Online Exhibition

Tanaka Photo Studio

Family, Tradition, Business, and Community Before WWII

Photos

Click through the photo galleries below to see a selection of photographs taken by Tanaka Photo Studio. See the joy, sorrow, celebrations, traditions, and businesses expressed through the lives of Japanese Americans before World War II. After clicking on a photo, you can zoom in for a closer look. For those who have visited or live in Los Angeles, you will see the connection between the past and present through traditions like Nisei Week and historic landmarks such as JANM’s Historic Building, the former Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple that was built in 1925.

If you want to see even more, we encourage you to use the link at the bottom of this page to explore all the photos from the Tanaka Photo Studio collection that are currently available online. Don’t forget to check back as we continue to digitize this historic collection.

Photos

Events

Experience the special occasions that brought friends, families, and communities together in prewar Los Angeles.

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Furutani’s Wedding Ceremony

A wedding party surrounds a bride and groom inside the Los Angeles Higashi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, April 29, 1940. Client name: Furutani.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.62_2

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Kurosaki’s Wedding Ceremony

Wedding at Nichiren Shu Beikoku Buddhist Temple on 4th Street, April 23, 1938. Client name: Kurosaki.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.89_3

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Hamamoto’s Wedding Ceremony

Wedding at Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, which was built in 1925 and is now known as JANM’s Historic Building, December 16, 1939. Client name: Hamamoto.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.99_2

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Hasegawa’s Wedding Ceremony

Guests surround the bride and groom in a Shinto wedding ceremony, June 15, 1935. Client name: Y. Hasegawa.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.145_4

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Ishikawa’s Wedding Ceremony

Wedding at Japanese Union Church in Los Angeles on San Pedro Street, August 10, 1935. Client name: Henry Ishikawa.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.173_1

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Funeral at Evergreen

Funeral for Masaru Koshimizu at Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights, February 8, 1936. Client name: Koshimizu.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.339

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Funeral at Evergreen Cemetery

Funeral for Kichizaemon Nakadegawa at Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights, August 9, 1937. Client name: Hatsu Nakadegawa.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.481

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Funeral at Japanese Union Church

Funeral for Kintaro Yoshioka at Japanese Union Church of Los Angeles on San Pedro Street, April 7, 1937.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.431

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Dinner for Viscount Hidemaro Konoye

Renowned Japanese conductor Hidemaro Konoye celebrates his Hollywood Bowl appearance, September 15, 1937. Client name: S. Nishida.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.108

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Piano Recital

Mary Jonokuchi poses with her piano students, July 30, 1937. Client name: H. Jonokuchi.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.159

Family

Discover the Japanese American community in prewar Los Angeles through Tanaka’s family portraits. The resiliency of these families allowed them to establish strong roots and a vibrant, flourishing community even in the face of discrimination.

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Chikashi and Family

Tanaka Photo Studio owner Chikashi Tanaka with his wife, Asa, and two children, Yasuo and May, ca. 1928.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.919

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Adashi Family

Studio portrait of a father and mother with five children, August 30, 1936. Client name: S. Adashi.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.22

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Kanno Family Portrait

Studio portrait of a father and mother with two sons and two daughters, April 23, 1939. Client Name: Kanno.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.475

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Hirata Family Portrait

Studio portrait of a father and mother with three sons and two daughters, August 8, 1934. Client name: Dr. T. Hirata.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.161

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Watanabe Family Portrait

Studio portrait of a family of seven, November 8, 1936. Client name: K. Watanabe.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.394

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Kimura Family Portrait

Studio portrait of a family of seven, August 1, 1937. Client name: H. K. Kimura.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.475

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Yoshida Portrait

Studio portrait of a young couple, June 11, 1937. Client name: Yoshida.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.448_2

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Sisters

Studio portrait of two sisters, August 1, 1937. Client name: Sumi.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.476_1

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Kawakami Family

Members of the Kawakami family stand in their yard, August 9, 1939. Client name: Kawakami.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.172_1

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Karakane Family Christmas

A family sits in their living room next to a Christmas tree and presents, December 24, 1935. Client name: Karakane.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.300

Traditions and Holidays

Become immersed in the traditions that resulted from the development of a distinct Japanese American culture.

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Shinji Endo’s Boy’s Day Celebration

A baby dressed in a kimono sits next to a festive Boy’s Day display decorated with dolls, armor, and a carp streamer, May 12, 1940. Client Name: T. Endo.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.50

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The Yamamoto’s Boy’s Day Celebration

A young boy stands beside a display of dolls and carp streamers, May 5, 1936. Client name: Yamamoto.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61

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Hinamatsuri Display

A young girl wearing a kimono stands next to an elaborate Girl’s Day display decorated with beautiful dolls, March 8, 1937. Client name: K. Shiraishi.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.116

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Biwa Player

A young woman sits on stage holding a traditional Japanese lute called a biwa, March 6, 1936. Client name: Shimazu.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.117

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The Endo’s Wedding Portrait

Studio portrait of a bride and groom, both dressed in formal kimonos. Client name: N. Endo.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.51_5

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Bride and Bridesmaids

Studio portrait of a bride with five bridesmaids wearing kimonos, April 29, 1939. Client name: Kawaguchi.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.170

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Traditional Clothing

Studio portrait of a mother and daughter wearing kimono, tabi socks, and zori sandals, September 12, 1936. Client name: Y. Ochi.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.381_1

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Koto Players

Two young girls in kimono play the koto, April 7, 1935.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.264_1

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Archery

A man demonstrates kyūdo at a martial arts convention, May 3, 1936. Client name: Kubota and Uyeno.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.358_1

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Kendo Training

A group of young boys wearing kendo armor at a martial arts convention, June 2, 1937. Client name: Kubota.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.444

Work

Explore the wide variety of businesses that Japanese Americans operated and the ways in which they shaped the landscape in prewar Southern California.

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Tanaka Photo Studio

Outside of Tanaka Photo Studio on East 1st Street, December 10, 1933. Client name: Kawasaki.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.124_2

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Beauty Salon

Salon workers smile while one customer receives a manicure and another sits with her hair in curlers, November 9, 1937.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.24

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Sunland Park Flower Garden

Four men, three holding bouquets, stand in the “carnation section” of Sunland Park Flower Garden, January 21, 1935. Client name: Ren Adachi.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.31

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Endo Flower Garden

The Endo family stands in a large field of flowers in their Flower Garden in Roscoe, California, February 4, 1936. Client Name: Kintaro Endo.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.57

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Yakura Flower Garden

A man and woman lean against a car at Yakura Flower Garden in Manhattan Beach, August 25, 1934. Client name: Yakura.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.237_2

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Star Rice Company

Two men stand on a truck carrying several large bags of rice outside of Dai Ichi Company, April 22, 1936. Client name: Star Rice Co.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.353

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Aki Chop House

Two men and two women stand outside Aki Chop House, May 1, 1936. Client name: Kinao.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.356

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Standard Garage

Owners and family stand outside Standard Garage for a commemorative re-opening photo, November 24, 1936. Client name: Standard Garage.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.396

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Y. Ota Store

The owner and family stand outside of their grocery store, March 22, 1931. Client name: Y. Ota.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.208_1

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Rikimaru Bros. & Company

Two men stand outside the produce market, Rikimaru Bros. & Co, June 19, 1937. Client name: Rikimaru.

Japanese American National Museum, Gift in memory of Chikashi & Asa Tanaka and Yasuo “Clifford” & Yuri Tanaka, 2007.61.459_2

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