Subject: Terminal Island
Where is Terminal Island? I want to mention it in my "Japanese American Internment"
paper for school but I'm not sure how to describe its location.
Subject: Re: Terminal Island
Terminal Island is an island in Los Angeles Harbor, where there was a large
prewar population of Japanese fishermen. Below is an excerpt from NJAHS
Nikkei Heritage article (Internment and the Church Issue, Fall 1998)
available from the
National Japanese American History Society, 22 Peace
Plaza, Suite 225, San Francisco, Ca 94115. ($3 for single issue $30 for
membership and year's subscription) The article describes the turmoil
experienced by the evictees and the work done by American Baptist,
Buddhist and Quaker organizations to place them in emergency hostels before
they were sent to Santa Anita and later Manzanar and other camps. Other
articles describe the role of the chruches during the war, and the impact
on the Buddhist and Shinto churches. Many non-Christian ministers were
arrested the day after Pearl Harbor and held in Department of Justice camps
as "dangerous enemy aliens" simply because they were ministers of
Asian-based religions.
The Eviction of Terminal Island
In the collective memory of Japanese Americans, Terminal Island in the Los
Angeles harbor occupies a special place -- as the first community on the
West Coast to be evicted en masse. On Feb. 25, 1942, the U.S. Navy
informed its 3,500 residents that they had 48 hours to leave their homes.
It was last of several blows, which began on Dec. 7, 1941, when community
and religious leaders were arrested by the FBI.
Next, Japanese fishermen were forbidden to leave the harbor to fish,
curtailing their livelihood. On Feb. 9, 1942, all Issei with commericial
fishing licenses were arrested, leaving hundreds of families without
fathers or husbands. On Feb. 15, residents received a 30-day evicition
notice.
Ten days later, mass eviction was ordered within 48 hours. Issei women and
their children, unaccustomed to dealing with business matters, struggled to
dispose of their family property and settle their affairs. The result was
total chaos, wholesale abandonment of household goods and equipment, and
victimization of the women and children by predatory merchants and
exploiters of misfortune.
Three religious organizations played roles in providing safe haven to
displaced island residents: the Terminal Island Japanese Baptist Church,
the American Friends (Quaker) Service Committee, and the Jodo Shinshu
temples of the Los Angeles area.
Baptist missionary Virginia Swanson Yamamoto describes the night of Dec. 7:
"Soldiers filled the Island ... some news came that all Japanese who were
trying to take the ferry (to go back to their homes in the city) were
caught in the enclosure and guarded by soldiers. I rushed down there and
found them caged and terrified... older Japnese were herded into big Army
trucks and taken to the Federal prison ... [even] Little childen were not
allowed to go home until late in the evening ... People flocked to church,
hoping to find comfort. That week was a dark one, the phone was dead, food
was hard to get , lights were blacked out in the evening and it rained
torrents. Wednesday we had our prayer meeting in the dark.
On Feb. 25, she recalls:
"I heard the rumor that Japanese residents of Terminal Island had to
evacuate in 48 hours. I ... called the Navy Office. The officer said,
'It's true. Get the people off the Island in 48 hours.'
"We got on the telephone and asked for volunteer help from Japanese and
Caucasians. There was much organization to be done. We typed and
mimeographed sheets on which the families were to list their furniture,
four blanks for each family. We had to divide the names and place them in
the different hostels that we hoped were ready by this time. [Initially,
the groups organizing the hostels thought they had until Mar. 15 to
prepare.] Children came to church to help. We sent them from home to home
delivering blankets and tags and giving instructions. The women stayed up
all night and packed and the next morning when the trucks came, of course,
some families weren't ready. They would say, 'Give me more time, take my
neighbors first.' But we had to take them ready or not. In some cases we
had to pull them from the house crying and rush them off ... In some cases
the trucks arrived and dumped the people off in the country [at unprepared
hostels] after midnight with no lights, no water, no gas -- nothing. Before
the 48 hours were up, so far as I know, every Japanese was off the Island ...
Subject: Re: Terminal Island
In the "EO9066" CD-ROM, there are some interesting stories about
Terminal Island that I did a quick check on. I'd have taken cut n
pastes from it, but feel that this is a CD that everyone should have
in their collection, and I hate ripping off a great documentary.
If you do not have this CD-ROM, get it! Call or write the
JA National Museum today!
Subject: Re: Terminal Island
Someone may have mentioned this, but there is an alumni-type
organization based in LA called the "Terminal Islanders". Members
consist of families who were pre-War residents of Terminal Island.
Most of pre-War residents were from Wakayama-ken. In some of the
old pre-War year books publised by the LA Japanese community,
advertisements, articles and photos appear about the Southern
California Japanese Fishing Association headquartered there.
I have also come across pre-War Japanese gov't reports here in Tokyo
sent by LA Japanese Consulate on this and other business and
social organizations.
Until about several years, a kibei-nisei gentlemen referred to as
Hama-chan (I think his real name was Hamazaki) wrote a regular series of articles
in the Japanese section of the Rafu Shimpo, about his recollections of life in pre-War Terminal Island. The title
of the series was "Same (pronounced SA-me) no Jidai".
Subject: Re: Terminal Island: Tamikazu Hamasaki
I noted your reference to "Hama-chan" of the "Terminal Islanders"
organization and his Rafu-Shimpo column -- which appeared, mostly
(to my recollection) in the early 80s. In any event, his name is
Tamikazu Hamasaki. Sadly, he passed away in November last year
at the Keiro Nursing Home in L.A. Tamikazu was born on Terminal Island
but was sent to Japan for education (kibei). He graduated from Shingu
Middle School (in the pre-War system, equivalent of Grades 7-11)
in Wakayama. His parents had hailed from nearby Tahara (present-day
Koza-cho). Before his retirement, he was a California State employee
for over 30 years, I was told.
