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Okajima pedigree
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Started by miraclemet,

1,544 posts in this topic

Griff

Griff

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Posted

the teen comics 35 on ebay has sold. the seller finally contacted me. Was not me who bought the book, but im betting it was this thread that caused a book sitting in her inventory for over a month to finally sell :)

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miraclemet

miraclemet

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Just putting this here for more info.

 

the likliest Okajima..

 

http://www.japaneserelocation.org/index.php?page=directory&rec=88143

 

Name Fumiko B Okajima

Birth Year 1921

Birth PLace Pacific States - California

Alien Reg. Number Has S.S. But Not A.R. Number and Has Attended Japanese Language School

Language Japanese & English Speak, Write, Read ; Other Language Write, Read

Project Gila River ( Pima, Sacaton )

Assembly Center None

From Address Sanger, Selma or Reedley California

From Region Pacific States - California

From County Fresno

Population 2500 - 4999

Birth Place Parents Father = Japan, Mother = Japan

Fathers Occ. in U.S. Farm Operators & Managers

Fathers Occ. Abroad Unknown

Years School Japan None

Years School Japan None

Education No Degree

Highest Grade High School 4 in U.S.

Year Arrival U.S. -

Time in Japan None

Times in Japan None - Not Attending School

Age in Japan Never in Japan

Military Service Unknown

Assistance/Pensions 40877c

Gender/Marriage Female Single

Race/Spouse Individual - Japanese ; No Spouse

1st Occupation Farm Hands, Fruit

Occupation Semiskilled Dressmakers and Seamstresses

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miraclemet

miraclemet

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George Okajima, born 1925, was clearly a younger brother. Calling into question whether all those books were just hers.

 

The information Alan was able to get from relatives after his initial purchase of par of the collection was that the books belonged to the girl (as was all noted in the pedigree certificate he issued with the books he sold).

 

I'm sure she was nice enough to let her brother read them ;)

 

 

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Blackmask

Blackmask

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Yes....I have had all this information since shortly after I purchased the first lot, but have never given the full names, to respect the privacy of the family. It was a shameful time in the history of the U.S., and most of the families victimized by the internment policy would rather leave it in the past. I have spoken with the family members (in the late 1990's, and again recently), but they were never even aware of the comics, much less passionate about them. I'm not even sure anyone in the family ever knew they were in the shed, or that they had been sold at the estate sale. They were totally surprised that anyone would even care about some comic books that were purchased 50+ years ago.

 

 

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Blackmask

Blackmask

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All the talk about the collection these last few days has re-energized my interest in finishing an article about the pedigree (which I started writing in 1997), so I reconnected with the family, in the hopes to revisit some of the questions left outstanding. Unfortunately, George has since passed away, but I spoke with his daughter this weekend, who was very nice, and has agreed to try and help me fill in some of the gaps in the history. I'll let you all know if any new details emerge. It's important to note, the family DOES NOT want to be deluged with phone calls, and they have NO comics in their possession, so please grant them their privacy! I promise to share any details that come my way, if any do....but please don't try to contact the family.

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cheetah

cheetah

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I look forward to reading it. Given the complete inability to verify the Tom Reilly story behind the San Francisco pedigree, it is nice to see one that stands up under scrutiny.

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miraclemet

miraclemet

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I would love to talk with those of you who have done so much work on researching the coding, if you're willing to share your data!

 

Let me know if I can help in anyway. Im thrilled that this thread has rekindled your (and others) interest in the pedigree.

 

 

And I certainly hope people honor your request (and use their own sense) in respecting the family and their right to privacy.

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Blackmask

Blackmask

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I

I would love to talk with those of you who have done so much work on researching the coding, if you're willing to share your data!

 

And I certainly hope people honor your request (and use their own sense) in respecting the family and their right to privacy.

 

I do too. The public at large already views our four color obsession as a bit odd, and when we get pushy or invasive (as we have a habit of doing), doors slam, and phone calls go unanswered.

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jpepx78

jpepx78

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I also want to thank everyone especially Blackmask for contributing to this fascinating history of the Okajima pedigree. All the information and oral history has corroborated with information I found on geneology sites and with census data.

