Japanese American Culture in Oregon, Pt. 2

Explore 140 years of Oregon’s Japanese American history through food

By Japanese American Museum of Oregon

Community Picnic (1948/1954) by Frank C. HiraharaJapanese American Museum of Oregon

Get a glimpse of our permanent exhibition with this food-focused tour that shows the ways that connection through food was built, broken, and then reclaimed over time within the Japanese American communities of Oregon.

Permanent Exhibit - Nihonmachi Storefront Replica (2021) by Japanese American Museum of OregonJapanese American Museum of Oregon

Farming

Many Issei brought knowledge of efficient farming techniques with them and found success growing fruits and vegetables across Oregon state.

Sunrise Fruit at Yamhill Farmer's Market (1920/1945) by UnknownJapanese American Museum of Oregon

In 1909, 25% of Nikkei (people of Japanese descent living outside of Japan) in Oregon were farmers, and Japanese-grown produce stocked more than 100 grocery stores and fruit stands in Portland.

Men posing with farm tools (1909) by unknownJapanese American Museum of Oregon

Japanese immigrants worked as sharecroppers and eventually established their own farms in communities like Hood River, Gresham, Salem, and Portland, among other places.

Men In Strawberry Shed (1916) by UnknownJapanese American Museum of Oregon

By 1920, Japanese farmers were reported to own half of the acreage of raspberries in the state, 90% of the strawberries, 30-40% of the loganberries and 60% of all the vegetables.

Picking celery at a farm in Milwaukie, OR. (1925) by Sell StudioJapanese American Museum of Oregon

Nikkei farmers found a niche growing unique strains of crops. Those in Lake Labish, Oregon, were well known for their celery.

Meadow Brand Celery leaflet (1940) by Labish Meadows Celery UnionJapanese American Museum of Oregon

Former railroad worker Roy Kinzaburo Fukuda organized the Labish Meadow Celery Union and developed the famous Golden Plume Celery that was shipped nationwide.

Egg Race (1900/1940) by UnknownJapanese American Museum of Oregon

Community

The Nikkei Community Picnic, which is still around today, is an important intergenerational event that dates back to early immigration.

Children playing at picnic (1910/1936) by UnknownJapanese American Museum of Oregon

The Picnic’s origins can be traced to when Japanese immigrants came to Oregon, bringing with them traditions of undokai (sports festivals) and kenjinkai (organizations of people from the same area in Japan).

Picnic on the Grass (1945/1960) by UnknownJapanese American Museum of Oregon

The undokai continued as annual community picnics before and after WWII.

Playing Cards (1948/1954) by Frank C. HiraharaJapanese American Museum of Oregon

Many Japanese American families didn’t live near each other, so these gatherings were a way for folks from far-flung corners of the state to get together and catch up, like a reunion.

Community Picnic Egg Race (1948/1954) by Frank C. HiraharaJapanese American Museum of Oregon

For early immigrants, it was an opportunity for the Issei to teach their kids about Japanese culture, food, and holidays. Those intergenerational traditions continue today.

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Japanese American Museum of Oregon

Stories from Japanese American Museum of Oregon

Online Exhibit