Sugihara discusses growing up during the Depression Era. He details about his family and their background. Sugihara also discusses about his education and social activities.
Masuo Tsuda talks about his family coming from the Ehime prefecture in Japan, and settling in the Watsonville area of California, starting a farm. Masuo would grow up on that farm, learning how to farm while attending both english and Japanese…
Sam Furukawa describes his parents relationship. He recalls the death of his sibling. He talks about his family's farming activities. Furukawa describes his family home and Japanese language school. He discusses his friendships and his experiences…
Yoshimura discusses growing up in Wyoming on a farm, and going to school. He details about his family moving to Japan where he lived until he was fifteen. He then discusses moving to California by himself where he lived in a boarding house, and…
Kashiki discusses growing up in Southern California, his family's farming business, going to school, his parents, and father's various jobs. He then talks about childhood activities such as fishing with his father, walking to school; and playing…
Hiraoka discusses about his family and growing up in Hilo, Hawaii. He details about his schooling. Hiraoka also discusses about his childhood and community involvement.
Nishioka talks about Japanese language school and primary school. He also discusses his experiences in high school. He briefly describes a carpentry apprenticeship he had as a youth. He explains the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. Nishioka…
Ushijima talks about his education and his mentors. He describes racial tensions in Hawaii. He discusses the values that he got from his parents. He talks about his experiences in Japanese language school. He discusses his involvement in kendo. He…
Ushijima and the interviewers introduce themselves. Ushijima describes his early life in Hilo, Hawaii. He talks about his mother's cooking. He discusses his father's war service record and how he immigrated to America. He shares his mother's…
Nakamura discusses about sports, religion, career aspirations, and attending college. He details about Peal Harbor, its aftermath, and details about the events before military service. Nakamura also discusses about getting drafted, going to Camp…
Nakamura discusses about his family and childhood. He details about food and his family home. Nakamura also discusses about friends, his neighborhood, and schooling.
Hibino explains how his parents and grandparents immigrated to the United States. He briefly talks about his aunt. He describes the influence of his grandparents. He discusses his relationship with his brother. He shares his brothers life story. He…
Hibino and the interviewers introduce themselves. He talks about his family. He describes his early life in Berkeley, California. He discusses his involvement in the Berkeley Japanese American community. He talks about his experiences in primary…
Saiki begins the interview with an introduction and talking about how his family came from Yamaguchi prefecture to Kauai, Hawaii. After this, he speaks about growing up on a rice farm in Hawaii and all the intricacies of how to plant the seedlings…
Akama discusses his prefecture origin and family. He details about his childhood, upbringing, and schooling. Akama also discusses about his social activities.
Nakamura discusses life in Hawaii during the war time, including martial law and heavy food rations. He talks about the various restrictions that the civilians had, and the few things that they would do for fun, such as going to the movies. He then…
Yamate discusses his father including talking about his employment as a carpenter on a plantation on Kauai, and as the owner of a general store. He then talks about his own business which was a fishing and gardening store he opened post-war; and…
Miyashiro and the interviewers introduce themselves. Miyashiro explains how he got his name. He describes what it was like to grow up on a homestead in Hawaii. He talks about his experiences in primary school. He discusses his father's personality.…
H. Shibata discusses race relations in California's Coachella Valley circa 1930s-1940s. He talks about his school experiences in public school and Japanese school. He also talks about how the outbreak of World War 2 affected his family.
H. Shibata talks about his siblings and paternal uncle. He also discusses his schooling and living conditions in Coachella Valley. In addition he talks about childhood summers spent in Terminal Island circa 1930s.
Oshita talks about the sports she was involved with and the recreational activities during her childhood, where she was intrigued with basketball and swimming and her family would have picnics to "talk stories". She would also correspond with her…
Oshita continues talking about the cultural celebrations that she grew up with, such as New Years, where they would eat traditional foods. Next, she talks about growing up in Hawaii, sewing dresses for dolls and the decor that they had in their home.…
Murakami talks about his early life in rural Hamakua. He goes on to discuss his family and stepmother. Murakami reveals his experiences while in Japanese School. He ends this section of the interview by discussing what he did after high school.
Sakato discusses what it was like growing up in California. He details about his education. Sakato also discusses he experiences from when he moved to Arizona.
