This study is focusing on Japanese American in Stockton, Northern California, where old Japantown exist, as a case study of Japanese immigration in the world. Through the interview and housing research on Nisei and Sansei of Japanese American, it aims to clarify the feature of Japanese American housing and living situation. And also it aims to clarify the role of Japanese American community and local facility for their own history and culture.

 From 1868 to 1941, about 340,000 people had emigrated to the United States from Japan. The hometown of Japanese immigration had inclined to the western part of Japan, mainly from Chugoku and Kyushu district. And the settlement place in the United States of America had inclined to the State of Hawaii and California. Before the World War II, many of Japanese American had been engaged in the unskilled work, mainly consisting of agriculture and housekeeping. After the World War II, their work have shifted to service industry, manufacturing industry, commerce and professional.

 Harbor city Stockton, developed as the transport hub from inland, has the richest farmland in California. Many of Japanese immigrant had moved to Stockton for the work at farms and agricultural products processing plants. Near the Port of Stockton, there was one of largest Japantown in Northern California. In 1930s, the peak of Stockton Japantown, 150 species of Japanese business and 31 Japanese community had been active. After the World War II, because of highway construction and redevelopment project, the function of former Japantown had been completely dismantled.

 Nisei houses located in the south side of old Japantown. Along with the aging and the security deterioration of old residential area, Sansei had moved to the north side of new residential area. But Nisei remains in the old residential area because of the attachment to the community. At Nisei and Sansei houses, many of Japanese ornaments and articles have been arranged as interior elements. Most of those elements have been inherited from Issei to Nisei and Sansei. Moreover, the spatial elements of Japanese garden have been used at the front and back yards. And “KAMON”, inherited from Issei, have been used for the ornaments and articles, as the symbol to show their family root.

 The local facilities in Stockton, related to Japanese American history, have been functioning as the important role for cultural exchange with Nikkei community and local society. Stockton Buddhist church and Calvary Presbyterian Churchare are especially functioning as the important facilities for not only members but also fellows. The historical landmarks, Nippon Hospital and Stockton Assembly Center, registered by the State of California have been utilized as local resources to share Japanese American history and culture. With the transition from community aggregation to human network, Nikkei community activities have been maintained beyond the generations.

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