The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1949-01-01
EyaCueeS Like
Three Key Cities
OF Northwest

Basking warmly under the Paci-
fic Northwest sun are approximate
ly l0.525 japanese who are concen-
trated In three key cities-Seattle.
Portland and Spokane
They have returned home after
trying evacuation period-an alb
sence of more than four years to
points East which were familiar to
them only in the matter of geogra-
phical knowledge.
The migration back 10 this
part of the country was a slow
process, everyone will admit.
But as soon as the news that the
Nisei and their parents were being
accepted favorably by their Cauca-
sian neighbors. spread to the Mid
west and East, Nisei and Issei alike
abandoned their wartime jobs and
temporary residences to come back
to where they were born, reared
and educated.
Seattle boasts the largest concern
tration of Nisei and Issei in the Pa
cific Northwest. The University OF
Washington sociology department In
its survey released in 1947 reported
1900 here. The current estimation
puts it at $500.
The Nisei in Seattle have
found good paying jobs I'm postof-
fices, state institutions, private
industries and hospitals. The We
terans A d m illustration and
Boeing's have quite number OF
Nisei In their firms, but Olympic
Foundry probably has the largest
number employed. according TO
Labor Expert George MinatO Of
the CLIO Cannery Workers Union.
Nisei who wished to be on their
own have gone into gardening, COM
mercial art. and. of course, the nu-
merous businesses which are the
lifeblood of a growing community.
The rapidly-aging Issei who have
but time on their hand, report for
domestic and odds-and- work.
As Is the case i'm any commune
ity, the churches figure promin-
emily In interesting the people in
religious, educational and social
ties.
The leading Nisei organization in
the city is the Nlsei Veterans Com
mittee, possibly because most Of
the Nisei, unless rejected ON &C
count OF physical condition. have
at one time or the other served
: during World War II. The NVC is
led by capable Albert Ichihara,
chairman.
The Japanese Americans drifted
: back to the Portland AREA more re-
l. luctantly, however. probably recall
ing the Infamous Hood River u
D honor roll incident which caused 6
nationwide resentment.
Il The full flow Of the Nisei In
10 the Rose City area did not ma
terialize until 1947. There. the
! Nisei-Issei population Is set at
2,275 which Is 65 per cent Of the
pre-war total Of $500.
e Like the Seattleites. the Portland
d and vicinity Japanese are now buy
ing homes. firm in their belief that
this time they will stay. The pene-
tration into private business Is lag
lying. There are only fifteen gro
cery stores whereas, before evacua-
ton, there were sixty-six And the
Japanese hold but nineteen hotels
a third of what they had in pre-
war days
Many Nisei ex-GI's, along with
their buddies in other cities, are
taking advantage Of the CT Bill OF
Rights 10 attend colleges and uni
versities.
In Spokane, the situation has Inn
proved immensely.
A stopping point for many Japa
nese Americans who were eastbount
+ after the evacuation, Spokane ha
absorbed about 1900 evacuees 4
E. raise japanese population TO 1000
lie Most of the evacuees are from Mi
e. nidoka, Idaho; the Others hail from
nc California and Oregon.
is Continued on Page q
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