, and photographs
box 15, folder 1
Photo album of a journalist of Shin Sekai newspapers
1920s-1941
Scope and Contents
The photo album of a journalist of Shin Sekai newspapers is consisted of captioned photos of the Japanese American community
in the Bay Area, particularly in Watsonville. Shin Sekai was a prewar Japanese American newspaper based in San Francisco.
Incremental Materials 2024
box 14, folder 4-8
Printed matter related to Japanese immigrants worldwide
1930-1965
