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.

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.

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 Masuo Yasui to Kanesan[?] Shokai dated 10 February 1917. In the letter Yasui places an order for 50 bales of calcium coated fancy rice and requests that the rice bags be stenciled with the Yasui Brothers trademark logo.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

A draft letter by Masuo Yasui to Japanese Consul Akamatsu (Sukeyuki Akamatsu?) addressed from the Japanese Residents of Hood River. The letter thanks Consul Akamatsu for his efforts to convince Oregon State Senator George R. Wilbur of Hood River to withdraw his proposed bill to restrict Japanese from owning property in Oregon. The bill was modeled after similar legislation passed in California.
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 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 of resignation from Masuo Yasui to the Japan-America Formal Society of Hood River dated 28 November 1928. In the letter Yasui resigns from his position as a board member and committee member.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from Masuo Yasui to Renichi Fujimoto. In the letter Masuo gives updates on the recession and its effects on the market, comparing the economic situation to Japan. He expresses his gratitude that the family can get by with some income from farming and his hope that the economy will recover in the next year or the year after. He also provides updates about the second floor construction on the new Yasui Brothers Mercantile building and changes to the city, including state-of-the-art streetlights, the success of the Texaco station, and the construction of a post office within the next two or three years. Additional topics in the letter include the general economic situation and updates on church and friends.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from Masuo Yasui to Renichi Fujimoto, dated 22 July 1930. In the letter Masuo discusses Kei's illness caused by a mosquito bite and his recovery, the progress on the construction of the new Yasui Brothers Mercantile building and plans to relocate everything from the old building before it is torn down, the features and division of space in the new building, and the total cost of the project in the context of the year's recession. The letter also includes updates about the family, orchard products and business, concern about rising anti-Japanese sentiment, and a sample English letter for Renichi to use.
Translation Note: This document has been translated into modern Japanese and English.

Letter from Masuo Yasui to Renichi Fujimoto, dated 26 October 1930. In the letter Masuo discusses the recession and its effect on the general commercial world, the year's apple and pear crop and market, the replacement of the front show windows and renewed sidewalks at the new Yasui Brothers Mercantile building, construction work on the second floor and rental arrangements in the new building, updates to the appearance of the city of Hood River which will result in higher land prices, and his reception of a long and passionate letter from Mr. Kakizawa. Additional topics in the letter include advice regarding Renichi's re-entry to the United States and updates about the town, family and friends, orchard products, and business.
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.