California Genealogical Society blog: Nikkei genealogy

Showing posts with label Nikkei genealogy. Show all posts

03 March 2019

"Finding Your Japanese Roots" with Linda Okazaki: March 10

Posted by Jennifer Dix

Linda Harms Okazaki

The current U.S. population comprises nearly 1.5 million persons of Japanese descent, and their rich and complex history informs the story of America. On Sunday, March 10, CGS past president Linda Harms Okazaki returns with her presentation, “Finding Your Japanese Roots in the US & in Japan.” Linda is a fourth-generation Californian married to a man of Japanese descent. She has been researching her husband's and children's ancestry since 2012, documenting family in the internment camps and in Japan. She helps organize the annual Nikkei Pilgrimage for CGS and is a charter member of the Nikkei Genealogical Society. Linda currently serves at the past president of the California Genealogical Society and is a board member of the Nichi Bei Foundation. Her column, “Finding Your Nikkei Roots,” is published bimonthly in the NichiBei Weekly.

Bring a lunch and come early
for socializing!

This seminar, which runs 1-4 p.m., is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced researchers. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lunch and come early (noon), in order to meet other seminar participants and discuss their Japanese-American history.

The first half of the seminar will focus on background and research in the United States and covers topics including:

- the political climate and pertinent U.S. laws

- internment camps

- post WWII experience

- repatriation and redress

The second half of the seminar will concern research in Japan:

   - finding your koseki
   - understanding ohaka and kakocho
   - visiting relatives, cemeteries and temples

To register, go to our EventBrite listing.

27 September 2017

Finding Your Japanese Roots in the U.S. and in Japan

Posted by Linda Okazaki

Are you a Nikkei who is ready to document your family history? Do you want to find those WRA camp files, Enemy Alien files, or other records from WWII? Do you wonder if Obāchan was a picture bride? Or if Ojīchan was arrested and sent to a Department of Justice camp? Are you a genealogist who wants to know about different record groups? Or are you helping a Japanese American friend with their genealogy? Come learn how to find your Japanese roots.

Please join California Genealogical Society president, Linda Harms Okazaki, as she presents:

Finding Your Japanese Roots in the U.S. and in Japan

When?

Saturday, October 28, 2017
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m

Where?
California Genealogical Society and Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612

Cost?
$40 for non-members (non-refundable)
Free for CGS members

How?
Register on Eventbrite

Part I of the three-hour seminar will be a brief overview of Japanese culture, history and language as it pertains to family history. Records available through the National Archives, USCIS, Ancestry.com, and FamilySearch.org will be covered.

Topics will include:

the early political climate in the U.S. and laws of the time
internment camps
post WWII experiences, repatriation, resettlement, and redress

The second half of the seminar will focus on documenting your ancestors in Japan, from using the information in the American records to finding your koseki, understanding ohaka and kakocho, plus visiting relatives, cemeteries and temples.

This seminar is suitable for all levels of research experience.

Limited to thirty participants; the fee may be applied towards membership on the day of the class.

Please visit our Eventbrite page to register for this seminar. Preregistration is required. Confirmations and a parking permit will be sent to the first thirty registrants.

Participants are invited to come early and meet others who share an interest in Japanese research. Use our computers, browse in our library, or bring a bagged lunch and meet at the library before the session. The library is open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

27 July 2016

Find Your Japanese Roots in the U.S. and in Japan: September 10, 2016

Posted by Linda Okazaki

Are you a Nikkei who is ready to document your family history? Do you want to find those WRA camp files, Enemy Alien files or other records from WWII? Do you wonder if Obāchan was a picture bride? Or if Ojīchan was arrested and sent to a Department of Justice camp? Are you a genealogist who wants to know about different record groups? Or are you helping a Japanese American friend with their genealogy? Come learn how to find your Japanese roots.

Please join California Genealogical Society president, Linda Harms Okazaki, as she presents:

Finding Your Japanese Roots in the U.S. and in Japan

When?

Saturday, September 10, 2016
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m

Where?
California Genealogical Society and Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612

Cost?
$30 for non-members (non-refundable)
Free for CGS members

How?
Register on Eventbrite

Topics will include:

the early political climate in the U.S. and laws of the time
internment camps
post WWII experiences, repatriation, resettlement, and redress

13 April 2016

Wordless Wednesday

Posted by Linda Okazaki

Angel Island Genealogical Resources

Presented by Grant Din on 19 March 2016

Kay Speaks, Grant Din, Linda Harms Okazaki

03 March 2016

1 million Angel Island immigrants: what genealogical clues were left behind?

