The Yasui Brothers records primarily document the business, personal, and community-related activities of the Yasui family in Hood River, Oregon, from the start of the 20th century until World War II, when they were among the more than 120,000 Japanese Americans incarcerated by the U.S. government.

The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence and records relating to the business activities of Masuo Yasui (1886-1957). These include the general store, Yasui Bros., that he ran with his brother Renichi Fujimoto; and orchards in the Hood River Valley and surrounding areas that the firm operated. Store records include a variety of advertising materials, while farming records include packing lists, crop reports, and records of local farming associations Masuo Yasui was involved with. The collection also reflects Yasui’s involvement in the local community, including his work assisting other Japanese immigrants to the United States. A small quantity of materials relates to the Yasui Bros. store’s forced closure and the management of the family’s property and assets while they were incarcerated during World War II.

The collection also includes personal papers of Masuo Yasui; his wife, Shidzuyo Yasui; his brother Renichi Fujimoto; and his children. These consist of correspondence, ephemera, and a personal history that Masuo Yasui wrote at the request of the Japanese consulate. Other materials in the collection include records from the 1970s and 1980s of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), in which Masuo Yasui’s son Homer Yasui and his wife, Miyuki Yasui, were active, and magazines and newspapers the family received in both Japanese and English.

A substantial amount of this collection is in a pre-World War II Japanese script that is distinct from modern Japanese. Some of these materials, particularly those in Series 1 (Business correspondence and related materials) and Series 6 (Personal papers) have been reviewed and summarized by translators. Selected documents have been translated into English and modern Japanese.

A series of oral history interviews with Oregonians. The subjects were selected from a pool of nominees by a staff committee appointed by the OHS Executive Director. The purpose of these interviews was to create historical documents of enduring value to enhance and expand the range of Oregon voices preserved by the OHS Research Library, complement existing collections and programs of the Oregon Historical Society, and address goals for collection development and community engagement. The program ended in 2020.

Letter from acting Consul Kenichi Fujishima of the Japanese Consulate in Portland to Masuo Yasui dated 1939 May 28 requesting personal details for submission to receive an award for service to the Japanese community.
Translation Note: The letter has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from Consul Toyokazu Nakamura to Masuo Yasui, dated 19 December 1934. In the letter Nakamura notifies Yasui that he will be presented an award from the Japan Industrial Association for his outstanding industrial achievements.
Translation Note: The document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from K. Otsubo to Masuo Yasui, dated 2 July 1916. In the letter Otsubo requests that the start time of the baseball game between the Seattle Asahi team and the Hood River team be rescheduled from 2:30 PM to 2:00 PM so that the Asahi team can catch the 4:50 train in order to return home the same night.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from K. Otsubo to Masuo Yasui, dated 27 June 1916. In the letter Otsubo informs Masuo that the Seattle Asahi Baseball Team wants to play a game in Hood River on July 4 and requests that Masuo negotiate with the local baseball club to make arrangements.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

A list of fifty-two names, possibly the list of Japanese Association of Oregon members in Hood River.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Teikoku Shokai's advertisement containing a list of new arrivals products from Japanese and U.S. General Merchandise Grocery. There are three columns: product, quantity, and price.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from Kichizo Noji to Masuo Yasui dated 30 April 1916. In the letter, Noji thanks Yasui for his support in arranging for his wife's travel to the United States. Noji married his wife, Asayo, on the 12 July 1916 in Seattle, Washington.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from Kunitaka Onishi to Masuo Yasui, dated 26 December. In the letter Onishi introduces himself, explains how he came to know about Masuo from Mr. Toyoji Abe, and expresses his gratitude toward Masuo for the guidance he has given Onishi's nephew, Ichiei.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from Umeshichi Oda to Masuo Yasui dated February 8. In the letter Oda discusses the warm arrival of spring in contrast with the cold feelings caused by anti-Japanese law in California. Oda also requests contact information for a financial association in order to plan a return to Japan in March or April. The letter was written on February 8, but the year is not specified. It was likely written in 1924 since the letter mentions the Immigration Act of 1924 in California.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

A letter from Jotaro Shido addressed to the Yasui brothers. The letter describes how Shido's travels from Seattle to Yokohama were extended by 10 extra days due to rough seas and discusses his plans to return to the United States. The letter was written on January 5, but the year is not specified. It was likely written between 1920 and 1940.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from a member of the Miyake family to Tokujiro Yasui and an immigration status report filled out by Tokujiro Yasui in September 1922. In the letter Miyake discusses the immigration certificate of Tokujiro Yasui and an immigration status report for Tokujiro Yasui to fill out for negotiation with the consul. The second and third pages are the immigration status report which include career, business, asset, and family information. The purpose of the application is listed as, "To bring his wife and eldest daughter."
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English. Only sections in the report with written responses are translated.

