Fukuhara continues his recollection of the time after the Pearl Harbor attacks, and his father being taken in by the FBI. Other than that, things would go on as normal until the Executive Order 9066 was signed. With just a couple days notice, he and…
Yoshisuke Jack Kunitomi gives a personal message for people about his life experiences, and then displays a couple of personal photographs. Next, he recounts his wife's illness, diagnosis of cancer, treatments, and then her passing away. Lastly, he…
Yoshisuke Jack Kunitomi recounts his military responsibilities while in Japan, going to bathhouses, and the high rates of boot theft at the bathhouses. Next, he talks about returning to the US, going to college, and beginning his teaching career.…
Yoshisuke Jack Kunitomi recounts his uncertainty about what his military duties were going to be as the war ended. Next, he discusses the Japanese reactions to Nisei fighting for the US, the Filipino adults who were reacted negatively to Nisei…
Yoshisuke Jack Kunitomi discusses how he met his wife, her family's background, and her athletic activities. Next, he talks about Fort Snelling and his language training. Lastly, he discusses the Japanese military culture, always keeping his Japanese…
Yoshisuke Jack Kunitomi discusses his attempts to furnish and personalize his living quarters in camp. Next, he talks about military recruitment in the camps, being drafted, basic training, and some racial tensions at Camp Blanding. Lastly, he talks…
Yoshisuke Jack Kunitomi talks about his reactions to evacuation, and the effects of evacuation to Little Tokyo. Next, he discusses the train trip to Manzanar, the food being served there, and the ingenuity of the Issei for building a secret alcohol…
Yoshisuke Jack Kunitomi discusses that when he was a child that he identified with being Japanese, but when he was older he identified as being an American. Next, he recounts his reactions to Pearl Harbor, his parents reactions, and the law…
Yoshisuke Jack Kunitomi first talks about his brothers, and the many crops that Issei farmers grew in California. Next, he discusses that it was difficult for Issei and Nisei to get jobs outside of farming or retail markets. Lastly, he recounts his…
Yoshisuke Jack Kunitomi begins the interview by giving background information about his family. Next, he discusses his father's occupation and going to picnics with his mother. Lastly, he talks about the sorts of activities that Issei and Nisei…
George Aratani continues his discussion on the keys to his business success, and then talks about the Military Intelligence Service Language School students. Next, he talks about his various philanthropic work in the Japanese American community.…
George Aratani recounts meeting two Nisei in prewar Japan and their subsequent experiences during WWII fighting for Japan. Next, he discusses the origins of the Mikasa chinaware company and how he managed to get Macy's to buy into the dinnerware.…
George Aratani begins this interview part discussing how the bombing of Pearl Harbor prevented him from being able to completely take control of his father's businesses, and then arranging management of the businesses while in internment camp to an…
George Aratani begins the interview by detailing his father's vocation in Japan, and then his immigration to the United States where he starts businesses in agriculture. Next, he discusses his mother, and his parents sending him to Japan to learn…
Ted Wakai talks about meeting and marrying his wife, and discusses his children and their lives. Next he talks about the effects of his family's incarceration on his willingness to volunteer for the Military Intelligence Service. Lastly he gives some…
Ted Wakai discusses his counter intelligence training at Fort Ritchie, and then becoming an instructor at the Counter Intelligence Corps school. He then describes his discharge from the US Army and recounts some instances of racial discrimination. …
Ted Wakai describes recruitment techniques for the Military Intelligence Service. He then discusses Japanese language training and basic training at Camp Snelling and Fort McClellan. The last topics for this interview segment are Fort Ritchie and…
Ted Wakai begins with boarding school activities and discusses the Pearl Harbor attack. He then talks about his job cleaning Hickam Field after the attack and the reactions from the community and Caucasian soldiers to the attack. This interview…
Ted Wakai recounts his family's arrival in Hawaii. He discusses his childhood memories of his father, mother, and siblings. Lastly, there are stories about his school experiences up to boarding school (high school).
