Nihon Go Gakko (Seattle)
Nihon Go Gakko (シアトル日本語学校, Shiatoru Nihongo Gakko), also known as the Japanese Language School (JLS), is a National Register of Historic Places in King County based at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington located on the periphery of the Seattle International District.Originally known as Kokugo Gakko,[1] it is also the oldest Japanese language school in North America.[4] An extension to the building was completed in 1918, funded by donations from the Seattle Japanese community.[6] When World War II broke out and the Japanese Americans in the area were sent to internment camps, the U.S. military occupied the school for use as an Army Air Force training facility.After World War II ended and interned Japanese Americans began to return to the Seattle area, the school was re-purposed as hostel and would house many returnee Japanese Americans as they looked for new homes and occupations.
National Register of Historic PlacesKing CountySeattle International DistrictFuruya Company buildingPioneer Square–Skid Road Historic DistrictWorld War IIJapanese Americansinternment campsArmy Air ForceMinidoka internment campHistory of the Japanese in SeattleNorthwest Asian WeeklyNorth American PostSeattle Post-Intelligencer