Finding Aid for the Akira Fujita Papers LSC.0296
Finding aid is prepared by Yuji Ichioka and Eiichiro Azuma, 1995; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Online finding aid last updated 2006.
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Business Number: 310-825-4988
Fax Number: 310-206-1864
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Contributing Institution:
UCLA Library Special Collections
Title: Akira Fujita papers
Creator:
Fujita, Akira
Identifier/Call Number: LSC.0296
Physical Description:
64.0 Linear Feet
(32 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1946-1992
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. All requests to access special collections material must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
General Physical Description note: 32 boxes (16 linear ft.)
Language of Material: Materials are in Japanese and English.
Restrictions on Access
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Copyright to portions of this collection has been assigned to the UCLA Library Special Collections. The library can grant
permission to publish for materials to which it holds the copyright. All requests for permission to publish must be submitted
in writing to Library Special Collections. Credit shall be given as follows: The Regents of the University of California on
behalf of the UCLA Library Special Collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Akira Fujita papers (Collection 296). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research
Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Grace Yaeno Fujita, 1995.
Processing Information
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processing. These materials have been arranged and described according to national and local standards and best practices.
Processed by Yuji Ichioka and Eiichiro Azuma, 1995.
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General note
[characters]
indicates Japanese characters included in the print version of this online finding aid, available for consultation at UCLA
Library Specialions.
UCLA Catalog Record ID
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
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.
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).
Related Material
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Diaries.
Japanese literature -- California, Southern -- Archives.
American literature -- Japanese American authors -- Archives.
Fujita, Akira, 1920- --Archives.
Nanka Bungei (Literary society)
box 1, box 2, box 3, box 4, box 5
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, folder 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.
box 9, box 10, box 11, box 12, box 13, box 14, box 15, box 16
Incoming Correspondence Files
box 9, box 10, box 11
Nanka Bungei Writers, Members, and Associates
box 9, folder 1
Tomiko Stahl [characters]
1979-1982.
General Physical Description note: 17 letters
box 9, folder 2
Tomiko Stahl.
1983-1989.
General Physical Description note: 20 letters
box 9, folder 3
Yoshie Stagg [characters]
1978-1981.
General Physical Description note: 16 letters
box 9, folder 4
Ao Tokio [characters] (aka So Ryuichi [characters])
1972-1986.
General Physical Description note: 13 letters and 2 postcards
box 10, folder 1
Furuta Soichi [characters]
1979-1990.
General Physical Description note: 14 letters and 1 postcard.
box 10, folder 2
Shigeko Garcia [characters]
1983-1986.
General Physical Description note: 9 letters.
box 10, folder 3
Yamashiro Masao [characters]
1974-1985.
General Physical Description note: 9 letters and 1 postcard.
box 10, folder 4
Norimoto Keizo [characters] (aka Nomoto Ippei [characters])
1976-1986.
General Physical Description note: 9 letters.
box 10, folder 5
Karl S. Tsuji (aka Tsuji Akihiko [characters])
1980-1983.
General Physical Description note: 6 letters.
box 10, folder 6
Masuda Itsuko [characters] (aka Sonegawa Itsuko [characters])
1971-1987.
General Physical Description note: 5 letters
box 10, folder 7
Karaki Yasko [characters] (aka Karaki Yasue [characters])
1981-1987.
General Physical Description note: 5 letters
box 10, folder 8
Yamazaki Hitomi [characters] (aka Yamazaki Isshin [characters])
1983-1987.
General Physical Description note: 5 letters.
box 10, folder 9
Kosaka Miyoko [characters]
1979-1983.
General Physical Description note: 5 letters.
box 10, folder 10
Tomoko Poquette (aka Kamioka Tomoko [characters])
1978-1979.
General Physical Description note: 4 letters.
box 11, folder 1
Yamazaki Jiro [characters]
1980-1983.
General Physical Description note: 4 letters
box 11, folder 2
Togawa Akira and Kimi [characters]
1979-1984.
General Physical Description note: 4 letters
box 11, folder 3
Kagawa Bunichi and Shizuko [characters]
1978-1984.
General Physical Description note: 3 letters
box 11, folder 4
Hiratsuka Unichi [characters]
1981-1985.