Seiki Tamae talks about General Douglas MacArthur and his firing by President Truman. Next he talks about President Roosevelt's Death. Lastly, he discusses his relatives military service in WWII, the affects of marrying Japanese women to a military…
Seiki Tamae discusses his time at Fort Snelling's Japanese Language School. Next he talks about the Invasion of Okinawa and the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan. Seiki then relates his deployment experiences to Japan and South Korea as an…
Seiki Tamae describes the attack on Pearl Harbor, his return to high school in Hawaii, and his feelings about his family back in Okinawa. Next Seiki talks about the 442nd and the feelings Hawaiians and Nisei felt about the unit and their battles in…
Seiki Tamae gives a broad introduction from being drafted in 1945, the Occupation of Japan and time in South Korea, to his post war life to retirement. Seiki then discusses his family and time in Hawaii, their decision to return to Okinawa in 1940,…
Uno describes Heart Mountain Concentration Camp. He briefly talks about his father's death. He discusses the military recruiters that came to Heart Mountain. He describes the Nisei soldiers that he met in camp. He talks about the jobs available in…
Uno shares his father's backstory. He talks about his father's career. He discusses his parent's marriage. He describes his parent's appearances and personalities. He talks about the land that his family owned in Japan. He discusses his mother's…
In 1959, Frank S. Tanabe joined the United States Civil Administration of the Ryukyu Islands with Headquarters (USCAR). Frank was part of the Public Affairs department as an Information Supervisor/News Writer. Besides his work, Frank proactively…
In May, Frank S. Tanabe and four other Nisei were the advance crew to set up Tule Lake. Before the war, Frank has writing experience. He continued his passion for writing at Tule Lake by starting Tulean Dispatch newspaper. In September, he went to…
Frank S. Tanabe was born on August 10, 1919 as Shinichiro Okamoto. His parents immigrated to the United States from Japan and later divorced when Frank was a child. Frank's mother married Mr. Tanabe in 1924. Frank and his sister grew up in the Tanabe…
Hinazumi describes his interactions with Japanese civilians that worked for the military. He talks about visiting a Leper colony. He discusses meeting a Japanese governor. He explains how he communicated with his girlfriend while overseas. He…
The interviewers and Robert Hinazumi introduce themselves. Hinazumi briefly talks about his family of origin. He explains how he learned Japanese. He describes his home life. He discusses the ways his mother supported Japan's military campaign in…
Araki continues his discussion on his assignments in Japan, working in Tokushima and helping to translate and interpret during the military occupation. Next, he talks about the black market during the occupation and how the big cities were the only…
Araki continues his recollection of his time after being drafted into the Army and having an assignment in Hawaii, guarding Italian prisoners of war. Next, he discusses the Japanese language and the importance of the characters that are used. He…
Araki begins the interview with a short introduction and speaking about his time at the Japanese language school. Being born in Sacramento and then moving to Hawaii, he had a different type of upbringing than most kids in Hawaii. The kids would call…
Fukuda discusses about his family, growing up in Hawaii, and aviation hobby. He details about December 7, 1941, volunteering for service, and his experiences at Camp Savage, Minnesota. Fukuda also discusses about his experiences in the Military…
Fukuda discusses Japan's surrender, the end of the war, and grasp of the Japanese language. He details about his experiences in post-war Japan working with the Technical Air Intelligence Unit (TAIU). Fukuda also reflects on his time in Japan
Kuida speaks about the end of the war in Europe, where he spent the last leg of the trip visiting Rome, attending courses at the University of Florence and guarding an ammunition depot. Next, they were sent back to the United States and he would get…
Kuida discusses his path following the family's move to Utah. As his sister was sick, his family ended up moving closer to Salt Lake City, where Kuida would start attending classes at the University of Utah. After about a year at the university, he…
Kuida discusses his schooling and education while living in Gardena. While a junior in high school, the Pearl Harbor attacks occurred which changed things for his family. Hours after Pearl Harbor, his mother was picked up by the FBI as a detainee…
Kuida begins the interview by giving brief introduction into his family background and growing up in Gardena, including Japanese language school and household decor. Next, he begins his background on his mother and father, both of whom immigrated…
George Suzuki was drafted and went to Military Intelligence Service Language School. The experience at Fort Snelling was easygoing because he already knew some of the Niseis. Also, his girlfriend lived in St. Paul.