The "Terminal Islanders" organization is still around. It belongs
to the Harbor District Japanese Community Center in Long Beach
(1766 Seabright Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813). Mr. Yukio Tatsumi
is the current president of the organization . BTW, Yukio-san is
also the current Executive Director of Beikoku Shodo Kenkyu-kai and
is an accomplished calligrapher.
Subject: Re: Terminal Island: Tamikazu Hamasaki
> "Hama-chan" of the "Terminal Islanders" organization passed away in November last year.
I did read an article about his passing in the Rafu Shimpo.
I used to look forward to reading his articles.
It has been several years since I read them, but I do recall that among
the earlier pieces, he remarked about how the LA Japanese Consulate officials
were of no help to the Japanese community in combatting the discriminatory fishery
laws that were enacted in California.
Other articles such as life in the Army, Camp and a one- or two-part article
which listed all the names what ken they were from.
I tried to cut and save most of his articles, but unfortunately I lost
them in the process of moving.
"Hashi To Fork No Aida (Between Chopsticks and Fork)"
is a compilation of Rafu Shimpo articles by Nomoto Ippei.
Were Tamikazu Hamasaki's articles also compiled into a book?
"Kibei Nisei" by Yamashiro-san (forgot his first name)
is a book of recollections about the settling of his family's property
and ohaka question with relatives in Okinawa. I found it quite interesting.
It is unfortunate that all of the things written by issei and nisei
in the Japanese language have not been translated into English.
Subject: Re: Terminal Island: Tamikazu Hamasaki
> Were Tamikazu Hamasaki's articles compiled into a book?
Tamikazu Hamasaki's Rafu-Shimpo pieces have not been put together
in a book but they should, for JA posterity.
> "Kibei Nisei" by Yamashiro-san (forgot his first name)
> is a book of recollections about the settling of his family's property
> and ohaka question with relatives in Okinawa.
Mr. Yamashiro's first name is Masao. He is still around and seems to be doing well.
I think he in his late 70s or early 80s. A month or so ago I spoke with
Prof. Yuji Ichioka of UCLA, a good friend of Yamshiro-san, and he said he is
apparently doing well. "Kibei Nisei" is an excellent book that, in my view,
should be read by all who are interested in JA ethnography.
> "Hashi To Fork No Aida (Between Chopsticks and Fork)"
> is a compilation of Rafu Shimpo articles by Nomoto Ippei.
Nomoto Ippei (a.k.a. NORIMOTO, Keizo) is currently writing a series entitled
"Bo-Bo no Ki" (I don't know what his preference might be for its translation,
but let's say for the time being, "The Hazy Horizon Afar - A Memoir") in
"TV FAN", a monthly magazine published in Los Angeles for the Japanese T.V.
program viewers. In my view, he is by far the best essayist writing in Japanese
on the U.S. mainland.
Mr. Nomoto (or the Rev. Nomoto -- now retired from his former Fresno Betsuin
post) is the current C.E.O. of Hokubei Mainichi and lives near J-Town in
San Francisco. He also periodically contributes to the Rafu Shimpo's
Japanese section "Mokuyo Zuihitsu". In his essays, he openly writes about
his struggle with the cancer. He seems to be doing well, judging from his
prolific writing and the hectic schedule he seems to be keeping.
Subject: Re: Terminal Island
> Mr. Yamashiro's first name is Masao. He is still around and seems to be doing well.
> I think he in his late 70s or early 80s. "Kibei Nisei" is an excellent book that, in my view,
> should be read by all who are interested in JA ethnography.
I have been reading Yamashiro-san's "Kobuta wo Kai" column whenever
it appears in the Rafu Shimpo. I found "Kibei Nisei" his account of his experiences
resolving family property issues in Okinawa-ken quite interesting.
Although not nearly as traumatic as what Yamazaki-san wrote about,
several of my Nikkei and Japanese friends have had similar differences
with their relatives in the countryside regarding the family zaisan.
> Nomoto Ippei, in my view, is by far the best essayist writing in Japanese
> on the U.S. mainland. He also periodically contributes to the Rafu Shimpo's
> Japanese section "Mokuyo Zuihitsu". In his essays, he openly writes about
> his struggle with the cancer.
I also enjoy reading the articles of Nomoto Ippei-san and the other
contributors to the "Mokuyo Zuihitsu." In one of his recent columns,
he expressed his concern about the decline of Japanese language
newspapers in the States. I sincerely hope he is able to defeat his illness.
> A month or so ago I spoke with Prof. Yuji Ichioka of UCLA, a good
> friend of Yamshiro-san, and he said he is apparently doing well.
I thought Prof. Yuji Ichioka's well-referenced book on the Issei was excellent.
He touched briefly on the dark side (gambling, prostitution,
cheating on one another, prejudices brought over from Japan, etc.)
as part of the entire picture pre-War Issei society. I've never seen any book
done on this dark side of Nikkei society.
If you have the opportunity to meet Prof. Ichioka again in the near future,
I hope you can suggest that he do research and write another book on
this other side of issei history. If there is anyone who is qualified
and respected enough to do this task, it is him.
Subject: Re: Terminal Island
I have been working on this "Japanese American Internment" paper for what seems like decades.
It has been hard to mold an at least decent paper out of all the information I have
looked through but it is the most interesting research paper I have done.
I think every high school student in the US, or at least every Japanese American
student should do this. I think they will appreciate the society they live in now
and realize how much they take for granted. I learned a lot from the two novels
I read recently, Picture Bride and Nisei Daughter and this research paper.
Also, I feel as though I need to continue working on building the bridge
between the two worlds I belong to. It has been a great experience.
