Japan Town...in Tacoma?

(Editor note - We first posted this story 2 years ago,a few of the details have changed, so we thought what the heck, lets do it again) At first glance you'll notice knee deep weeds, garbage, and little trace of what once was the heart of the Nihonmachi or in english Japan Town. Its not hard to find, just look for the freshly plowed earth and overgrown sidewalk but, you better do it quick!

First a little history, in 1885 Tacoma and its civic leaders forced Chinese laborers from the community and burned their homes and shacks near the waterfront and along Opera Alley, as it was felt the current depression and economic hardships in Tacoma were a result of the cheap Chinese labor. So no China Town for Tacoma, the deportee's were taken by train to Portland or Olympia and in some cases forced to walk. Following the deportation, those responsible were charged, but never convicted.

Within a few years and the arrival the railroads, cheap labor was still needed for both the sawmills and agriculture, allowing a different community to assemble and take shape, Japan Town was born - the Nihonmachi was here. Most white people in the community were still bitter towards anyone of Asian decent, welcoming the new community and its residents with segregation and discrimination.

In 1889 the Sisson or Astor House opened and was the first and only hotel at the time, allowing Japanese guests at some 15-20 blocks from the Northern Pacific terminus. Only the ground floor remains in the Gordon Swetland photo.

In the 1920's, much of the Nihonmachi and Japanese small businesses flourished, providing farm fresh food from the fertile Puyallup valley and other services the city craved. Many of the "city trades" were directly tied to rural occupations, particularly logging,fishing, and farming.

Businesses such as boarding houses, hotels, restaurants, barber shops, and gambling houses were dependent on the constant traffic of single male laborers who traveled a circuit in Washington and Oregon from one crop to the next, from the Puyallyp Valley to the Yakima and Spokane Valley. The Sisson House, a small hotel in Tacoma, was one such business catering to laborers. Other city businesses were also oriented toward farming and logging interests.

In Tacoma, Fujimatsu Moriguchi a native of Yawathhama Japan, was one such businessman who made and sold fish cakes and other items from the back of his truck to Japanese laborers working in sawmills and fishing camps around Puget Sound. After internment at Tule Lake, California, Mr. Moriguchi relocated his family to Seattle and opened what is now the largest Japanese supermarket in the Pacific Northwest, Uwajimaya.

Whats left on the 1500 block, are crumbling concrete memories hidden away in the grass and blackberry vines. Most notable, and visible is the ruin of 1528 Fawcett. A former two story apartment house that in 1940 housed the Tsuchimochi and the Sato families. It's now gone, only the porch and retaining wall remain.

Along this stretch we found 12 concrete reminders of the past, six connected to Japanese families, 4 remaining houses with no connection, and evidence of four smaller structures that probably served as garages. The opposite side of the street shared a equal amount of homes, and 5 Japanese families, those homes have long since been removed, similar to the fate awaiting the concrete reminders on the other side.

On the 1300 block the traces are more recognizable and homes still stand of the former Nihonmachi. The most notable is the home of Jack Sugimoto at 1335 Fawcett. The stick framed home was con-structed in 1900 and features a stacked rock entry (shown in photo). This block contains 6 structures still standing of Nihonmachi.

 (Story, Gordon Swetland and Chad Schnieder, Photos Stephen Cysewski and Gordon Swetland)

Update May 24th, 2009 - When previously posted this story we had some limited response from the community and a follow-on photo shoot / tour, that a handful of citizens showed up for. The war years were a dark time for Tacoma and the Nionmachi and about wiped it from existence. We at Then & Now recommend you take the stroll on Fawcett, the trail isn't hard to pick up.

Comments

[morgan]

Here's an interesting link on the subject of Japanese-American history. Search on "Tacoma" - currently only 2 panoramic photos come up:
http://www.janm.org/collections/online/list

Very interesting site - check out the collections.

[Chad Schneider]

Excllent article! Those panoramic photos are something else!

[morgan]

More links for researchers:
http://www.urbandetails.com/washington/tacoma/japantown/

Of particular interest is a pdf document HISTORY OF THE JAPANESE OF TACOMA - translated from the Japanese by James Watanabe, 1986. This translation of a 1917 chronicle contains detailed information on the activities of the Tacoma Japanese Association, histories of various Japanese organizations in the Tacoma area from the barbers union to the haiku clubs, and background information on most of the Japanese families in the greater Tacoma area.

[Chad Schneider]

Morgan, what great information you have....these articles are amazing. It's such an important part of our history and there should be some rememberance.

[Crenshaw Sepulveda]

1414 Tacoma Avenue S. Still standing and the home of a Japanese family from before the war. The house is now part of the Guadalupe house community. Inside the house are many photographs from the family's life and interment during the war. Fr. Bill Bischel lives there and i'm sure he'd love to show you the pictures and tell you of the amazing Japanese woman that lived in the house.

[morgan]

There's an effort in California to research and share information on its Japantowns - pretty cool site:
http://www.californiajapantowns.org/

I would love to see something like this for Washingtopn too.

[Stacey]

This is great info for me. I have been doing much family research and enjoying learning of other families stories, especially before the war. My grandmother was born and farmed in Sumner then the family moved owned and operated YAKIMA fruit and produce in Tacoma on South Tacoma Way! I made a trip back to do more research and the building is actually still there and is a flower shop (Funny grandma moved to California after the war and opened a flower shop). The building had an apartment above the store and that is where my grandmother and the family lived until Executive order 9066.We need to keep their stories alive!

[Jane]

I've enjoyed all the articles I've read from Tacoma Then and Now. I am looking for particular piece I read about Bill Blitz, or.....Bill? The Farmer Bank Robber. Please help me find it again.
Thank You.
Jane

[P Oquist]

Interested in more history stories of the Chinese in Tacoma? Check out "Straw Hats and Steel" by Lorraine Hildebrand.. (shes my mother) used as a NW History at U of W. Great pictures and fun facts.. she still is here and would love to talk history. P Oquist

[llyn de danaan]

Where can I find James Watanabe's translated essay? The link is broken. Thanks. LLyn De Danaan

Also. Does anyone have primary documents related to the 1920s/Uwajimaya? Photographs? Thanks.

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This is a good historical background. Maybe this is the reason why there are houses and other sites or infrastructures that were influenced by these settlers. This is indeed a good educative experience. More power and continue to inspire us with your articles.

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