George Suzuki was born on April 6, 1922, in Astoria, OR. He went to Fort Snelling for Military Intelligence Service Language School. n May 1945, he completed training and was assigned to the Philippines for guard duty. When Japan surrendered in…
Yamamoto talks about his first time smoking a cigarette. He describes his visits to United States Military encampments. He discusses his interactions with Nisei soldiers and caucasian GIs. He talks about the American Era in Japan. He describes his…
Yamamoto talks about the bombing of his village in Matsuyama, Japan . He discusses his school's move to another location because of the bombing. He describes what it was like to be class president. He talks about continuing his studies despite the…
Yamamoto talks about his parents immigration. He discusses his siblings. He talks about his father's first marriage. He describes Seattle, Washington. He discusses living in a hotel. He talks about his family's hotel business. He describes his…
Hanamoto discusses translation duties and the 187th. During Occupation Japan, Hanamoto recalls visiting a Japanese National at their home and topics of discussion that they discuss. When he is discharge, Hanamoto see discrimination still exists,…
Hanamoto is in Junior college when Pearl Harbor is bombed. He discusses discrimination, concentration camps, and the meaning of barb wires. While in camp, Hanamoto volunteers to work on a farm. He recalls induction, Military Intelligence Service…
Uesato looks through various pictures and narrates them. The pictures include moments from the Taj Mahal, political leaders (including Mao Zedong and Ambassador Hurley), and a picture from a graduation.
Uesato continues his discussion of his time in occupied Japan. During this time, he was an interpreter for political analysts who were trying to get as much information as they could regarding Japan's population in politics. In this way, Uesato was…
Uesato discusses his assignment in Burma, where his team would be in charge of opening back up the Burma Road. Next, he would head to China where he would get the rare chance to be around elite military leaders, including Mao Zedong of China and many…
Uesato begins the interview speaking about his family background, including his mother and father. Next, he talks about keeping up with the wars overseas and how unexpected the attacks on Pearl Harbor were. Living in Hawaii at the time, they were…
Fujimoto looks through various pictures and narrates the subject matter. The pictures include General MacArthur's wife and son, Colonel Mark Logie, gymnastics sessions at Pasadena City College, various pictures throughout occupied Japan, and finishes…
Fujimoto talks about his family background and his childhood, growing up in southern California. Next, he speaks about his self identity and what it was like to grow up being a Japanese American, amongst a neighborhood of caucasians. Next, the…
Fujimoto continues his recollection of his time in occupied Japan, working as an interpreter. After coming back from his tour of Japan with the Colonel, he would work at the Dai-Ichi Hotel at the front desk, interpreting and watching for signs of…
Fujimoto begins the interview with the surrender of the Japanese Army and the end of the war. As he was already in the Philippines, they would begin the military occupation in Japan shortly after. He would get over to Tokyo by ship and begin his…
Ishikawa discusses Japan's surrender; his experiences on Negros and Panay Islands; describes a Japanese battle flag he found; and talks about his experiences after landing in Korea including his interactions with Korean civilians and Japanese…
Ishikawa discusses the forced removal of Japanese Americans during World War Two; discrimination against Asian Americans; provides some thoughts regarding citizenship and loyalty; and discusses his experiences at Fort Riley including what happened…
Ishikawa discusses growing up in San Jose, California's Japantown including talking about his parents; discussing childhood discipline and values; recreational activities; his childhood home; and experiences going to a public bathhouse as a child. He…
Kobayahsi discusses about joining the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and about his post-war experiences in Japan. He details about his experiences with the war crimes tribunals. Kobayashi also discusses about the legacy of the Nisei and gives an…
Kobayashi discusses his family and upbringing. He details Pearl Harbor, its aftermath, and his experiences with forced removal. Kobayashi also discusses about his experiences at Tanforan Temporary Detention Center and Topaz Concentration Camp. He…
Yoshida discusses about leaving camp for college and his experiences at college. He details about his life in the Army and his employment with the Marquardt Corporation and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Yoshida also discusses about his family,…
Yoshida discusses his about family, childhood, and education. He details about Pearl Harbor and the immediate aftermath. Yoshida also discusses about his experiences at Tanforan Temporary Detention Center and later at Topaz Concentration Camp.
