NEW YORK – A group of Japanese Americans recently highlighted through historical photos and documents the postwar efforts by communities of Japanese descent to help fund relief goods for the war-ravaged country soon after its surrender.
The “LARA goods,” organized by the Licensed Agencies for Relief in Asia, helped feed and clothe many Japanese suffering from hunger and poverty in the aftermath of World War II following Japan’s defeat in 1945.
Consisting largely of U.S.-based religious groups and charities, LARA engaged in Japan-related activities between 1946 and 1952. Around 20 to 30 percent of the goods shipped are said to have come through assistance from Japanese Americans and Japanese living in the Americas.
In New York, such individuals provided some $41,000 in financial contributions during the first seven months, roughly equivalent to $700,000 today, according to the Japanese American Association of New York.
The amount was the largest among Japanese American groups that participated in the fundraising.
Many people pitched in, making $5 or $10 donations despite their own hardships at a time when they faced discrimination and were often left unemployed due to their ethnicity, according to the group. One person contributed numerous 10-cent coins that he had saved up for his daughter’s college fund.
Japanese Americans in New York held a preparatory meeting for relief efforts on Sept. 14, 1945, a mere month after Japan’s surrender to the Allied forces.
One appeal at the time reads, “It is, without question, an obligation of American-based countrymen to provide those in their homeland with as much relief as possible.”
The relief goods sent to Japan included items such as soap, medicine and powdered milk.
Among the association’s collection of historical records are many thank-you letters from Japanese people, as well as documents related to donation drives and fundraising events.
Using its records, the association made a 16-minute documentary about the relief efforts, which can be viewed on the group’s YouTube channel.
“I would like viewers to know that LARA goods were filled with Japanese Americans’ heartfelt feelings for their homeland,” said Michiyo Noda, the group’s executive director.
AloJapan.com