This letter is an example of censorship done by the U.S. Government on mail sent by Japanese Americans, especially those they considered dangerous, often detained alien enemies of the state. Mail sent and received by aliens were thoroughly examined, and censored if necessary. In this particular letter, sent from Shinsuke Sugimoto to his wife, Misao Sugimoto, the name of a Reverend has been cut out with ab Exacto Knife.
Sugimoto was an Issei and born in Kyoto, Japan on September 10, 1884. Sugimoto lived in Japan for 20 years before immigrating to the United States in 1906 when he was just 22-years-old. Sugimoto became an insurance salesman and lived in the Los Angeles, California area.
Sugimoto met and married Misao Sugimoto (nee Toyama) on July 22, 1918 in Marysville, California, where they then lived. Misao Toyama was from the Kumamoto-Ken Prefecture of Japan. Together they had four children: Kathleen, Mary, Roy, and Paul.
Sugimoto then became the Secretary of the Japanese Association of Marysville before relocating to Boyle Heights in 1928. It was there that Sugimoto also taught kendo, a Japanese martial art using bamboo swords.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1945. This Executive Order authorized the designation and removal from military zones of anyone considered a threat to national security, although mostly those of Japanese descent were affected by this. 110,000 people of Japanese descent were relocated to prison camps in Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, Idaho, Arkansas, California, and Colorado.
Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated in waves, and Sugimoto was one of the first to be arrested after Executive Order 9066 was signed. It is believed that because of Sugimoto's kendo expertise that he was considered a danger by the U.S. government and thus the reason for his sudden arrest. Sugimoto was arrested so suddenly that he wrote to his family and told them he had barely any time to get dressed, and that he had left an unfinished tax return on the desk.
Sugimoto was brought to the Tuna Canyon Detention Station in Tujunga, California, where he stayed and wrote letters home to his family until his relocation to the Santa Fe Alien Detention Camp in New Mexico. Sugimoto instructed his eldest son Roy to sell the family belongings, and left more instructions with his eldest children on how to deal with familial finances and business. From the prison camps, Sugimoto was able to write to his family, tell them he loved them, that he thought of them often, hoped they were well, expressed his worry for them, and reassured them that he was well, and to comply with orders and not worry about their eventual relocation.
During Sugimoto's stay in the prison camps, his family was relocated from their home in Los Angeles and moved to the Santa Anita Assembly Center, a racing track turned temporary housing facility until the prison camps were finished. The Sugimoto family (minus Shinsuke Sugimoto) were then relocated to the Granda (Amache) Prison Camp in Colorado, and Shinsuke Sugimoto was finally able to reunite with his family there at the age of 58.
Sugimoto's daughter Mary and her husband Yoshio were sent to the Rohwer, Arkansas camp. Sugimoto's youngest son Paul was still of school-age, and Sugimoto encouraged Paul to study hard and get his education, even when Sugimoto was separated from the rest of the family. Paul attended the Amache Junior High School and Amache Senior High School inside the Amache Prison Camp.
Sugimoto unfortunately did not live to see liberation from the Amache Prison Camp. He died just two months shy of his family's release at the age of 61 on March 24, 1945, in the Amache Prison Camp.
Sugimoto's Buddhist funeral service was held on March 30, 1945 inside the camp. Sugimoto was cremated by the Fairmount Cemetary Association in Denver, Colorado, and his ashes were sent to his widow, Misao Sugimoto.
This is a letter written by Shinsuke Sugimoto to his family while he was imprisoned in the Tuna Canyon Detention Station in Tujunga, California, sent shortly after his arrest and imprisonment.
Sugimoto talks of his concern about his family, states that he barely had time to get dressed when the authorities came to the door, and tells Kathleen, his oldest daughter, to finish Mr. Waikizi's unfinish tax return for him.
Sugimoto was an Issei and born in Kyoto, Japan on September 10, 1884. Sugimoto lived in Japan for 20 years before immigrating to the United States in 1906 when he was just 22-years-old. Sugimoto became an insurance salesman and lived in the Los Angeles, California area.
Sugimoto met and married Misao Sugimoto (nee Toyama) on July 22, 1918 in Marysville, California, where they then lived. Misao Toyama was from the Kumamoto-Ken Prefecture of Japan. Together they had four children: Kathleen, Mary, Roy, and Paul.
Sugimoto then became the Secretary of the Japanese Association of Marysville before relocating to Boyle Heights in 1928. It was there that Sugimoto also taught kendo, a Japanese martial art using bamboo swords.
