Konoshima begins the interview speaking about his family background. As his father came over to the United States, Akio was born in Japan and brought over to California as an infant. They would move to Mountain View in northern California and lease…
Iwasaki begins the interview talking about his family, as his parents came from Shiga prefecture in Japan and settling first in British Columbia, Canada followed by Hillsboro, Oregon. His family would own a 50-acre farm in Oregon, harvesting…
Minamide discusses his name, birth place, and birth date. His Father and Mother are Issei and have four children. In 1927, he goes to Japan with his family. Essential, the Minamide losses two children over in Japan. The oldest daughter passes away…
Lasseigne discusses his prefecture origin and familial description. He also describes details about his childhood activities and childhood rearing. Lasseigne recalls 1941 and joining the services. He goes to Fort McCellan for basic training and goes…
Tsukayama talks about his life from birth to early adulthood. He discusses his youth in Kailua; military enlistment; and training as a medic. He shares recollections of the Pearl Attack, growing up in Hawaii, and carrying out medic duties in combat.
Turner begins the interview talking about his father, who was born in Hilo and would work at the Waialua sugar plantation. He talks about the rest of his family and their background, before talking about what it was like to grow up in Hawaii. Growing…
Turner talks more about the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, and the formation of a provisional Battalion, that would end up being the 100th Infantry Battalion. He talks about the various local leaders, competing to be the commander of the 100th and his…
Turner talks about his time after high school, attending West Point with the referral of a military delegate. After this, he talks about speaking with his father when he came back from the war and the advice that he gave him, that he would have a…
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…
Meyer discusses his family life and growing up in Chicago. He also details aspects about his education. Meyer discusses his experience with discrimination.
In this segment, Okamoto continues describing his family's assimilation into the community and the values and teachings learned at church. He also shares the activities and extra-curriculars he was involved in through school and church, as well as…
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.
Arthur Nishimoto begins the interview talking about his childhood home and what it was like to grow up in Honolulu, Hawaii. He then talks about his family background, including his father, who was a top car salesman for Chevrolet and Ford. After…
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.
Cunningham and the interviewers introduce themselves. Cunningham talks about his parents. He describes his mother's physical appearance. He discusses his physical appearance. He talks about his mother and his siblings. He describes his relationship…
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…
Kitagawa begins the interview with an introduction on growing up in Northern California. As his family was in the farming business, he would help there, and enjoy his off-time by playing baseball and picnicking. Next, he talks about his family, which…
Ohama discusses his grandfather's life in Japan and his immigration to the United States; as well as his childhood relationship with his grandfather and his grandfather's personality. He then talks about his father including his personality and…
Ohama talks about playing sports; and discusses his high school social life, hobbies, food, and socioeconomic status. He then talks about his relationship with his mother; high school graduation; and religion including discussing how Christianity…
Ben Umeda begins the interview talking about his family, his father and mother being from Hiroshima and their journey to get to Selma in California. Next, he talks about growing up in California, picking grapes to make raisins for work and doing…
In this segment Ben Uyemura talks about his upbringing in a poor neighborhood of Los Angeles. His parents did not have a lot but he remembers they both were hardworking people. He talks about the activities he was in as a kid in grammar school, and…
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…
Nishimura discusses the activities he participated in both inside and outside of school. He then talks about going to college, his experience there, and eventually becoming a teacher. Lastly, he speaks about his recollections from December 6, 1941…
Kiyonaga discusses about her family and upbringing. She details about Pearl Harbor and how it changed her life and America as a whole. Kiyonaga also discusses about her mindset during World War Two and European Concentration Camps.
Caption of first photograph: "Playing with the Aleuts at Attu Island in 1942." Caption of the bottom photograph, "Karl Kasukabe, Interpreter, teaching Japanese to the Aleut children at the hill commanding the view of Chichagof village in July,…
Moto discusses about his neighborhood and the values he was taught. He details about his childhood, schooling, and growing up. Moto also discusses about his father and college.
