Japan Collection

The photo album and loose photographs document the post-World War II occupation of Japan through over 150 personal and purchased photographs. The creator of the albums was a white man in the U.S. Army and while most of the photographs appear to be from occupied Japan, the Philippines and California are also seen. In addition to the photographs still attached in the photo album with some description and identification there are also many loose photographs, including some photos removed from another photo album before arriving at the archival repository.

Identified locations in the photographs are: Camp Stoneman in California, Manila in the Philippines, Yokohama Bay, Mt. Fuji, and purchased photographs of the devastation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the atomic bombings. Many of the photographs show military scenes including ships in harbor, soldiers including military police, female nurses, checkpoints, a dice game on board a ship, railroads, a pistol range, assembled soldiers waiting to return to the U.S., and other scenes. A notable photograph shows the exterior sign with U.S. soldiers and Japanese men outside the Oasis of Ginza, a cabaret and comfort station where women and girls were forced into sexual slavery and known as comfort women. There are also scenes in the cities and countryside including a market, farmers, Japanese women carrying children, temples, an exterior of the Octagon Theatre, and rice paddies. An example of a description of a photograph: "Back row, Sharp, Money, Roberson, Your old man, Epperson. Front, Knipp, Miller, Burda, Long, Furman, Braden. Snapped in the motor pool. Sat. A.M. April 27th, 1946. Just after inspection." Some military units referenced in captions or signs in the photographs include: headquarters for the 4th Rebbie Debbie, 3rd MRS, and 4th Replacement Depot.