Ishimoto begins the interview talking about his whereabouts when he first heard of the surrender of Japan. At this time, he was already beginning preparations to move into Japan for scheduled invasions, and therefore, when shipped to Japan, he would…
Ishimoto continues his discussion on the importance of Nisei linguists during the military occupation of Japan. He talks about the various campaigns and things that the MIS had to deal with, that were much more than just interpreting and translating.…
Shindo discusses his childhood and family. He details about the aftermath from Pearl Harbor and volunteering for the Army. Shindo also discusses about basic training, experiences at Camp Savage, and in Australia.
Shinbo discusses about his experiences in the Philippines. He details his experiences in post-war Japan. Shinbo also discusses about his life after being discharged.
Shinbo discusses about his family and discusses how he got a job. He details about his experiences in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and reflects on his military service. Shinbo also discusses about his life after discharge.
Kaji discusses about his name and family. He details about childhood and Boyle Heights. Kaji also discusses about the Great Depression and his home life.
Kaji discusses about Boyle Heights and Little Tokyo. He details about his schooling and having to rid of personal belongings do to forced removal. Kaji also discusses about self-awareness and self-identification.
Kaji discusses about music. He details about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath. Kaji also discusses about forced removal and his experiences at Manzanar Concentration Camp.
Kaji discuss about at his experiences at Manzanar Concentration Camp. He details about his family life and life after high school. Kaji also discusses about college and being drafted.
Kaji discusses about joining the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and experiences at Fort Snelling. He details about his experiences in post-war Japan and the Philippines. Kaji also discusses about rank, coming home and post-military life.
Kaji discusses about the National Japanese American Museum and reflects on his life. He details about how he met his wife and honeymoon. Kaji also discusses about his family, post-war life, and a friend.
Masuoka discusses his parents and their personalities and occupations; discusses his siblings; and talks about values he learned growing up. He then talks about his childhood including his neighborhood; participation in youth groups and Boy Scouts;…
Masuoka talks about his experiences at Santa Anita temporary detention facility including reuniting with his girlfriend, living conditions, schools, and working at a hospital. He then talks about his wife's education; traveling to Santa Anita and…
Masuoka talks about his participation in a Japanese American pharmacy fraternity at college; discusses his wedding ring; and talks about his wife's experiences living in Colorado after she left incarceration camp. He then talks about getting drafted,…
Masuoka discusses seeing General MacArthur in Tokyo, talks about rankings within the platoon, and discusses his experiences in San Francisco during his Civil Censorship Detachment (CCD) training. He then talks about traveling to Japan, his…
Masuoka talks about mentors he had in graduate school and while he was employed at a VA hospital. He then talks about his experiences traveling across the United States after he retired, and his brother's military service. Next, Masuoka introduces…
Nakamura begins the interview talking about being born in America and quickly being moved to Japan as a child, where he would spend the next 8 years of his childhood. It was there that he would learn the culture of Japan and begin his elementary…
Nakamura discusses about his family. He details about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath. Nakamura also discusses about his experiences Pinedale Temporary Detention Center, Tule Lake Concentration Camp, and being drafted.
Nakamura discusses arriving in Japan and exploring Tokyo before joining the 11th Airborne in Sendai. Once in Sendai, he was sent to Shiogama to join the 188th regiment where they would patrol around and investigate for weapons that could be used…
Nakamura discusses about his family, experiences in camp, and the family pet. He details about his experiences at Fort Douglas. Nakamura also discusses at Camp Shelby.
Nakamura continues his recollection of his time visiting Hiroshima and how the Japanese there were very welcoming to him. Next, he speaks about his discharge from the Army and staying in Tokyo to work as a civilian. He first joined the Civil…
Nakamura discusses about being attached 11th Airborne Division and receiving his wings. He details about working in mail mail censorship. Nakamura also discusses about his experiences in Tokyo, Japan and how Japan has changed over the years.
Nakamura discusses about visiting his family in post-war Japan. He details about going back to college and finding employment. Nakamura also discusses about his children.
Nakamura reflects on his World War Two experiences. He details his family serving in the military. Nakamura also discusses about the legacy of Nisei linguist and shows some photographs.
Mori begins the interview speaking of his parent's background, immigrating from Japan to Santa Barbara, California. While attending school, Mori took an interest in horticulture and would end up farming after his high school graduation and before the…
Mori continues his recollection of his basic training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi and the preparation for the war. After that, he was sent back to Fort Snelling before being shipped out, and at that time also got married. Next, he would be shipped…
Mori continues his discussion on cave experiences while serving overseas in Okinawa. Following Okinawa, he is moved back to the Philippines until the end of the war. After thinking they would be sent back home after the atomic bombs, they are instead…
Mori recalls a time when he was watching television with his children and saw himself on a Walter Cronkite special. Next, he gives a message for future generations, which includes enduring and persevering in everyday life. After this, he talks about…
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…
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 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 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…
Murakami talks about his youth in Japan: living with relatives, attending school. He also discusses his experiences in MISLS training and his assignments as a Nisei soldier in ATIS; working as an interpreter for the Australian military officials.
