The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is November 2024)
Most Japanese language online historical newspapers are either from the Hoji Shinbun Digital Collection or from World War II Interment camps.
The Hoji Shinbun Digital Collection through Stanford University’s Hoover Institution Library & Archives and the Japanese Diaspora Initiative (JDI) is “currently the world’s largest online archive of open-access, full‑image Japanese American and other overseas Japanese newspapers. Most publications present a mix of content in Japanese and English, with formats and the proportionality of Japanese/English often changing as a reflection of shifting business and social circumstances.”
There are about 130 free titles of Japanese American newspapers available for online searching. There are a few that require a login to the Stanford University network. These are not included in the list below.
Here are the titles by state:
Arkansas
- Communiqué (Denson, Ark.) 1942-1943
- Denson Tribune (Denson, Ark.) 1943-1944
- Rohwer Relocator (McGehee, Ark.) 1945-1945
- The Rohwer Outpost (Rohwer [i.e. McGehee] Ark.) 1942-1945
Arizona
- Gila Bulletin ([Rivers, Ariz.]) 1945-1945
- Gila Co-Op News ([Rivers, Ariz.]) 1943-1945
- Gila News-Courier (Rivers, Arizona) 1942-1945
- Official Daily Press Bulletin (Poston, Ariz.) 1942-1942
- Official Information Bulletin (Poston, Ariz.) 1942-1942
- Poston Christian Church (Poston, Ariz.) 1942-1945
- Poston Chronicle (Poston, Ariz.) 1942-1945
- Relocator News Week ([Rivers, Ariz.]) 1943-194?
California
- Manzanar Free Press (Manzanar, Calif.) 1942-1945
- Tanforan Totalizer ([San Bruno, Calif.]) 1942-1942
- The Newell Star (Newell, Calif.) 1944-1946
- The Tule Lake Wra Center Information Bulletin (Newell, Calif.) 1944-1944
- The Tulean Dispatch (Newell, Calif.) 1943-1943
- The Tulean Dispatch (Tule Lake, Calif.) 1942-1942
- Nichibei [Japanese American News] (San Francisco, 1912-1932)
- Shin Nichibei (Los Angeles, 1947-1966)
- Shin sekai [New World] (San Francisco, 1912-1932)
- Shinsekai asahi shinbun [New World Sun] (San Francisco, 1932-1941)
- Agohazushi / 腮はづ誌 [The Agohazushi], (San Francisco, CA)
- Aikoku / 愛国 [Ai Koku], (San Francisco, CA)
- Amerika Shinbun / アメリカ新聞 [The America Shimbun], (San Francisco, CA)
- Daijūkyūseiki / 第十九世紀 [The Nineteenth Century], (San Francisco, CA)
- Daijūkyūseiki Shinbun / 第十九世紀新聞 [The Nineteenth Century], (San Francisco, CA)
- Dōhō / 同胞, (Los Angeles, CA)
- Ensei / 遠征 [The Expedition], (San Francisco, CA)
- Heimin / 平民 [The Common People], (Los Angeles, CA)
- Heimin / 平民 [The Heimin], (San Francisco, CA/New York, NY)
- Hokubei Asahi Shinbun / 北米朝日新聞, (San Francisco, CA)
- Japan Herarudo / 志やぱんへらるど [The Daily Japan Herald], (San Francisco, CA)
- Jiyū / 自由 [The Liberty], (San Francisco, CA)
- Kashū Mainichi Shinbun / 加州毎日新聞 [Japan-California Daily News], (Los Angeles, CA)
- Kinmon Nippō / 金門日報 [The Golden Gate News], (San Francisco, CA)
- Nichibei Shinbun / 日米新聞 [The Japanese-American News], (San Francisco, CA)
- Rafu Maru Maru Chinbun / 羅府団団珍聞 [The Los Angeles Japanese Advertiser], (Los Angeles, CA)
- Rafu Shinpō / 羅府新報 [The Rafu Shimpo], (Los Angeles, CA)
- Shin Nichibei / 新日米 [The Japanese American Daily News], (Los Angeles, CA)
- Shin Nihon / 新日本, (Oakland, CA)
- Shin Sekai / 新世界 [The New World], (San Francisco, CA)
- Shin Sekai Asahi Shinbun / 新世界朝日新聞 [The New World Sun], (San Francisco, CA)
- Shin Sekai Nichi Nichi Shinbun / 新世界日日新聞 [The New World Daily News], (San Francisco, CA)
- Shin Tenchi / 新天地 [Shin Ten Chi], (San Francisco, CA)
- Sōkō Bunko / 桑港文庫 [San Francisco Journal], (San Francisco, CA)
- Sōkō Hyōron / 桑港評論 [The San Francisco Review], (San Francisco, CA)
- Sōkō Jiji / 桑港時事 [San Francisco Times], (San Francisco, CA)
- Sōkō Nihon Shinbun / 桑港日本新聞 [S.F. Japan Herald], (San Francisco, CA)
- Sōkō no Shiori / 桑港の栞 [The San Francisco], (San Francisco, CA)
- Sōkō Shinbun / 桑港新聞 [The Soko Shimbun], (San Francisco, CA)
- Sōkō Shinpō / 桑港新報 [The San Francisco], (San Francisco, CA)