 

1930 census records definitely show that the girl had a younger brother named Yasuo (or George) and they were interned with their mother at the Gila River internment camp in Arizona. The girl was not a kid but a young woman of 21 when she entered the camps and George was 17. Those camp-coded superhero books don't seem to be typical reading material for a young woman but more typical for her high school age brother. The post camp books had a larger variety of titles including adventure, crime and humor. I'm guessing she probably had a seamstress job in camp to buy books since that was listed in her camp records and the main industries at the Gila River camp besides farming was sewing camouflage nets and parachutes. It must have been a sacrifice by the family to purchase that many books despite rationing and the hardship of camp living as mentioned in the mother's interview. Most kids probably just read the books at the newsstand instead of buying them.

 

On January 2 1945, the Japanese exclusion order was rescinded and some internees began to leave the camps. I looked through the 1945 camp newspaper Gila News-Courier for departure and arrival info and read that George left the camp on August 1 1945 and entered the Army on August 16 1945. There was no report on the mother or sister so they must have left camp after September 28 1945 the last issue of the paper.

It is surprising the books were saved by the family and probably had some sentimental value to the brother or sister otherwise they could have been given away, tossed or burned for fuel.

 

In my google searches I found mentions of a few more Okajima books but no pictures: Exciting 64 CGC8.5 (ebay), Nellie the Nurse 19 FN+ (ebay), Sensation 32 VF/NM (Comic Heaven/John Veryzl), Four Color 378 Tom Corbett with Certificate of Authenticity (ebay).

 

 

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Griff

Griff

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Forgive the delay, but its a ton of work confirming all these. but here is the most current list of the Okajima's we have found.

 

Confirmed Okajima Books

Air Fighters Comics v2n7 Date 2/44

All Top 16 CGC Date 3/49

Big Shot Comics 82 Date 10/47

Black Terror 6 Date 5/44

Blazing West 11 "in Alan's possession"

Boy Comics #16 Date 6/44

Blue Beetle 56 Date 5/48

Captain Aero 15 Date 6/44

Captain America 39 Date 6/44

Captain America 40 Date 7/44

Captain America 41 Date 8/44

Captain Marvel jr 19 Date 5/44

Captain Marvel jr 20 Date 6/44

Captain Marvel jr 23 Not CGC but is Okajima

Captain Midnight 21 Date 6/44

Captain Midnight 22 Date 6/44 "in Alans possession"

Contact Comics 12 Date 7/46

Exciting Comics 65 Date 1/49

Fight Comics 33 Date 8/44

Fight Comics 50 Date 6/47

Fight Comics 52 Date 10/47

Figh 61 Raw With Ped paper

Fight Comics 63 Raw with Ped paper

Fight Comics 65 Date 10/49

Fight Comics 66 Date 1/50

Fighting yank 8 Date 6/44

Fighting Yank 23 "not CGC"

Flash Comics 54 Date 6/44

Green lantern 15 Date spring 45

Hooded Horseman 21 "in Alan's possession"

Human Torch 14 Raw

Indians 9 Not CGC but is Okajima

Indians 11 CGC Date 4/52

Jumbo 104 Date 10/47

Jumbo 105 "not CGC"

Jumbo 123 "in Alan's possession"

Jumbo 157 Date 3/53

Jungle 54 Date 6/44

Jungle 88 Date 4/47

Jungle 100 Date 4//48

Jungle 105 Date 9/48

Jungle 106 Date 10/48

Jungle 107 Date 11/48

Jungle 110 Date 2/49

Jungle 113 "not CGC"

Jungle 119 Date 11/49

Jungle 131 Date 10/50

Jungle 136 "Not CGC"

Jungle 143 CGC 8.5 Date 11/1951

Jungle 154 Date 10/52

Kaanga Comics 5 CGC 6.0 Date fall 1950

Marvel Family 35 Date 5/49

Marvel Mystery 55 Date 5/44

Marvel Mystery 57 Date 7/44

Master Comics 51 "not CGC but is an Okajima"

Master Comics 83 Date 9/47

Master Comics 85 Date 11/47

Military Comics 31 Date 8/44

More Fun 98 "not CGC but is an Okajima"

Movie Comics 1 "not cgc and I don't see a code"

Mystery Comics 2 Date 1944

Mystery Comics 4 Date 1944

Mystery in space 8 "not CGC "

Police 31 Date 6/44

Rangers Comics 18 Date 8/44

Rangers Comics 39 Date 2/48

Rangers Comics 43.jpg "not CGC"

Ranger Comics 44 Date CGC 9.0 11/48

Red Dragon 7 Date 7/43 "earliest camp Okajima?"