Yoshida discusses about his experiences in Kyoto and discusses Japanese culture. He details about traveling in Japan, writing father, and reflects on his military service. Yoshida also discusses about being discharged and gives advice future military…
Yoshida discusses briefly about about his experiences with the Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). He details about what he saw in Tokyo and Kyoto.
Yoshida discusses about being drafted, some of his family history, and his experiences at Military Intelligence Language School (MISLS). He details about thoughts and opinions about Japan before arriving. Yoshida
When Tony Koura goes back to Japan after the occupation, the locals have changed. The people have money, there is no food shortage, no one is starving, and every one is employed. There are thousands of linguists during the occupation. Tony says the…
Tony Koura goes to Manchuria to observe the mission of the repatriates returning to Japan. Tony says the repatriates are older men, women, and children who are malnourished. However, they are happy to be going to Japan.
Tony Koura is born on June 26, 1926. Before being drafted into the military, Tony is at Manzanar. Despite the discrimination after the Pearl Harbor attack, Tony wants to volunteer for the Army because of patriotism.
After the passing of Ray Mayeda's mother, Ray's father sent his two sisters and younger brother to live in Japan with their grandmother. Later, Ray's father and Ray went to live in Japan too. After living in Japan for a few years, in 1939, Ray…
Ray Kuniteru Mayeda was born on October 18, 1922. His parents were from Kagoshima prefecture before immigrating to the United States. Ray's father came from a family of educators in Japan.
In the United States, Ray's father was a successful farmer…
In October 1949, Ray Mayeda worked at the Civil Censorship until it was dissolved. Then Ray worked at Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) as a translator. He translated classified documents into English for a year.
When World War Two ended, Ray Kuniteru Mayeda attended the University of Minnesota for a year, and his finances were running low. Therefore, he decided to volunteer for two years and enlisted when he was in Chicago. Ray went to basic training at Camp…
Urata discusses the radio program that he was involved with after coming back from Tule Lake concentration camp. Next, he talks about the resurgence of Japanese culture and his personal music business. He discusses music before and after the war and…
Urata continues his recollection of his time in the Honouliuli Internment Camp in Hawaii as the war went on. He also speaks about how he got involved in Hole Hole Bushi music, which he later became famous for. Next, he goes back to his discussion on…
Urata begins the interview speaking about his family background and growing up in Japan, Korea and Hawaii. As his father died when he was just 1, Urata would move to Japan for a short amount of time before moving to Seoul, South Korea to live with…
Inui discusses about the rebirth of Japan and the successfulness of the Allied Occupation of Japan. He details about occupation and the importance of Nisei linguist. Inui also discusses about his family and shows some photograph.
Inui discusses about his post-war experiences in post-war Japan. He details about his duties with the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) in post-war Japan. Inui also discusses about his civilian work in post-war Japan.
Inui discusses about Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS). He details about his experiences in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). Inui also discusses about his post-war experiences in Japan.
Nishimura discusses his free time, visiting relatives, and contact with Japanese citizens. He discloses why Japan lost the war with the United States and the objective of the bomb survey team. He contributes the success of occupation to the Kibei. …
Nishimura discusses his reaction to landing in Yokohama and duties as part of the bomb survey team in occupation Japan. He shares some interview questions and answers from his survey with women and housewives. Nishimura also recalls the aftermath of…
Following 20 years of service in the US Army, Muranaka gets his retirement orders and begins college at the University of Puget Sound. After working with alcoholics working for the State of Washington, he received a call from the University of…
Muranaka finds himself at home in Honolulu when the Pearl Harbor attacks occurred, which he recalls hearing a loud noise and seeing a black smoke cloud in the distance. He hitchhikes back to Schofield Barracks and is given a uniform and gun and told…
Muranaka discusses both his father and mother's backgrounds and the influence that they had on his life even as young boy. Though living in poverty, his father was able to buy him an encyclopedia and type writer to instill in him the importance of…