Murakami discusses his Father, Mother and siblings. Growing up Murakami does not have much communication from his Issei parents about their immigration to the United States. He contributes this upbringing to not facing discrimination or racism.…
Murakami talks about his observations of Japanese nationals during his participation in Occupied Japan. He talks about cultural nuances in Japan and the politics of Niseis interactions with Japanese citizenry. He also discusses his work after his…
Murakami discusses going to Tanforan Temporary Detention Facility and the living conditions. He shares his thought on how the camp experience is different from Nisei to Issei. When Murakami goes to Rochester for seminary school, he contributes…
Murakami discusses basic training and Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS). He goes overseas and describes the environment and climate of Japan after the bombing. During occupation, Murakami's duties deal with translation,…
Murakami discuesses being discharge and going to the University of Utah. First job as government agency and also helps his family restaurant. Later he goes to Japan and gets employment as a civil service employee. He recalls meeting his wife in Japan…
Murakami discusses his grandchildren and the Japanese American Community. Murakami is on the board of the Japanese American Citizen League for a year and the Japanese American Veteran Association for six years. Currently Murakami is involve with…
Tanakatsubo begins the interview talking about his family background and the origin of his name. Growing up in Sacramento, he was exposed to a very diverse population and made for a pretty happy childhood and schooling, including a well-known glee…
Tanaktsubo continues his discussion on moving from the main basic training camp to a segregated unit made up of all Japanese American soldiers. The team is moved to Fort Lewis then Camp Crowder, and finally to Camp Savage, doing menial military work…
After spending time at the Military Intelligence Service Language School at Camp Savage, Tanakatsubo was sent overseas to begin interrogating in the Aleutian Islands where the Japanese were occupying some islands. It was there at the Battle of Attu…
Tanakatsubo discusses his years following his Army service, finding work in Chicago at a machine shop, working hard and making his way up the ranks, eventually ending in quality control. At the same time, he decided to start volunteering with…
Hara discusses his name, date of birth and birth place. His parents are Issei and his Father comes to the United States for better opportunities. Hara's Father works in various places before leasing a hotel in Portland called Austria Hotel. Growing…
Hara discusses his influential teachers during his school years and before evacuation, the High Y Club through him a banquet. As a a result of his Mother's values to work hard and higher education, Hara's aspiration is to go to medical school. He…
George Hara discusses temporary detention center and camp life at Minidoka Concentration Camp before leaving to Delaware for medical school. While in college, Hara experience a few discrimination experiences. He gets fired for being Japanese…
Hara discusses his military routines in basic training and the relationship between Mainland boys and Hawaiian boys. When Hara graduates basic training, there is discrimination in the military. The Caucasian soldiers receives the higher ranks than…
Hara discusses his occupation experience in Japan and his contribution as a Nisei. During occupation, Hara's duties involve translation and interpreting. Hara describes first experience in an interrogation is with a Japanese Admiral. He also helps…
Hara discusses how the Japanese American Plaza comes about and how the moment is significant to the Japanese American Community . Hara is active in the community and participates in the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) for awhile. He…
Kobayashi talks about his childhood including discussing his parents and siblings, going to Japanese school, working on a farm; and playing baseball and being a part of an esquire club in high school. He then talks about learning about the attack on…
Kobayashi talks about his assignment censoring letters while at Camp Stoneman and then being sent overseas to Japan where he was assigned to translate documents. While in Japan Kobayashi also taught English, visited relatives, went on sightseeing…
Kobayashi talks about his assignment translating documents in Japan, and his involvement with city government including being a manager for city council member Ken Nakaoka; and working as a fish and game manager and as a treasurer. He then talks…
Kobayashi discusses his family's thoughts about his assignment with the Military Intelligence Service; and also talks about his translation work while in Japan, seeing General MacArthur, and his assignment teaching English to the Japanese prince and…
Yoshino discusses about growing up on a farm, his home life, and his family. He details about the aftermath from Pearl Harbor and his experience with forced removal. Yoshino also discusses about his experiences in Pinedale Temporary Detention Center…
Yoshino begins the interview speaking about the surrender of Japan and a little about his childhood, growing up as a Japanese American. Next, he talks about spending a small amount of time at Tule Lake Concentration Camp and working at farms and on…
Yoshino discusses about going overseas and his experiences in both Manila and Japan. He details being discharged, going to college, and meeting his wife. Yoshino also talks about his life during retirement and the legacy of the Niseis.
