The Hirata family before the start of the war.

ID: 5383 ~ Source: Courtesy of Gonzaga University
This file appears in: The Unlawful Arrest and Detainment of Frank Hirata

Immigration of Japanese laborers was limited by the 1908 Gentleman's Agreement. However, wives were still allowed to come to the US during this period so many immigrants already in the US did start families by marrying women from their hometowns in Japan and then paying to bring them to the US. Immigration was further restricted by the Immigration Act of 1924.

This file appears in: The Unlawful Arrest and Detainment of Frank Hirata

By Mary R. Bass
Kazuma “Frank” Hirata was a prominent member of Spokane’s Japanese-American community. During the 1930s he was the manager of the Spokane Vegetable Growers Association, a critical organization for the Japanese community’s economic success in the…