The Hood River Issei: An Oral History of Japanese Settlers in Oregon's Hood River Valley

by Linda Tamura

The Hood River Issei tells the story of the Japanese who immigrated between the late 1800s and the 1920s, settling in Oregon's rural Hood River Valley. In 1985 Linda Tamura began interviewing Issei (first-generation Japanese), the youngest of whom were eighty-two. This compelling story captures their recollections of early life in Japan, immigration to and settlement in the United States, and the hardships they experienced during World War II.
 

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II

384 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1993

Reviews

[Richard Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Linda Tamura has done a fabulous job of interviewing the surviving original Japanese immigrants to Hood River, Oregon in the late 1800's up through 1920. In addition, her extensive research into the living conditions, cultural integration into American society and the amount of racism they faced, opens up a period of history in this small Oregon county that many would prefer had remained buried as it exposes some of America's European cultural heritage that from time to time has dogged a country which supposedly welcomes all, is a melting pot, and has built it's wealth and power through the inclusion of many different races, creeds and cultures.
Beginning with the actual immigration, she exposes the hardships endured by men and women as they immigrated to America, often singly, as hopeful brides, railway workers, farmers, businessmen and a few families. Often leaving Japan due to hardships in that country, and the need to send money home to help the strong family ties often requiring them to scrimp on their living in America to keep these ties strong.
Stages in each of some 12 family's life stories both before and after their arrival in the States are described beautifully to give us a window into schooling of children, the role of women, religious life, and early adjustments to this strange new world they have entered and the grueling labor required just to survive.
Later chapters describe how the families grew, how they handled trying times in the integration period which covers over forty years. At this point, the theme changes to discuss and tell the stories of the loyal Japanese families who, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor by Japan in 1941, were completely ostracized both locally and by the US Government which regarded them as possible security risks and thus relocated thousands of US citizens of Japanese descent to internment camps where they were housed and imprisoned for years. The Bravery and commitment to the US cause in the War by these interned families and their sons who were often in the Military as combat soldiers and translators is explained as they weathered the years of war as loyal Americans, only to be faced with intense discrimination by their communities including Hood River when the war ended and they returned, as heroes, but treated as if they were trash.
The ending of the book deals with the eventual compensation of many of the Japanese families for their losses due to their internment and loss of farms, businesses and homes; their strong family ties which were supported by the Methodist Episcopal churches and their success in the Hood River Valley, eventually leading to them becoming fully integrated and leaders in the community as well as bearers of the history of oppression which has helped mold modern Oregon in many ways to help modern Oregonians understand and accept their own complicity in the tragedies described as well as to make commitments that this should not have happened as it did, and must never happen again. A fascinating story, well told by Professor Linda Tamura.

[Marleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Tamura interviewed Issei (first generation Japanese Americans born in Japan) who had lived and worked in the farming community of Hood River in the beginning of the 20th century. Although they made up a little more than 11% of the population, Hood River had the largest concentration of Japanese in Oregon. They were accused of "taking over the valley." Unfortunately it was also the center of the greatest amount of anti-Japanese sentiment in the state. It was heartbreaking when they were forced to leave because the federal government's exclusion order. Within a few days they needed to find caretakers for their precious orchards. They were transferred into American Concentration Camps fur the duration of the war and returned to their farms in a hostile environment. Through their personal histories you can admire their grit and determination to make this unwelcoming place their home. Their whole focus was on saving money to send their children, the Nisei to school. Education was seen as the opportunity to improve their prospects. Their success can be measured by the fact that many Nisei did not go back to the farm to work although discriminatory hiring practices in the 50's forced many to still continue working in agriculture even with a college degree.

[Ycrue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in Japanese, so this review may not be entirely reflective of this book, but I learned a lot from this book. I’m a Japanese live in Oregon, but there were many things I didn’t know about the Japanese immigrants in early 1900’s. I didn’t know they laid railroads in PNW and developed farmlands near Hood River. The history book doesn’t teach many things about their lives before, during and after the interment, and this book is so valuable as records of oral history of Japanese Issei who are no longer around.

[K. Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very thorough, very interesting look at the lives of Issei immigrants to Hood River especially up to World War II. Tamura does tons of interviews and lets the Issei themselves explain their lives in their own words.

Dense, academic and chock full of interesting tidbits about Issei lives of that time.