Bright and Sam Onoda begin the interview speaking of how their parents came to the United States from Oita, and began work in the Washington area. Their father would at the lumber mill until his untimely death, while their mother would put her faith…
Oda begins the interview talking about his childhood in Maui, as his father and mother would come from Kumamoto prefecture to work on the sugarcane fields. He would grow up on the plantation, playing with friends and attending regular and Japanese…
Oda continues his recollection of his time with the 3 Year Swimming Club, in which they would get to travel throughout Hawaii and the United States for tournaments, and would be known as some of the best swimmers. It was thanks to this, that he would…
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…
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…
Fukuhara talks about growing up on Twitchell Island in California, his father’s farming occupation, and moving around to different islands as a child. He then continues to talk about his childhood and discusses school; working on farms; his family’s…
In this interview, Oka describes begins by describing his experience as a school-aged Japanese-American boy growing up in Okayama Japan. When he was a teenager, he longed to return to the United States as his brothers had, and was opposed to the idea…
Matsumoto discusses his family and childhood growing up in Maui. He details about social activities and childhood activities he participated in. Matsumoto also discusses Pearl Harbor and the aftermath from it.
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.
Takekawa discusses memorable teachers from his school days, playing sports, and high school activities including becoming class president. He then talks about going to college and studying to become a physical education teacher and his experiences…
Katagiri discusses a story about his birth; and talks about his father including discussing his employment and immigration from Japan. He then talks about his childhood in Kent, Washington and discusses his experiences growing up within a Japanese…
Katagiri talks about his interest and employment in aviation including discussing building model airplanes while in Tule Lake Concentration Camp. He also talks about learning how to fly an airplane while working for Boeing, joining a sailplane club,…
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 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…
Teraoka discusses growing up on a plantation on Hawaii and talks about the workers on the plantation as well as the plantation store. He then talks about his childhood including discussing recreational activities, his family's home, working, school,…
Teraoka talks about how his parents met, what it was like moving to Honolulu to attend high school, and discusses the boat trip from Hilo to Honolulu. Next, Teraoka talks about his participation in ROTC, attending the University of Hawaii, and his…
Okubo discusses about his family background and parent's life. He details about Granada (Amache) Concentration Camp monument and outreach program. He details about how the monument came to be and their future plans for the monument.
Matsuda talks about his childhood in East Los Angeles. He describes his parents backstories. He discusses Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. He describes what he did in his childhood leisure time. He talks about his experiences in high school. He briefly…
Okubo discusses his birthplace and date of birth. His parents are Issei from Japan. Okubo is the oldest of his siblings and he makes toys to play with them. They would also go watch American and Japanese movies. Okubo learns about Japan and Japanese…
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.
McCasland talks about his birthplace. He discusses his fathers early life and family. He describes his mother and father's personalities. He shares his memories of his mother and father. He talks about his siblings. He talks about his move to Idaho.…
Edward Kanaya and the interviewers introduce themselves. He talks about his parent's immigration. He describes his early life in Honolulu, Hawaii. He discusses his parent's employment. He shares his parent's backstories. He lists his siblings. He…
Edward Kanaya continues to talk about his journey home. He lists the memorable members of his unit. He describes his relationship with Mainland soldiers. He discusses his relationships with other musicians. He talks about his contract work. He…
Yamasaki begins the interview talking about how his family came from Japan to Hawaii. As his parents were born in Hawaii, he was a sansei, and would speak very little Japanese at home. His father would help to get him into a private elite school,…
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 visiting his family in post-war Japan. He details about going back to college and finding employment. Nakamura also discusses about his children.
Higashino and the interviewers introduce themselves. He talks about his parents. He describes what it was like to grow up in a household with three generations of family. He discusses his educational background. He shares his knowledge of Japanese.…
Nakasone discusses his marriage and how he met her at the University of Minnesota while he was a student and she was a librarian. He talks more about his family and names his grandchildren. Next, he talks about settling in Minnesota and his military…
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…
Okada discusses his given name, prefecture origin and familial description. He describes his first home he grows up in and describes the relationship between his family-in-law and his family. His brother Charles is one of the last Japanese Americans…
Fukuhara begins the interview speaking about his family background and his father coming over from Japan. At a young age, his mother would pass away, and his father would later re-marry. Growing up in Washington, he had a very diverse upbringing,…
Fukuhara would finish up his assignments in Japan, working in Kumamoto and befriending the Yakuza. However, before heading back home, he decided to go AWOL and see other parts of Japan while he was there. He would end up seeing his father and…
Inami talks about what he learned in Japanese language school including Japanese ethics (shushin) and values,. He then talks about school and the community he grew up in; childhood experiences with discrimination; and discusses the reasons why he…
Inami talks about his freshman orientation at UC Berkeley and his experiences with discrimination, and discusses how his military service as well as the existence of the 442nd helped him with his career. He then talks about his family's forced…
Konno talks about growing up on a citrus ranch in San Dimas, California; and discusses his parents, childhood activities, friendships, and speaking Japanese at home. He also talks about attending high school and Japanese language school; playing…
Masuoka talks about growing up in and around apple farms in Sebastopol, CA. He gives an overview of the time he spent at Amache Concentration Camp and the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). He describes his mother and father's personalities. He…
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…
Nishio discusses his schooling experiences in Japan. He details adjusting back to American society and going to college. Nishio also discusses remembering Pearl Harbor and its aftermath.