Following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1945. This Executive Order authorized the designation and removal from military zones of anyone considered a threat to national security, although mostly those of Japanese descent were affected by this. 110,000 people of Japanese descent were relocated to prison camps in Utah, Wyoming, Arizona, Idaho, Arkansas, California, and Colorado.
Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated in waves, and Sugimoto was one of the first to be arrested after Executive Order 9066 was signed. It is believed that because of Sugimoto's kendo expertise that he was considered a danger by the U.S. government and thus the reason for his sudden arrest. Sugimoto was arrested so suddenly that he wrote to his family and told them he had barely any time to get dressed, and that he had left an unfinished tax return on the desk.
Sugimoto was brought to the Tuna Canyon Detention Station in Tujunga, California, where he stayed and wrote letters home to his family until his relocation to the Santa Fe Alien Detention Camp in New Mexico. Sugimoto instructed his eldest son Roy to sell the family belongings, and left more instructions with his eldest children on how to deal with familial finances and business. From the prison camps, Sugimoto was able to write to his family, tell them he loved them, that he thought of them often, hoped they were well, expressed his worry for them, and reassured them that he was well, and to comply with orders and not worry about their eventual relocation.
During Sugimoto's stay in the prison camps, his family was relocated from their home in Los Angeles and moved to the Santa Anita Assembly Center, a racing track turned temporary housing facility until the prison camps were finished. The Sugimoto family (minus Shinsuke Sugimoto) were then relocated to the Granda (Amache) Prison Camp in Colorado, and Shinsuke Sugimoto was finally able to reunite with his family there at the age of 58.
Sugimoto's daughter Mary and her husband Yoshio were sent to the Rohwer, Arkansas camp. Sugimoto's youngest son Paul was still of school-age, and Sugimoto encouraged Paul to study hard and get his education, even when Sugimoto was separated from the rest of the family. Paul attended the Amache Junior High School and Amache Senior High School inside the Amache Prison Camp.
Sugimoto unfortunately did not live to see liberation from the Amache Prison Camp. He died just two months shy of his family's release at the age of 61 on March 24, 1945, in the Amache Prison Camp.
Sugimoto's Buddhist funeral service was held on March 30, 1945 inside the camp. Sugimoto was cremated by the Fairmount Cemetary Association in Denver, Colorado, and his ashes were sent to his widow, Misao Sugimoto.
This is a letter from The Foreign Service of the United States of America in Kobe dated June 24, 1948 and it is addressed to Miss Fusae Fukumoto. It is a passport application approval letter, and states that her passport is available for pick up at the Kobe office.
The letter states that Fukumoto could return to the United States once she had her passport and once she made an appointment with the office, and that it was only valid until June 14, 1950.
Letter and cover sent to Margaret Barron, after the death of Edward Barron in 1944, from Shizuka Yamasaki.The letter thanks Mrs. Barron for all of her kindness and help eleven months after relocation to Seabrook Maryland, with eight months passed at the Barron’s house. Also informs Mrs. Barron that her son, Harold, was wounded in combat and was awarded the Purple Heart. Dated March 28, 1945.
Letter addressed to Harumi Yamasaki from Edward Barron proposing resettlement at Seabrook, Maryland. It states that Mr. Yamasaki’s daughter visited the property the previous week with the intention of resettlement, and describes in detail in an attached letter the requirements and opportunities of work on and around the property. Barron is extending his offer to Yamasaki to work on the farm as discussed in this letter and previous letters. Dated March 24, 1944.
Letter addressed to Edward Barron from Shizuoka Yamasaki regarding acceptance of his offer of employment at his farm. It alerts Mr. Barron about potential delays due to dental issues and the lack of dentists and medical supplies. Yamasaki expresses his intent to accept the job, but does signify the potential delay. Sent from Amache Concentration Camp on March 25, 1944.
Initial letter from Edward Barron to the War Relocation Authority regarding housing for Japanese American families wishing to resettle. It indicates he received requests from Mr. Edwin Nagahashi of Tule Lake, California. Dated August 27th, 1943. This letter shows the beginnings of additional relocation of Japanese Americans after their incarceration.
Six page written letter addressed to. Margaret Barron from Mrs. Shizuka Yamasaki. States that Mr. Yamasaki and her arrived at Seabrook Farms, New Jersey the previous week. Both were able to find jobs, and request Mrs. Barron about forwarding mail to their new address. Seabrook Farms was one of the most accepting and open places that helped Japanese Americans reestablish their lives and get back on their feet. This food plant employed many former prisoners, and gave them the first steps to get back to their normal lives. Letter is dated January 4, 1945.