Yoshino continues his recollection of his time overseas in Japan during the occupation. First, he speaks about the different assignments that he had, working as an overseer for reporting and as an interpreter for officers. Next, he speaks about the…
Grant Hayao Ichikawa discusses his military duties during the occupation of Japan and the Nisei and Kibei contribution as translators. Ichikawa talks about General MacArthur's plan to rebuild Japan and keeping the Emperor of Japan safe. He feels the…
Ichikawa begins the interview giving background details of his family and their farm in the Suisun Valley in California. Next, he discusses various parts of his childhood including values, Japanese language school and working for the Mayfield family,…
Grant Hayao Ichikawa discusses the language team and their assignments. He describes the difference between Kibei and Nisei and how their attributes working together up contribute to the rebuilding of Japan. Ichikawa also shares how he meets his wife…
Following the Turlock, Ichikawa and his family were moved to the Gila River Concentration Camp, where he saw posters showing that the Army needed military volunteers who could speak Japanese and work as interpreters. Once approved, Ichikawa was…
Ichikawa discusses his life following his second discharge from the Army, which included working in Sakhalin, living in Washington Heights in Tokyo and starting a family. Next, he decided to learn Indonesian and begin interpreting in Surabaya, then…
Mukai discusses growing up in Hawaii including talking about the plantation town he lived in; and discusses his siblings and parents. He also describes his childhood home, talks about some of the recreational activities he participated in, and…
Mukai discusses the expatriation process he went through, attending Japanese school, and getting drafted. He then talks about what life was like for Japanese Americans after the start of the war, going to basic training in Hawaii and at Fort…
Mukai talks about items sold on the black market in Japan, living in a tea house, and assignments while in Japan, including working as an interpreter for war crime trials and being an interpreter for Hideki Tojo. He then talks about Japan and…
Mukai talks about meeting his wife in Japan and having to go through an approval process in order to get married, going to business school in Minneapolis, and moving to Japan. Mukai also talks about his daughter, and provides some advice to future…
Fujimoto discusses his experiences growing up in rural Colorado as a youth. He talks about how his father immigrated to Mexico before settling in the U.S. He talks about how his mother arrived in the U.S. too. He shares anecdotes regarding: his…
H. Fujimoto talks about his recollections of the Pearl Harbor attack and the aftermath which prevented him from going off to college, and how Colorado's governor Ralph Carr offered refuge for evacuated Japanese Americans. He also discusses his…
H. Fujimoto talks about how his MISLS training emphasized patience and accuracy in interpreting for the military. He also discusses his post-war life: marriage, family, and career; and the racial discrimination he faced post-war while looking for…
Harry Fukuhara describes his childhood growing up in Washington during the Great Depression. He and his family moved to Japan after his father passed away, where he attended high school. He describes the emerging wartime atmosphere in Japan during…
During the Korean War, Harry Fukuhara worked in Counterintelligence Operations while in Japan. He talks about his 40 year military career in Military Intelligence. At the end of the video clip, he offers his advice to future generations.
In this video clip, Harry Fukuhara talks about what it was like living in Japan during the Sino-Japanese War -- his family was required to house Japanese soldiers. He explains the situation of the Nisei during this time. He returned to the United…
Harry Fukuhara describes the anti-American and anti-Japanese feelings that emerged prior to the outbreak of war between the United States and Japan. He talks about the day of the Pearl Harbor attack and the confusion he felt when he heard the news.…
Harry Fukuhara was evacuated to Tulare Assembly Center in California. In this video clip, he talks about his experience living there. He and many other Japanese American internees were relocated to the Gila River concentration camp. From there, he…
Harry Fukuhara discusses his recruitment into the Military Intelligence Service, and the difficulty most Nisei and Kibei had with the decision to volunteer for military service while being interned. He talks about being sent to Minnesota (Fort…
Harry Fukuhara talks about being stationed on Angel Island on the way to the Pacific Theater. He describes his first experience with interrogating a Japanese prisoner of war, which was during a demonstration for government officials at 6th Army…
In this video clip, Harry Fukuhara describes some of his experiences in the New Guinea Campaign: crossing the Bismarck Sea, the beach landing of Finch Island, PT Boat excursions (in search of Japanese POWs), interpreting New Guinea natives, and the…
During the New Guinea Campaign, Harry Fukuhara was assigned to interrogate a Japanese POW -- who reportedly was giving everyone a hard time. Upon meeting the Japanese officer for interrogation, Harry realized that the prisoner was his childhood…
In this video clip, Harry Fukuhara describes driving through Japan to reach Hiroshima, where he returned to his old house to find his Mother and Aunt. After helping his relatives in Hiroshima, he was discharged from service, but was able to return to…
Harry Tanaka discusses being born in Honolulu, Hawaii and being the second son of four children. At a young age he learns how to care for himself since his Mother passes away when he is very young. As a child he would spend time at the pier or the…
Tanaka discusses his Nisei Father being born in Hawaii, His father is drafted in 1918 for World War One and when he finishes his basic training, the war has ended. Post-war, his Father works for Sunrise Soda company as a truck driver until his…