General Physical Description note: 6 letters
box 11, folder 5
Takemoto Yoshihito [characters]
1979-1989.
General Physical Description note: 7 letters
box 11, folder 6
Arthur Iwasaki
1986-1988.
General Physical Description note: 6 letters
box 11, folder 7
Yashima Taro [characters]
1981-1984.
General Physical Description note: 6 letters
box 11, folder 8
Maeda Sei [characters]
1979-1981.
General Physical Description note: 4 letters and 1 postcard
box 11, folder 9
Miscellaneous correspondence
1974-1982.
General Physical Description note: 16 letters and 1 postcard
box 11, folder 10
Miscellaneous correspondence
1983-1992.
General Physical Description note: 11 letters and 1 postcard
box 12
Japanese Scholars, Writers, and Publishers
box 12, folder 1
Ishikawa Yoshimi and Minako [characters]
1981-1987.
General Physical Description note: 23 letters and 3 postcards
box 12, folder 2
Tsurutani Hisashi [characters]
1978-1989.
General Physical Description note: 26 letters and 1 postcard
box 12, folder 3
Hazumi Eiji [characters]
1977-1989.
General Physical Description note: 14 letters and 3 postcards
box 12, folder 4
Ito Kazuo [characters]
1976.
General Physical Description note: 5 letters
box 12, folder 5
Murakami Yumiko [characters]
1983-1986.
General Physical Description note: 3 letters and 1 postcard
box 12, folder 6
Suzuki Makoto [characters] (Renga Shobo Shinsha [characters])
1981-1982.
General Physical Description note: 6 letters
box 12, folder 7
Yoshimura Chikai [characters] (Heibonsha [characters])
1983-1988.
General Physical Description note: 6 letters
box 12, folder 8
Yatsuhashi Takayuki [characters] (Chunichi Shimbun [characters])
1980-1982.
General Physical Description note: 5 letters
box 12, folder 9
Other scholars
1976-1988.
General Physical Description note: 6 letters and 1 postcard
box 13, folder 1
Fujita Namie, Kiyoo, Kazuko, and Akio [characters]
1971-1986.
General Physical Description note: 26 letters
box 13, folder 2
Ishino Yuriko, Isao, and Harumi [characters]
1975-1987.
General Physical Description note: 9 letters
box 13, folder 3
Omura Kiyoko, Takashi, Midori, and Fumiko [characters]
1978-1981.
General Physical Description note: 9 letters
box 13, folder 4
Hirata Michiko and Yumiko [characters]
1980-1984.
General Physical Description note: 8 letters
box 13, folder 5
Tsuboi Koichi [characters]
1972-1984.
General Physical Description note: 8 letters
box 13, folder 6
Other relatives
1975-1982.
General Physical Description note: 3 letters
box 14
Family Friends in America and in Japan
box 14, folder 1
Christy and Eric Rosa
1972-1983.
General Physical Description note: 24 letters and 1 postcard
box 14, folder 2
Mimori Robertson
1983-1989.
General Physical Description note: 5 letters
box 14, folder 3
Frank and Frances Shoda
1979-1980.
General Physical Description note: 4 letters
box 14, folder 4
Dai Koichi, Teruko, and Kumie
1979-1980.
General Physical Description note: 3 letters and 1 postcard
box 14, folder 5
Otera Shizuko [characters]
1979-1984.
General Physical Description note: 4 letters
box 14, folder 6
Ogawa Masao and Eiko [characters]
1972-1985.
General Physical Description note: 12 letters
box 14, folder 7
Kita Yuji, Motoko, Hisako, and Yuko [characters]
1980-1986.
General Physical Description note: 2 letters and 7 postcards
box 15, box 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, box 20, box 21, box 22, box 23, box 24, box 25
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 20, box 21, box 22, box 23, box 24
box 24, folder 4
Nanka Bungei Tokubetsugo [characters]
1986.
box 25, folder 4
Newspaper clippings of essays and commentaries.
box 26, box 27, box 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.
General Physical Description note: 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].
General Physical Description note: 11 items.
box 28, folder 2
Kodama [characters].
General Physical Description note: 7 items.
box 28, folder 3
Karifuorunia Tanka [characters].
General Physical Description note: 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].
box 29, box 30, box 31, box 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].
