On December 7, 1941, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. As war broke out, so did feelings of suspicion towards Japanese Americans, ultimately culminating in President Roosevelt’s internment order. Gresham’s Japanese families sold most of what they owned, left behind their farms, and boarded buses headed towards an unknown future. Those who didn’t opt to farm beets arrived at the Portland Assembly Center, where they found livestock stalls that they were temporarily forced to call home. Join us as we travel with them on the first leg of their journey.

Last week, we were introduced to Gresham’s first Japanese settler - Miyo Iwakoshi. In episode 2 of Voices of Gresham, we'll take a closer look at how the issei, and their nisei children, followed in Miyo's footsteps to put down their own roots. Their families' experiences were much like those of many early 20th century American immigrants. Joy and hope were often coupled with tragedy and loss and would define the lives of Japanese American immigrants during the first half of the 20th century.

Music for this episode: Simplicity by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

https://greshamhistorical.org/voices-of-gresham-podcast

In 1880, the first Japanese settler arrived in Oregon. Her name was Miyo Iwakoshi, and her arrival would pave the way for generations of Japanese Americans to come. Buried in an unmarked grave, she became a mystery, uniting historians across space and time in the search for who she was. Join us as we explore the unusual life of Miyo Iwakoshi, the Western Empress of Orient.

Music for this episode: Simplicity by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

https://greshamhistorical.org/voices-of-gresham-podcast