In 1944, a small group of Japanese Americans in Chicago volunteered to assist the War Relocation Authority (WRA) with the resettlement of former internees to the city. The WRA, the very agency that handled the evacuation and incarceration of Japanese Americans in remote camps, toward the end of the war urged internees to resettle away from the West coast. Chicago was chosen for its economic opportunities and relative tolerance toward Asian Americans and was the largest resettlement point east of the Rockies.
In September 1945, The Chicago Resettlers Committee (CRC) held their first formal organizational meeting, and when the WRA closed its offices in June 1946, the CRC assumed the responsibility for helping some 20,000 resettlers adjust to their new homes in the city.
In the beginning, the primary goal of the CRC (later the Japanese American Service Committee) was to help resettlers with basic needs, such as housing and employment. Funded by modest membership dues and grants from several church groups, the CRC provided referral and counseling services for the former internees, sometimes assisting more than 300 residents in a single month. The CRC also promoted assimilation in the community, while maintaining Japanese culture.
As time passed, the CRC worked with Japanese Americans on either end of the age spectrum. The Issei, who were aging and did not have relevant language or job skills, needed support; and the Nisei, who were often living independently without family or friends, also needed help to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Aside from the referral services first offered, the CRC developed language and citizenship classes, economic opportunities, and social gatherings for the Issei; and for the Nisei, they supported clubs, Japanese American culture, athletics, and other social events. According to the 1949 annual report of the CRC, the agency supported 67 Nisei groups and 21 Issei groups in 503 meetings.
As needs have changed, so has the organization now known as the Japanese American Service Committee. Today the organization promotes cultural programs, preserves the history of the Japanese American community in Chicago, and supports senior citizens through day care, home support, and other services.
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- Myths and facts about the Japanese Americans, published by the WRA, June 1945. After playing on the prejudices against Japanese Americans and directing their evacuation and incarceration at the beginning of World War II, the WRA published pamphlets designed to dispel prejudices. From the UIC-JASC papers.
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- One of the myths was that Caucasian farmers couldn’t compete with farmers of Japanese descent.
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- English class at the CRC, ca. 1946. Classes like this one helped meet the CRC’s goal for resettlers to join the wider society. The first executive director, Corky Kawasaki stands at right. Kawasaki the CRC in 1947 to join the Quaker organization in Philadelphia. From the Japanese American Service Committee Records, RG 10.
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- Jack Yasutake, the second executive director of the CRC (1947-54), with unidentified staff member. From the Guidebook Chicago, 1949.
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- Early board meeting of the CRC, 1954. Executive Director Kenji Nakane stands at the end of the table. Nearly 10 years after the CRC had founded, the priorities had broadened to improving the quality of life for senior Issei and protecting the young Nisei from the temptations of city life. From the Japanese American Service Committee Records, RG 10.
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- “Chicago Nisei Hotel” and “Home-like Boarding House,” advertisements appearing in the Chicago Japanese American Yearbook, 1948.
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- The Chicago Nisei Hotel and the Home-like Boarding House appealed to young Nisei for their reasonable cost and community living. From the Chicago Japanese American Yearbook, 1948.
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- Teenagers from Hyde Park High School stroll home from school, 1951. Unlike cities on the West coast, Chicago did not have a “Japan Town;” however, the majority of resettlers lived on the south and near north sides. Despite Chicago’s reputation as a reasonably tolerant city, housing in all areas was not open to Japanese Americans, because of restrictive neighborhood and suburban covenants. From the Pictorial Guidebook, 1951.
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- “Chicago Oriental Council List of Cemeteries Contacted for Lots for Orientals.” Even the dead could not mix easily. As the survey indicates, most cemeteries did not accept Asians. The CRC helped lobby against these covenants. From the UIC-JASC papers.
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- “Your Opportunity for Big Pay…National Chick Sexing Association and School.” The Association and School advertised regularly in Chicago directories, such as the Guidebook Chicago, 1949. Chick sexing paid fairly well and was popular with resettlers, because they did not encounter discrimination in hiring; and the GI Bill paid this school’s tuition. From the Guidebook Chicago, 1949.
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- Philco Service shop, ca. 1950. Radio repair was another job open to skilled resettlers. An unidentified resettler poses in his workplace. From the Mary and James Numata collection.
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- Dale’s Cleaners and Football Team, 1949. Many of the resettlers started their own businesses. Dale’s Cleaners was successful enough to sponsor an undefeated football team and to advertise in the Chicago Japanese American Year Book.
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- Walls Flower Shop advertisement, 1950. Established by MIS veteran Suts Nishijima and his wife, Wall’s Flower Shop is still in business and remains in the Nishijima family. From the Guidebook Chicago, 1950.
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- The Chicago Huskies basketball team, 1951. The Huskies team was one of the first organized and won the Midwest Area Championships multiple times. The CRC encouraged Nisei sports as a way to participate in the wider community and to keep those young single Nisei out of trouble! From the Pictorial Guidebook, 1951.
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- Nisei girls basketball team in the city-wide playoff, 1951. Girls’ teams were a big part of the Nisei sports movement. From the Pictorial Guidebook, 1951.
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- Shinyu dance lesson, ca. 1951. Shinyu, a Nisei social club, was one of the many activities the CRC encouraged. From the Mary and James Numata collection.
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- Shinyu picnic, ca. 1950. From the Japanese American Service Committee Records, RG 10.
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- Eastern Buddhist League dance, ca. 1950. From the Fred Yamaguchi Photograph collection.
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- CRC members admire their Ikebana, n.d. While the CRC wanted resettlers to assimilate, they also nurtured Japanese American Culture in Chicago through classes and clubs. From the Japanese American Service Committee Records, RG 10.
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- The Cosmos Club at CRC, 1954. The CRC formed the Cosmos to help Japanese war brides adjust to American life. From the Japanese American Service Committee Records, RG 10.
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- Issei outing, ca. 1950. The CRC was particularly concerned about the Issei, who had lost so much in the internment, had limited English skills, and often felt isolated in their new environment. The organization sought to alleviate some of the unhappiness with community outings. From the Japanese American Service Committee Records, RG 10.
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- Issei enjoy a sunny day in the countryside, ca. 1951. From the Japanese American Service Committee Records, RG10.
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- “Go” tournament, 1949. Issei men play traditional Japanese game at the CRC building. This tournament was one of many gatherings held at the CRC Headquarters. During one month, for example, the organization held 45 events with over 1,000 attendees. From the Chicago Guidebook, 1949.
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- Issei Work Center, ca. 1970. As the Nisei became accustomed to living in Chicago, the aging Issei were still troubled. The Japanese American Service Committee (formerly the CRC) opened the Issei Work Center, which allowed the elders to gain a sense of satisfaction and earnings through the production of items such as these fishing reels. JASC continues to care for the elderly (now Nisei) through day care, outings, and home support programs. From the Japanese American Service Committee Records, RG 10.
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