Ozaki discusses hearing about Executive Order 9066 and the evacuation of all Japanese from the west coast. Being on the east coast, he never had to deal with an evacuation, but felt sympathy for those who did. Next, he talks about the members of his…
Nakamoto and the interviewers introduce themselves. Nakamoto describes his early life in Palo Alto, California. He shares his parent's backstories. He lists his siblings. He talks about his parents immigration. He discusses his life on his family…
Kikuchi discusses his father including talking about his immigration to the United States, employment, and experiences in college. He then talks about attending Japanese language school, attending high school, growing up in Los Angeles, playing…
Nakashima discusses his childhood growing up in Hawaii including discussing his community and gardening hobby. He then talks about his parents; childhood discipline; siblings; values taught by his parents; and attending school and Japanese language…
Takahashi begins the interview speaking about his family background and how his parents came to settle in Gresham, Oregon and then moved to Vancouver, Washington. Next, he talks about what it was like to grow up in Washington during the Great…
Yano discusses his prefecture origin and familial description. Yano grows up in a rural community in Canada. As a young child his parents divorce and Yano and his brothers live with their father. He describes his childhood activities, daily routines,…
Goto describes growing up on a planation in Ewa, Hawaii and taking the train into Honolulu to go to school. After graduating from high school, Goto worked at a 7UP bottling company as a soda salesman and delivery man. He also talks about being a…
Saito discusses his childhood going up in the rural community of Oregon and his Issei parents. His Father works in the Farm Trucking business and Saito leaves Junior High School due to his Father's ailing health. Saito helps with the family business…
Kazuo Hinatsu begins the interview talking about growing up in Oswego, Oregon, where there were very few Japanese Americans and his family would have a farm. Next, he talks about how his parents came from Japan and settled in Oregon, becoming…
Kurokawa continues his discussion on what it was like to be in Japan during war times, including activities that were available during that time such as watching sumo wrestling. He also speaks about the living conditions, food shortages and…
Suyama explains how he got his name. He talks about his father's early life. He describes his father's work on the railroad. He talks about his father's knowledge of languages. He talks about his father's educational background. He shares memories of…
Ito discusses his thoughts and advice for future generations of Japanese Americans regarding ambition, education, discipline, hard work, health, and medicine. He also talks about his work as a doctor in a private practice and also discusses medical…
Ito discusses growing up in Portland, Oregon including talking about attending school and playing sports; speaking mostly English at home; and talking about his parents, including his father's various jobs. He also talks about an incident in which…
Takashima begins the interview discussing his family background, including how they became farmers in Chula Vista, California. He talks about various parts of his childhood from the small home he grew up in to the celebrations and values that his…
Yamane and the interviewers introduce themselves. Yamane describes his early life in Hawaii. He talks about his father's work on a sugar plantation. He discusses how his mother's sake was a separate source of income for his family. He lists his…
Iwasaki discusses his youth growing up in Manoa Valley. He talks about his father's arrival in Hawaii from Japan; and his parent's devotion to him and his siblings. He also shares anecdotes regarding: family leisure trips; working on family farm; and…
Teramura continues his recollection of his school years in Oregon, his favorite subject being math. He discusses some of the impactful teachers he had and some of the discrimination that he faced during his childhood. After graduating from Oregon…
Teramura begins the interview talking about growing up in Lents, Oregon. His family would come over from Shiga prefecture in Japan and start a farm, where Yasu would work from the age of 7 on. During the Great Depression they had to move from Lents…
Kaneshiro goes through his family background, where his parents originated from Okinawa and immigrated to Hawaii. However, on a visit back to Okinawa, his mother's visa expired and she was unable to get back to Hawaii, stranding George and his…
Nagasaka discusses attending Japanese language school as a child and coming from a Buddhist family. He also talks about his recreational activities in school, such as handball, in which he was always the best. Next, he talks about the after effects…
Nagasaka begins the interview with an introduction and talks about what it was like to grow up on a hog ranch near Portland, Oregon. He talks about the various ways that they made money off of the hogs and where he was when he first head of the…
Koyama continues to talk about his experiences in Japanese language school. He describes what he did in his leisure time, including hunting. He continues to discuss his work on his family farm. He talks about his childhood education. He briefly…
Koyama and the interviewers introduce themselves. He describes his hometown Nampa, Idaho. He talks about his father's immigration to the United States. He discusses his father's employment ventures. He describes his family home. He talks about his…
Sakaguchi talks about his birthplace. He discusses his siblings and his parents immigration to the United States. He describes his parent's personalities. He briefly talks about his nickname. He discusses his family home and his community of…
