K. Yaguchi shares recollections of evacuating home with his family and describes in detail the camp facilities. He also talks about his military training and early combat experiences in the Europe. He relays anecdotes regarding: segregation in…
Yaguchi discusses his youth growing up in rural Washington. He talks about his family: father, siblings, stepmother. He discusses memories regarding: raising hogs, high school sports participation, holiday seasons, and Pearl Harbor attack.
Fujii talks about the military equipment he used during the Korean War. He describes about how old the C-rations were during the Korean War. He continues to discuss his journey back to the United States. He talks about being reassigned at Fort Lewis.…
Fujii talks about his military training. He describes his unit's diversity, including GI George Washington. He discusses his journey to Korea. He talks about a rest period that he took in Tokyo, Japan. He describes the damage to Schofield Barracks.…
Fujii talks about the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He describes his lifelong friendships. He discusses his penmanship. He explains how his family prepared their property for their forced removal. He talks about resuming his education…
Fujii talks about his birthplace in Troutdale, Oregon. He explains how he got his nickname. He discusses his hunting activities. He describes his father's appearance. He talks about his father's work. He shares his mother's role in his household. He…
James Fujii felt the teachers were instrumental with the move to Nyssa. The teachers protected the Japanese Americans from discrimination. In 1944, James graduated high school. He recalls spending three and a half years in Nyssa during wartime.…
James Fujii grows up in a rural area. After the war, the community doubled in size. James felt everyone got along after they knew one another. In his opinion, the Japanese American community did not rebel against racism after the war. They are happy…
James Mamoru Fujii was born on May 28, 1926. His parents were Bukichi "Ben" Fujii and Yoshino Yamakado Fujii. James' mother was the second wife after the first wife passed away. In the first marriage, James' father has three children.
Ray Shiiki is inducted at Fort Douglas, UT then goes to Camp Hood. He is assigned to the Tank Destroyer Outfit. After Camp Hood, he goes to Fort Snelling and is assigned as Supply Sergeant, F Company.
Before the war, Ray Shiiki's parents buy land in Damascus, OR. However, due to the alien land law, the property is under Ray's sister's name. Later Ray's parents discover they have been taken advantage of by a cannery worker.
Ray Gerald Shiiki is born January 7, 1927, in Gresham, Oregon. Ray's parents are from Koga, Japan, and immigrated to the United States. They settled in Oregon. He has three sisters and one brother.
Azumano discusses his experiences with forced removal and at Portland Temporary Detention Center. He details his experiences at Minidoka Concentration Camp and his family. Azumano also discusses his post-war life and medical issues.
Azumano discusses his childhood and social activities. He details his experiences with higher education and his post college life. Azumano also discusses being drafted and the aftermath from Pearl Harbor.
Onchi discuss receiving treatment for his injuries and being discharged. Onchi's brother is also drafted into service. Post-war, Onchi goes to college and becomes an Optometrist, gets married and has children. He receives the Purple Heart and Bronze…
Onchi discusses his prefecture origin and familial description. He shares his childhood activities and talks about influential teachers from his informative years. Onchi recalls being inducted, basic training and joining the 442nd Regimental Combat…
Edward Fujii's interview is with his wife, Aya Fujii.
When Edward Fujii receives his draft notice, he reports to Fort Dix, Utah, for his induction into the Army and then goes to Camp Fannin, TX, for basic training.
Edward Harumi Fujii is born on April 1, 1923, in Troutdale, OR. Edward's father and mother are from Yamaguchi-Ken, Japan, and they immigrate to the United States. Edward has five brothers and two sisters.
Pokress discusses his family and growing up in New York. He details of going to Asia, his experiences with Merrill's Marauders, and his impressions of Japanese American soldiers. Pokress also discusses his career, what he did after returning home,…
Iso discusses his time with the Air Intelligence Service Squadron and Project American during the Korean War. Iso details his job with The Foreign Service. Iso also gives advice to his grandchildren and explains what is most important.
Iso discusses trying to help the Japanese people as best as possible. He highlights the role the Nisei played during the occupation. Iso also discusses Japan's agriculture and food production capabilities post-war
Iso discusses how he ended up in Japan during military occupation and what he did while he was there. He also details about the starvation and devastation he witnessed in Japan. Iso discusses what it was like interacting with the Japanese people.
