Nihongo Gakko (Tacoma) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Nihon Go Gakko
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Nihon Go Gakko before it was demolished
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 Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Tacoma, Washington |
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| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | Heath & Gove |
| NRHP reference No. | 84003568 |
| Added to NRHP | August 30, 1984 |
The Nihon Go Gakko (日本語学校, Nihongo gakkō, literally, Japanese Language School), was an important building in what used to be Tacoma, Washington's Japantown. It was one of about 24 Japanese language schools in Washington before World War II. This school helped Japanese American children learn about their heritage and language.
Contents
History of the School
Building the Original School
The Nihon Go Gakko building was built in 1922. It replaced an older, smaller school. The new building was designed by Frederick Heath. It was made to hold more students.
Laws at that time stopped people who were not U.S. citizens from owning land. So, a special school group bought the land. This group included three Americans and two Japanese Americans. They bought two lots for $1,600. The school building itself cost $9,000 to build. A new part was added to the building in 1926.
What Students Learned
Students at the Nihon Go Gakko learned several subjects. They studied the English language and the Japanese language. They also learned about Japanese culture.
The School During World War II
During World War II, the building was used for a different purpose. It became a place where Japanese residents were gathered. From there, they were sent to special camps. This was a very difficult time for many Japanese American families.
Later Years and Demolition
The University of Washington bought the building in 1993. This was after the university opened a campus in Tacoma. By this time, the school building was very old and damaged. It had been empty since the 1940s.
In 1993, the university asked to tear down the building. They wanted to build a garden there instead. The city approved this plan. However, the university did not act on it right away. In 2001, the city told the university the building was unsafe. The next year, the plan to tear it down was approved again. The university found out it would cost about $3 million to fix the building. They decided this was too expensive.
The Nihon Go Gakko was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was also a landmark for the City of Tacoma. But because it was so damaged and costly to fix, the building was torn down in 2004. Before it was demolished, it was one of only two Japanese language schools left in the Western United States and Hawaii.
A Memorial for the School
In 2014, a special memorial was put up on the University of Washington Tacoma campus. It includes a sculpture and a plaque. The plaque tells the story of the school. It also honors the school's principal, Masato Yamasaki.
See also
- Japanese language education in the United States
- History of the Japanese in Seattle