- Taihei Shinbun / 太平新聞 [The Peace], (San Francisco, CA)
- Zaibei Rōdō Shinbun / 在米労働新聞 [The Japanese Worker in America], (San Francisco, CA)
- The Nikkei shimin
Colorado
- Bulletin (Granada, Colo.) 1942-1942
- Granada Pioneer (Amache, Colo.) 1942-1945
- Kakushu Jiji = Colorado Times (Denver, Colo.) 1918-1969
- Rokkī Shimpō = Rocky Shimpo (Denver, Colo.) 1943-1961
- Amache Hi It
- Colorado Shimbun
- Granada Bulletin
- Granada Pioneer
- Junior Pioneer
- Kakushu Jji = Colorado Times
- Rocky Mountain JIHO
- Rocky Mountain Journal
- Rokkī Nippon = Rocky Nippon
- Rokkī Shimpō = Rocky Shimpo
- Santo jiji = The Santo Times
- Rokkī Nippon / ロッキー日本 [The Rocky Nippon], (Denver, CO)
- Rokkī Shinpō / ロッキー新報 [The Rocky Shimpo], (Denver, CO)
- Santō Jiji / 山東時事 [The Santo Times], (Denver, CO)
Hawaii
- Gyōshō / 鐘暁, (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Asahi / 布哇朝日 [The Hawaii Asahi], (Hilo, HI)
- Hawai Bun’en / 布哇文苑 [The Hawaii Bunen], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Mainichi / 布哇毎日 [The Hawaii Mainichi], (Hilo, HI)
- Hawai Nichi Nichi Shinbun / 布哇日日新聞 [The Hawaiian – Japanese Daily Chronicle], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Sandi Nyūsu / 布哇サンディ・ニュース [The Hawaii Sunday News], (Hilo, HI)
- Hawai Shinbun / 布哇新聞 [The Hawaii Shimbun], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Shinpō / 布哇新報 [The Hawaii Shinpo], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Shokumin Shinbun / 布哇植民新聞 [The Hawai Shokumin Shinbun], (Hilo, HI)
- Hawai Shōgyō / 布哇商業 [The Hawaii Shogyo], (Hilo/Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Sutā / ハワイスター [The Hawaii Star], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawaii Times / 布哇タイムス, (Honolulu, HI)
- Hiro Shinpō / ヒロ新報 [The Hilo Shinpo], (Hilo, HI)
- Honoruru Shinbun / ほのる々新聞 [Honolulu News], (Honolulu, HI)
- Jitsugyō no Hawai / 實業之布哇 [The Jitsugyo no Hawaii], (Honolulu, HI)
- Kawai Shinpō / 加哇新報 [The Kauai Shinpo], (Līhuʻe, HI)
- Kazan / 火山 [The Volcano], (Honolulu, HI)
- Kona Hankyō / コナ反響 [The Kona Echo], (Holualoa, Kona, HI)
- Maui Rekōdo / 馬哇レコード [Maui Record], (Wailuku, HI)
- Maui Shinbun / 馬哇新聞 [Maui Shimbun], (Wailuku, HI)
- Nihon Shūho / 日本週報 [Japanese Weekly News], (Honolulu, HI)
- Nippu Jiji / 日布時事 [The Nippu Jiji], (Honolulu, HI)
- Rakuen / 楽園 [The Paradise], (Hilo, HI)
- Shūkan Hawai Shinpō / 週刊布哇新報 [The Weekly Hawaii], (Honolulu, HI)
- Yamato / やまと [The Yamato], (Honolulu, HI)
- Yamato Shinbun / やまと新聞 [The Yamato Shimbun], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Purantēshon Kuronikuru / 布哇プランテーションクロニクル [Hawaii Plantation Chronicle], (Honolulu, HI)
- Labor Review of Hawaii, (Honolulu, HI)
- Maco Breeze, (Paia, HI)
- Voice of Labor, (Honolulu, HI)
- Hawai Mikkyō / 布哇密教 [Hawaii Mikkyo], (Honolulu, HI)
- Hōyū / 法友, (Honolulu, HI)
- Kōjō / 向上 [The Kojyo], (Kealakekua, HI)
- Kyōdan Jihō / 教團時報 [Buddhist Child], (Honolulu, HI)
- Kazan Shinbun / 火山新聞 [The Kwazan], (Hilo, HI)
- Yōen Jihō / 洋園時報 [The Yoen Jiho], (Koloa, HI)
Idaho
Illinois
New York
- Heimin / 平民 [The Heimin], (San Francisco, CA/New York, NY)
- Nichibei Jihō / 日米時報 [Japanese American Commercial Weekly], (New York, NY)
- Nyū Yōku Shinpō / 紐育新報 [The Japanese Times], (New York, NY)
Utah
- All Aboard (Topaz, Utah) 194?-194?
- Bussei Life (Topaz, Utah) 1943-1943
- Topaz Times (Topaz, Utah) 1942-1945
- Rakki Jihō
- Utah Nippo
Washington
- Amerika / あめりか [The America], (Seattle, WA)
- Asahi Shinbun / 旭新聞 [The Asahi News], (Seattle, WA)
- Donchiki / ドンチキ [The Donchiki], (Seattle, WA)
- Hokubei Jiji / 北米時事 [The North American Times], (Seattle, WA)
- Japanese-American Courier, (Seattle, WA)
- Nihonjin / 日本人 [The Japanese], (Seattle, WA)
- Nichibei Hyōron / 日米評論 [The Nichi Bei Hyoron], (Seattle, WA)
- Taihoku Nippō / 大北日報 [The Great Northern Daily News], (Seattle, WA)
- Hokubei Jiji/North American Times: 12/14/1917-12/31/1919 and 9/10/1923
- Hokubei Hochi/North American Post: 6/5/1946-12/1950
Wyoming
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!