Kitaoka discusses the Alien Land Laws and the reasons why Japanese immigrants are only able to lease land and not buy. Kitaoka recalls his Father transitioning form produce farming to a chicken ranch because farm the lease expires. At this time only…
Kitaoka discusses his birth date, birth place and his parents. His Issei Father immigrates from Japan to the United States and works on the Railroad. Eventually he returns back to Japan to marry Kitaoka's Mother who is a picture bride. Growing up…
Shinmoto discusses name, birth date, birthplace and growing up during the Great Depression. He recalls his Father and Mother's personality and child rearing. Shinmoto's Father is a quiet man and he learns about his Father history through his Uncle. …
Nakamura discusses some of the officers he encountered during World War Two, including Colonel Farrant L. Turner and Major James Lowell; and talks about correspondence with his girlfriend during the war. He then describes his trench foot condition…
Saito discusses his parents and his father’s reasons for moving to the United States; as well as his father's employment. He then talks about growing up in Los Angeles; discusses his brother; and talks about his neighborhood growing up. Next, Saito…
Harry Kuga begins the interview speaking about his family background and living in Wyoming and Colorado. His mother would run a popular Japanese restaurant, while he and his siblings attended school, Japanese language school and played sports. During…
Kimura discusses his parents; siblings; growing up in Honolulu, Hawaii; and talks about his father’s employment. He then talks about attending Japanese language school; discusses the languages he spoke at home; religion and attending church; learning…
Yenari discusses his influential teacher is Mr. Hayashi from Japanese School. Yenari defines what is means to be a good citizen, an American, and to have moral and ethics.
Growing up Yenari plays baseball, golf, and pole vaulting. In high…
Yenari discusses his Issei Father immigrating to the United States and working in the saw mill. Yenari recalls his Father as a quiet man and enjoys raising flowers. Yenari' s Mother is religious and he would help her in the kitchen and with house…
Tsubota discusses his family and how he obtained his nickname. He also details his educational experiences in both The United States and Japan. Tsubota discusses what it was like being drafted in the Army and his early military experiences.
Yatsu describes his parents and his experiences in school. He talks about the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He discuss the role of religion in his upbringing. He describes what Upland and Pasadena were like when he was young. He briefly…
Akamine describes his family structure and history. He describes what life was like on a plantation. He talks about his primary school education and Japanese language school. Akamine briefly talks about what he did in his leisure time as a child. He…
Hiraoka discusses about a hate crime that occurred while at law school. He details peoples fear of the Japanese and he discusses an acquaintance. Hiraoka also discusses about his experiences at Gila River Concentration Camp.
Hiraoka discusses about his childhood and his plans for the future. He details about is life after high school, experiences during the Great Depression, and experiences at law school. Hiraoka also discusses about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath.
Hiraoka discusses about his family and their history. He discusses about farming and his education. Hiraoka also discusses about different aspects of his childhood, including friends, playing sports, neighbors.
Saiki and the interviewers introduce themselves. Saiki describes his parents immigration to America. He talks about farming. He lists his siblings. He discusses what he did in his childhood leisure time. He describes family meals. He explains how his…
Teraoka discusses his experiences transitioning from elementary to intermediate school and his classes in an English standard school. He then talks about The Attack on Pearl Harbor and aftermath, volunteering for the Army and his father’s reaction,…
Teraoka discusses his parents and siblings including talking about how his parents and two older siblings returned to Japan before he was born and the meaning of the term "kibei". He then talks about his relationship with his father, tells a story…
Takano discusses his father's personality and physical traits; talks about his father's knowledge of the English language; and discusses values he learned form his parents. He then talks about fishing with his father; his favorite memories of his…
Hashimoto recalls a story about Sadao "Spud" Munemori, then briefly discusses the Asiatic Campaign, which he was not a part of. He then talks about getting discharged, traveling back to the United States, and moving to Chicago. In Chicago, Hashimoto…
Tsukazaki talks about his parents and siblings including discussing their education and employment. He then talks about his childhood and discusses playing baseball and fishing; and talks about his father’s writing hobby and learning Kendo. Next,…
Kurahara discusses his Mother Kisa being born in Hawaii and works in the sugar mill and as a maid. His Father Mitsuo is born in Japan and immigrates to the United States. Kurahara's Father works as a truck driver and cement worker.
Izui speaks about growing up in Seattle, Washington and it's Japanese community. He discusses his education from elementary to high school, experiencing subtle discrimination. After this, he talks about what it was like leading up to the war and…
Izumigawa discusses his childhood values; New Years and Christmas celebrations; attending elementary school; and influential teachers. He then talks about childhood friendships; describes the duties of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC); and talks…
Clarence Matsumoto discusses his birth date and birth place, He recalls his childhood in Paia on plantation camp and used by products of sugar cane to build his house. Matsumoto is given the nickname Matt.
