In the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entry into the war, a substantial shift in the situation became evident. The Japanese consulate in New York was closed, and the Department of Justice initiated the detention of numerous pre-war businessmen and community leaders at Ellis Island, citing concerns of potential disloyalty. These arrests were not solely attributed to disloyalty to the United States; they also encompassed Japanese nationals with no evidence of disloyalty, including Rev. Akamatsu and others. By 1942, the number of Japanese individuals in New York had dropped from about 3,000 to about 1,500. Most remained in jobs like labor, art, and writing, while only a few were in business. This evacuation was not total, but selective, disregarding any distinction between foreign-born Japanese immigrants and their American-born children, who are Americans themselves. New York City welfare officials demonstrated a lack of concern for Japanese and Japanese Americans. Private agencies, including the Civilian Community Service Society of the American Friends Service Committee and the Church Committee for Japanese Work, appealed to Christian churches to assist in providing employment and housing for the Japanese communities in New York.  

In response to these developments, a public meeting was convened and attended by 150 individuals, which led to the establishment of the 日系人民主化委員会 (JACD). The organization elected Thomas Komuro as its chairman, who established six subcommittees and initiated the publication of a regular newsletter. The newsletter featured a progressive, pro-democracy advisory board that included prominent figures such as Pearl S. Buck, Albert Einstein, and Franz Boas. In mid-March 1942, the JACD advocated for a federal agency to provide employment opportunities for Japanese Americans facing job discrimination. The JACD organized rallies to support the American war effort in World War II, placed Japanese Americans in New York, and provided a platform for Issei and Nisei to convene and socialize. The JACD Newsletter, published monthly, disseminated information about the Nikkei communities in New York. (fig. Nissei at work in New York, the National Archives MD) 

In early 1943, Nori Ikeda Lafferty, a prewar activist from the Bay Area, relocated to New York and was hired as JACD’s first paid staff member. This prompted a group of fellow Nisei activists to congregate in New York, following Ikeda Lafferty’s lead. The JACD rapidly became predominantly comprised of Nisei members. In 1944, the Issei board members resigned, and the Nisei members were elected to lead the JACD. The JACD Arts Council was also established with the assistance of artists Yasuo Kuniyoshi and Isamu Noguchi. The council’s primary objective was to produce propaganda in favor of democracy and against Japanese militarism. New York-based writers and journalists participated in this initiative. 

Nisei architect, Minoru Yamasaki became chairman of the Resettlement Council of Japanese American organizations in New York City and a representative of the Art Council of Japanese Americans for Democracy. Yasuo Kuniyoshi, a prominent artist, created a series of anti-war posters commissioned by the Office of War Information (OWI). In addition, he delivered a radio address to Japan that emphasized the importance of democracy. Chuzo Tamotzu was assigned to the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and deployed to Southeast Asia. Conversely, Leo Amino‘s artistic career was temporarily suspended due to the war, which compelled him to serve as a translator for the U.S. Navy. Isamu Noguchi, a resident of New York, was not subject to government evacuation orders due to his status as Nisei. However, he voluntarily reported to the Poston War Relocation Center in Arizona. Taro Yashima departed Japan in 1939, enlisted in the U.S. Army, and served as an artist for the U.S. Office of War Information (OWI) and the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The New Sun published Yashima’s 310-page autobiographical picture book for adults about prewar Japan in 1943. 

Ayako Ishigaki was an Issei journalist, activist, and feminist who published a memoir, Restless Wave in 1940, was met with acclaim in the U.S., but the book’s strong criticism of Japanese society and militarism also led to negative attention from the Japanese government. Ayako and her husband, the artist Eitaro, had to register as an enemy alien but didn’t face imprisonment because of their pro-democracy sentiments. Instead, they faced curfews, random searches, and job loss. In 1942, Ayako began working for the OWI. From 1943 to 1944, Kimi Gengo Tagawa published a series of stories in The Bookshelf, a magazine for the Girl Reserves. In these stories, Tagawa used fictional conversations to educate readers about American and Japanese culture, immigration, and assimilation.