Posted by Shannon Reese

Do you have Japanese, Chinese, Jewish, or South Asian ancestors that came through Angel Island?

Join member Grant Din and learn about the more than one million people from over eighty different countries who were processed by officials on the island. You might be familiar with Angel Island’s Chinese poetry-carved walls, but did you know that quite a lot of genealogical resources are now available to researchers?

Angel Island, photo courtesy of Linda Okazaki

Linda Okazaki, our current President says, “Grant is incredibly knowledgeable about the history of Angel Island, as well as the federal records generated when the immigration station operated there from 1910-1940. I've heard Grant speak several times while ‘on’ the island. Now I'm excited to have him present here at the California Genealogical Society’s Library.”

What’s the format?

Learn from case studies of Chinese, Jewish, South Asian and Japanese immigrants. Find out about the National Archives and other resources that might be available for your own research.

Topics covered

Gain an understanding of the different groups who passed through Angel Island.
Resources for Angel Island and West Coast immigrant research that available online and at the National Archives in San Bruno.
Interpret documents such as ship manifests to find valuable information.
How to obtain government files such as "A-files" (A for "Alien") via online requests.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Member Grant Din has been working in Bay Area non-profit organizations for more than thirty years and has conducted genealogical research for even longer.

He works as the community relations director at the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation, where his work includes managing the Immigrant Voices website. It currently houses 200 stories of Pacific Coast U.S. immigrants from throughout the world, including many who passed through Angel Island.

Grant's interest in genealogy started at a wedding reception in his youth, where a relative showed him to be the 36th generation of the Gong family on a family tree. Later he learned that he’s a member of the 24th generation of Owyangs on his mother's side.

He recently received a Certificate in Genealogical Research from Boston University and has traveled throughout the U.S. and China for his research.

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Pre-registration is required. Class size is limited so please register early. CGS members enjoy free admission.

Not a member? Not a problem.

Non-member admission fee is $30.00 and can be applied towards a new one year CGS membership (starting at $40) the day of the class.

17 August 2015

Japanese Genealogy

Posted by Linda Okazaki

Shichi Go San

Come join California Genealogical Society president, Linda Harms Okazaki, as she presents:

Finding Your Japanese Roots in the U.S. and in Japan

When?
Saturday, August 29, 2015
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Where?
California Genealogical Society and Library
2201 Broadway, Suite LL2
Oakland, California 94612

Cost?
$30 for non-members (non-refundable)
Free for CGS members

How?
Register on Eventbrite

Manzanar Cemetery

Lordsburg, New Mexico

Topics will include:

the early political climate in the U.S. and laws of the time
internment camps
post WWII experiences, repatriation, resettlement, and redress

Limited to thirty participants; the fee may be applied towards membership on the day of the class.

Traditional Wedding

Please visit our Eventbrite page to register for this seminar. Preregistration is required. Confirmations and a parking permit will be sent to the first thirty registrants.

01 July 2015

Japanese American Discussion Session

Posted by Linda Okazaki

The California Genealogical Society will continue to host a series of ethnic discussion groups that are free and open to the public.

Maruko Okazaki, ca. 1937, Santa Maria, California

On Thursday July 23, 2015 from 6:30-7:30 pm, CGS President Linda Okazaki will lead an informal discussion on Nikkei Genealogy. This session is free and open to the public. Please rsvp on Eventbrite. Feel free to come early, bring your dinner and meet other researchers. The library is free for those who arrive after 4pm.

Here's a brief description of the session:

Searching for your Japanese roots can be challenging but not impossible. Getting started is no different than researching any other ethnic group. Begin with yourself and work backwards, collecting birth, marriage and death records. Then venture into census, land and immigration records. For Nikkei, internment camp records and A-files are critical. All of these documents can give you clues needed to get your records in Japan.

In addition to our free discussion session, Linda will repeat the seminar "Finding Your Japanese Roots: In the U.S. and in Japan" at CGS on August 29 from 12:00-3:00 pm. Come learn how to document your unique family history! Registration is already open. This seminar has a $30 fee for non-members, which may be applied to a membership on the day of the class.