Letter from Suekichi Ishikawa to Yasui Brothers Co., dated April 1921. In the letter Ishikawa asks the Yasui brothers about their view of U.S.-Japan relations, including growing tensions over the control of Yap Island, and expresses safety concerns and frustration with the U.S. stripping compatriots of their vested property rights. He describes these actions as the creation of an excuse to impede Japan's development, emphasizing U.S. arrogance, and highlights issues of hypocrisy in Europe, China, Korea, and Russia. Other topics in the letter include updates about family and recent illness.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Two letters from Tadashi Kinoshita to Masuo Yasui. In the first letter, Tadashi describes activity in Seattle surrounding Armistice Day and then discusses the status of the Spanish flu in the area. He asks Masuo for financial assistance while he waits for his departure permit to arrive so that he can return to Japan. In the second letter, he describes the impact of the Spanish flu on Seattle, his wife's recovery, and wishes Masuo's wife rest and recuperation.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Draft copy of a residency form for Johei Okazaki requesting the Japanese Consulate in Portland issue a temporary passport to return to Japan on family business. The form states that Okazaki immigrated from Kagawa Prefecture, Japan, and has a residence in Hood River, Oregon. This and a second draft copy were retained by Masuo Yasui and it is likely that Yasui assisted Okazaki with this application.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from the Consulate of Japan in Portland to Masuo Yasui, dated 17 November 1930. The letter is printed on official consulate stationery with only Masuo's name handwritten. It is a thank you for cooperation with the survey of Japanese nationals residing locally under the jurisdiction of the Japanese government and states that the census emblem will be sent as a commemorative gift.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from Yorisada Matsui of the Portland consulate to Masuo Yasui, dated 8 March 1927. In the letter Matsui describes the effectiveness of a luncheon to promote Japan-U.S. goodwill and notes that the newspaper article reporting on the event is a step forward in influencing public opinion on relaxing land exclusion laws. He also describes his plans to go to Independence to meet with Congressman Fletcher, who is opposed to the land exclusion plan. The letter also includes an update on the Japanese language school construction in The Dalles, Oregon. Matsui does not use his title or official consulate stationary for this letter.
Translation Note: Selections from this document have been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Notice from the Japanese Imperial Consulate in Portland to those being drafted for Japanese military service in 1926. Topics in the notice include the legal age for military service and for those who are required to file a deferred military service, procedures for notification of legal age and deferred military service requests, period of issuance of proof of residence, application procedures for proof of residence, and resident registration.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from Motoki Ishikawa to Masuo Yasui dated 16 August 1924. In the letter Ishikawa discusses the voyages of Mr. Kittaka and himself from the United States to Japan. The verso is a printed dinner menu in English.
Translation Note: The Japanese portions of this document have been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from the Japanese Association of Oregon to Masuo Yasui. In the letter the Education Department of the Japanese Association of Oregon proposes a visit to Hood River, Parkdale, and Dee to establish communication in order to help with the education of the second generation in the area.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from Mantaro Kuga to Masuo Yasui, dated 8 April 1923. In the letter Mantaro asks Masuo to review documents relating to the property lines on his apple orchard to resolve a dispute regarding property boundaries and to pay the other property owner, Mr. Early (likely Charles Early), if the trees which were cut down are found to be on Early's property. Mantaro mentions wanting to meet in person, but since he is in the middle of spraying, he asks Masuo to send the details to Mr. Early in his name in advance. The document includes an attached letter from Mr. Early to Mr. K. Kuga, dated 2 April 1923 and written in English, in which he states that the wood has been cut from his property and requests remittance.
Translation Note: The letter in Japanese on pages one and two of this document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.