Sensation Comics 35 Date 11/44

Shadow Comics v4n3 Date 6/44

Shadow Comics v4n9 Date 12/44

Space Squadron 5 Date 2/52

Sparkling Stars 30 "in Alan's possession"

Startling Comics 24 Date 11/43

Startling Comics 28 Date 7/44

Startling Comics 46 Date 7/47

Startling Comics 51 Date 5/48

Strange Worlds 5 Date 11/51

Sub-Mariner 32 Date 6/49

Super magician Comics v3n1 5/44

Super magician Comics v3n11 Date 3/45

Tarzan 2 Date 4/48

Thrilling Comics 42 "in Alan's possession"

Thrilling Comics 68 Date 10/48

Thun'da Comics 70 Date 1952

Tomahawk 3 Date 2/51

Tomahawk 7 Date 10/51

Venus 5 Date 6/49

Venus 9 Date 5/50

Western Comics 14 Raw with Ped paper

Whiz Comics 56 "in Alan's possession"

Whiz Comics 81 "in Alan's possession"

Wings 87 Date 11/47

Wings 98 Date 10/48

Wings 100 Date 12/48 "not on Alan's List but is an Okajima"

Wings 111 Date 1950

Wings 115 Date 1950

Wonder Comics 13 Date 8/47

Wow Comics 34 Date 3/45

Zegra Jungle Empress 3 Date 12/48

Zip 46 Date 5/44

Zoot 12 Date 1/48

 

Below is the probable Okajimas "but not confirmed" books. "either we do not have a scan of the book or have been unable to verify 100% the book. these books are still more than likely true Okajima's"

 

Probable Okajima Books

Candy 10 "on Alan's Master list"

Candy 17 "on Alan's Master list"

Candy 35 "on Alan's Master list"

Jungle 113 Raw "on Alan's Master list"

Jungle 115

Jumbo Comics 136 136 CGC 7.5 "on Alan's Master list"

Jungle Comics 140 CGC 6.5 "on Alan's Master list"

Mary Marvel 5 "not on Alan's List"

National Comics 45 "on Alan's Master list"

National Comics 46 "on Alan's Master list"

Nyoka, The Jungle Girl #14 (CGC 9.4) "on Alan's Master list"

Nyoka, The Jungle Girl #18 (CGC 9.0) "on Alan's Master list"

Nyoka, The Jungle Girl #26 (CGC 9.0) on Alan's Master list"

Teen Comics 35 Raw "on Alan's Master list"

Shadow V4N7 Raw but okajima on front.

Thrilling 61 CGC 9.2 Okajima "on Alan's Master list"

Thrilling 63 "on Alan's Master list"

Thrilling 66 "on Alan's Master list"

Wow Comics #32 CGC 8.0 "on Alan's Master list"

 

Possible Okajima's

Air Fighter Comics V2N9 "not on Alan's List"

All new comics 11 raw "not on Alan's List"

Captain Marvel Adventures 36 CGC 6.0 "not on Alan's List"

Jo-Jo (8)(9) CGC'ed but not labled as Okajima CGC 9.2 "not on Alan's List"

Mystery Comics 1 CGC 9.0 "not on Alan's List"

Sensational Mystery 111 Raw

Star Spangled Comics 33 CGC 7.0 "not on Alan's List"

Thrilling 60 "not on Alan's List"

Venus 15 Raw "not on Alan's List"

Wings Comics 105 "not on Alan's List"

Wow Comics #29 CGC 6.0 "not on Alan's List"

 

Edited by Griff
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