Iso discusses about the time he spent in the Santa Anita Temporary Detention Center and Heart Mountain Concentration Camp. He also details about the struggles that Japanese Americans faced in the military and in american society. Iso details the…
Iwatake discusses more about his time on Chichijima. He details his life after the war had ended. Iwatake also discusses his time meeting President George H. W. Bush.
Iwatake discusses getting sunk by a submarine and arriving to Chichijima. He details about his experiences on Chichijima. He also discusses his relationship with Warren Earl Vaughn.
Iwatake discusses his early life of growing up in Hawaii, before moving to Japan. He details the events that led up to his family moving to Japan and what it was like living in Japan. Iwatake also discusses being drafted into the Japanese Army.
Kawamoto talks about reporting on the Peace Conference in San Francisco. He briefly talks about returning to Japan. He describes an interview with a Japanese representative about the Treaty of San Francisco. He discusses his job as a Secretary to the…
Kawamoto talks about reporting to divisional headquarters. He talks about the Japanese officers fear that the Allies would castrate them. He explains how he prepared to meet the American forces. He discusses translating the book, The Ideal Marriage.…
Kawamoto talks about dropping off Korean soldiers at the front lines. He describes his first time in combat. He discusses a strategic meeting with top officials. He describes his platoon's travel through China using a map. He describes the Japanese…
Kawamoto talks about what life was like behind the military zone. He describes a visit with his family before he went to China. He talks about his basic training. He discusses the front lines in China. He describes the abuses of his superior…
Kawamoto talks about his early life in Winters, California. He shares his fathers backstory. He describes his childhood home. He talks about his first time living in Japan. He discusses the demographics of Winters, California. He briefly talks about…
Mr. Watanabe discusses the importance of Nisei storytelling and committing these stories to tape through oral histories. He next describes what it was like coming back to Hawaii after the war and talks about the important event of Hawaiian statehood.…
Mr. Watanabe first discusses where he was born and raised, and talks about his passion for music, which included a career as a musician. Leading a unique military career, Mr. Watanabe served in the 442nd and the MIS, before he was finally assigned to…
Takeuchi discusses about his family and his childhood. He details about Pearl Harbor, its aftermath, being drafted, and basic training. Takeuchi also discusses about his experiences at Fort Snelling, his experiences in occupied Japan, and his…
Asato continues talking about his first combat while in Italy, at the Rome-Arno area. He talks about being able to see Florence from a distance and the tree bursts that could kill a soldier instantly. While there, he would get sick and end up in a…
Asato begins the interview talking about his family background, including his parents coming from Okinawa prefecture and settling down on Maui. He talks about growing up in Paia, attending Paia School and picking pineapples at Maui Pineapple. He…
Ohta discusses various war experiences, including the troops in his company. Next, he speaks about having very little correspondence with his family and the rank he earned of staff sergeant. He also discusses aspects of the German Army and the…
Ohta begins the interview with an introduction and talking shortly about his family background, his parents being from Maui. Next, he talks about what it was like to grow up in Hawaii up until the Pearl Harbor attacks. After that, he would join the…
Murakami continues talking about his involvement in social activism, including a donor wall at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. Along with that, he has been involved in the redress and reparations for those Japanese who were…
Murakami continues his recollection of the Marysville Temporary Detention Center and the living conditions there. Shortly after that, he and his family were moved to Tule Lake Concentration Camp where tensions were high and at one point they were…
Murakami discusses about his family. He details about his childhood. Murakami also discusses about Pearl Harbor, its aftermath, and his experiences in Marysville Temporary Detention Center.
Nakamoto discusses various job experiences from working at Federal position level, MCI, and owning his own company. Nakamoto is part of the Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) and he describes their mission and contribution to the…
Nakamoto discusses prefecture origin and familial description. Nakamoto's Father is a Founder of the Second Buddhist Church and his Grandfather is a Founder of the First Buddhist Church. Nakamoto grows up on a farm and helps with the farming chores.…
Coolidge Wakai guarded thousands of POWs in the Po Valley when the war ended. Later, Coolidge was transferred from guarding the POWs to Headquarters Company as a cleric.
After the war, Coolidge returned to the United States. He participated in a…
