Oregon Nikkei History
On this site we highlight photos from our historical collection housed at the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center in Portland's Old Town neighborhood, as well as other information about history and Japanese Americans in Oregon. Please visit www.oregonnikkei.org to learn more about the Oregon Nikkei Endowment and its programs.
Kikuo Hiromura, the father of the donor of this photo, wearing what appears to be work attire. This photo is unique in that it is one of the few where Kikuo is smiling. Circa 1920s.
Portrait of Seki Hiromura, the mother of the donor of this photo, and one of her sons. Seki and her husband Kikuo raised their five boys in Portland, Oregon. Circa 1925.
Council Crest is a park in Portland, and in 1912 (when this picture was taken), Council Crest Amusement Park was a popular attraction, accessible only by streetcar. The amusement park closed in 1929.
Kikuo Hiromura (the image donor’s father) is on the far left of this portrait. The others are unknown.
The Endow Family of Hood River, circa 1926. From left to right: Tei, Kane, Mitsue, Shoichi, Shohei.
Dr. Kei Koyama in his dental office at NW 3rd Avenue and Couch Street in Portland’s Japantown, circa 1941. Dr. Koyama’s office was in the Merchant Hotel building.
Shohei Endow of Hood River, Oregon
Japanese American families looking for clams, circa 1925. The donor of photo thought that it might have been taken in Japan, but the Western clothes suggest this beach is somewhere in the Pacific Northwest.
The Hood River Nikkei community gathered to celebrate the enthronement of Emperor Hirohito, 1928. This picture is unique in that it includes almost the entire Japanese American population in the Hood River Valley.
Members of Hood Sadaji Shiogi’s family picking berries. The Shiogi family owned farmland in Montavilla, Oregon, and leased land in Troutdale, Oregon, around the time this photo was taken (circa 1915).
Teruo Tsuboi at the Tsuboi Bros. jewelry store, possibly repairing a pocket watch, circa 1920. The Tsuboi Bros. store was located in Portland’s Japantown on what is now NW 6th Avenue and Burnside Street.
1937 Undokai, Portland
The annual undokai (or community picnic) was the big event of the year, usually held in the early summer. Activities included races and dancing for both children and adults. The undokai always included an elaborate lunch with tasty dishes such as nishime, onigiri, fried chicken, teriyaki chicken, dried fish, pickles and sushi. This photo is dated May 13, 1937, and was taken in Portland, Oregon.
The Enzo Iwashita family at a picnic in Portland, Oregon, circa 1929.
Saito Fish Company, Portland’s Japantown
Mr. Saito driving the Saito Fish Co. car, circa 1915. The Saito Fish Market was located in Portland’s Japantown on what is now NW Fourth Avenue.
Minidoka Relocation Center residents, 1945
The residents of Block 37 in Minidoka in 1945. This photo donor’s mother is seated in the second row, and his father is standing in the third row. The donor speculates that this photo was taken near the closing of the Minidoka camp since there are so few people shown.
1930 Japanese community Portland Rose Festival parade float
Portland’s Japanese community used to participate annually in the Rose Festival’s floral parade, particularly in the 1920s and ’30s as their families grew (and grew up). This float from 1930 features a torii at the front and a large Buddha (Kamakura Daibutsu) at the back. The girls on the float are all dressed formally and are wearing tiaras, so this was probably the 1930 Japanese American community queen and princesses.