Yamada discusses playing sports in his childhood such as barefoot football, tennis and fishing with his friends. One holiday that his family celebrates annually is the Emperor of Japan's birthday and New Year (because of the food). They also sing…
Yamada discusses being born on August 21, 1940 in Hawaii. His parents
immigrated in 1910 from Japan for the opportunity to be a contract labor. In Japan, their families are farmers. Yamada admires his Father because he bought rental property,…
Aka discusses his family and growing up in Hawaii. He details about moving to Japan for four years and his experiences upon his return. Aka also discusses Pearl Harbor and the aftermath.
Yamate talks about his parent's early lives. He describes his family farm in Modesto, California. He discusses the dynamics in his family's home. He talks about his childhood visit to Japan. He describes the farm work that his family performed.…
Toshio discusses his interactions with the Japanese people and the political and social climate in Japan. He details about returning to the United States, attending college, remembering December 7, 1941 and aftermath. Toshio also discusses about…
Toshio discusses about family and what it was like growing up in California. He details about athletic endeavors and identification. Toshio also discusses going to Japan and his experiences while there.
Noguchi discusses his parents and their immigration to the United States; his father’s employment and death; and his mother’s physical traits and personality. He then talks about attending school and Japanese language school; going to church;…
Ishihara discusses growing up in Enumclaw, Washington, including his experiences living near a lumber mill, his hobbies such as fishing and playing sports, the demographics and community within Enumclaw, and going to school. He also talks about going…
Samuel Yamaguchi discusses growing up San Diego. He talks about his high school experiences and home life. He talks about his reaction to the Pearl Harbor attack and gives a summary of his military service.
Asahina discusses his parents background and his home life while growing up. He details about his early educational experiences. Asahina also discusses about high school and going to college.
Ogata discusses about his schooling and politics. He details about his experiences in pre-war Japan. Ogata also discusses about his life after high school, the Japanese language, and his family.
Hanamura discussing growing up in Alameda California; discusses his father, mother, and their marriage; and talks about his father's involvement with church. He then talks about his siblings including discussing his brother getting drafted, his other…
Shindo discusses attending college for engineering and how his interest switched to music. He details about December 7, 1941 and his experiences with discrimination. Shindo also discusses about volunteering for relocation to Manzanar Concentration…
Shindo discusses growing up in Los Angeles, family, and Japanese language school. He details about his love for music came to be and his experiences as a musician. Shindo also discusses about high school.
Moteki discusses about veterans and post-military experiences. He details about his work in therapy. Moteki also discusses about being drafted, joining the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and his experiences in Korea.
Oka discusses what it was like growing up in Watsonville, California. He details about moving to Japan and his experiences while living there. Oka also discusses what it was like upon returning to the United States.
Shimomura discusses receiving a post-war scholarship from United States Army Government Aid and Relief in Occupied Areas (GARIOA). He then talks about his experiences working in the medical profession including working in hospitals in New York and…
Shimomura talks about pre-war Japan including describing an incident involving an officers rebellion in Tokyo; and talking about restrictions and rations. He then talks about attending school in Japan and the Japanese school system; learning about…
Shimomura discusses his family's business in Japan; commuting to school; and talks about his childhood including discussing his neighborhood, friendships, recreational activities, and playing sports. Next, Shimomura talks about speaking both English…
Sasano discusses growing up in Honolulu, Hawaii including his experiences in high school and what his neighborhood was like. He then goes on to talk about moving to Los Angeles and becoming a produce clerk, and his photography hobby. Sasano also…
Senzaki discusses his feelings regarding losing a friend during the rescue of the Lost Battalion, and describes his trip back to the United States aboard the USS Randolph. After being discharged, Senzaki first goes to Minneapolis and then moves to…
Senzaki discusses growing up in the Los Angeles area, describing what Little Tokyo was like; and experiences while attending Japanese language school and high school. He then talks about prejudices in regards to Japanese Americans' employment in…
Yokogawa discusses moving to the mainland from Hawaii as a child and settling in Los Angeles, as well as what life was like after relocating to Japan after high school. He also talks about returning back to the United States, getting drafted, and his…
Kawaguchi discusses training at Fort Snelling for an anticipated invasion of Japan and having to learn Japanese language as part of his training. He also provides his thoughts about the future of Japanese Americans and Japanese culture, and the…
