Downtown Seattle in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
A Community Takes Root
A Brief History of Japanese Americans In Seattle
| | Legacy of Justice at Hirabayashi Place | |
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, February 20, 2026
1. A Community Takes Root Marker
The Japanese community on the West Coast blossomed in the early 20th century, despite hostility directed at Asian immigrants in the United States. The Chinese population remained mostly male and single due to discriminatory immigration policies, but the law allowed Japanese men to bring their wives into the country between 1907 and 1924. Thousands of Japanese women came as picture brides during this period. These women and their husbands raised families, and ran family farms and family businesses. Their children were U.S. citizens by birth.
[Captions:]
Shungo and Mitsu Hirabayashi, 1914. Courtesy of Esther Furugori.
Hirabayashi Family, 1934. Gordon is on the left in the back row. Courtesy of Esther Furugori.
1913 Postcard featuring the Japanese ship Tamba Maru, which brought Japanese immigrants to the West Coast. Message describes the senders arrival in Victoria, B.C. Courtesy of the Wing Luke Museum.
Mitsu Suzawa Hirabayashi, 1915. Courtesy of Esther Furugori.
Japanese immigrants arriving by ship. Kirie (Japanese paper cut) image by Aki Sogabe, from hisgtoric photograph courtesy of Leslie Morishita. (Marker Number 1.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Asian Americans
this page online
Location. 47° 36.01′ N, 122° 19.731′ W. Marker is in Seattle, Washington, in King County. It is in Downtown Seattle. It is at the intersection of 4th Avenue South and South Main Street, on the right when traveling north on 4th Avenue South. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 216 4th Ave, Seattle WA 98104, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Reclaiming our Roots (here, next to this marker); Vindication, Healing, and the Legacy of Justice (a few steps from this marker); Japanese Farmers and Alien Land Laws (a few steps from this marker); Gordon Hirabayashi (a few steps from this marker); A Thriving Nihonmachi (a few steps from this marker); Wartime Incarceration (within shouting distance of this marker); Great Northern Tunnel (within shouting distance of this marker); Starting Over After the War (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Seattle.
Also see . . . Hirabayashi Place (#19).
Although completed in early 2016, Hirabayashi Place is a building that merges the past to the present with a call to the future.(Submitted on March 26, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)Built by InterIm CDA, this seven-story, 96-unit affordable housing project provides a new anchor for Nihonmachi along its western edge.Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, February 20, 20262. A Community Takes Root MarkerThe marker is number one of five markers facing 4th Avenue and the farthest right in the photo.
The building is named in honor of Gordon Hirabayashi. While many Japanese Americans during World War II demonstrated their loyalty to America by serving in the U.S. military, Hirabayashi fought to uphold American values rooted in the U.S. Constitution by defying the evacuation order and curfew. He was arrested and jailed for his actions and fought a long but successful court battle to overturn his convictions and clear his name.
Legacy of Justice installations of public art and interpretive elements interweave throughout the building, anchored by a 10′ tall by 8′ artwork by Roger Shimomura, depicting various icons pertaining to Hirabayashis life and influence. Start with this artwork located at the south entrance, then explore the buildings outside along Main Street and 4th Avenue for more.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 26, 2026, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