Sato discusses his parents' immigration to the United States, their physical traits and personalities; and also discusses his father's employment. He then talks about his childhood and discusses religion, his childhood home, his family's Japanese…
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…
Tomita talks about his parents, siblings, and moving from Washington to Alaska. He then talks about his experiences living in Japan including discussing school, playing sports, his uncle; and his thoughts regarding the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.…
Steidl discusses how his family, of Czech/German heritage, had to evacuate Czechoslovakia due to World War 2. He talks about his German father political prisoner during the war and his family background pre-World War 2. He also discusses how he…
Steidl talks about the legacy of the Nisei soldiers experience and it applies to general American history. He talks about how writing his book changed him. He also discusses the impact education can have in spreading the legacy of the Nisei veterans.
Hirayama discusses about his family. He details about childhood and the values he was taught. Hirayama also discusses about his schooling and growing up in Kauai (Maui), Hawaii.
Ida continues to talk about what it was like to grow up in Hawaii, including purchasing a home after high school. He also talks about living in a small town and knowing everybody, while he would attend both english and Japanese school. He talks about…
Ida talks more about his high school education at Mid-Pacific Institute in Hawaii, where he would play tennis and baseball. After graduation, he would work for the St. Louis Club until the attacks on Pearl Harbor occurred. He talks about seeing…
Matsumura discusses his family background in Hawaii and hearing about the attack of Pearl Harbor on the radio. He volunteered to defend water and power installations as a civilian in the aftermath of the attack, and later enlisted into the Army. He…
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.…
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…
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…
Yasukochi begins the interview talking about his family background, and his father coming from Japan and becoming a farmer in California despite alien land laws. They would become known for their chili peppers at the farm. Next, he talks about…
Yasukochi talks about farming life while living in California, driving a truck up and down the coast to pick up fertilizer in San Pedro and back to Oceanside at the age of 11. Next, he talks more about what it was like to grow up in California,…
Yasukochi talks about his time at UC Davis, studying botany as he educated himself for a future in plant breeding. After this, he talks about his shipment to Italy, taking 35 days as the convoy zig zagged across the ocean. Next, he talks about his…
Ikeda discusses how he got his nickname; and talks about his parents and growing up on a farm in Clovis, California. He then talks about playing softball, high school, attending Japanese language school, and religion. Lastly, Ikeda recalls being at…
Fujimoto begins his interview with a short introduction of himself and speaking about his family background. He would grow up in southern California on various farms that his father would work on. Unfortunately, his father would pass away at a young…
Yoshida talks about her father's sports interests and his gardening job; her parents' laundry business; her mother's schooling; and her knowledge of pre-war Japan. She then talks about attending Japanese language school; taking kendo classes; values…
Otoshi discusses his childhood growing up in Honolulu including talking about his childhood home; father's occupation; his neighborhood and neighbors; and mother's laundry business. He then talks about his father's involvement with Hiroshima…
Otoshi discusses his high school activities such as his involvement in student government, swimming, and yearbook committee. He then talks about volunteering with the United States Engineering Department digging trenches for the defense system, as…
In this video clip, Genro Kashiwa talks about his childhood. As the son of a Buddhist priest, he was responsible for completing various chores around the Buddhist temple and during services. He describes what it was like growing up in a traditional…
Mukai continues to talk about his relationships with his siblings. He describes three childhood near drowning incidents. He describes the demographics of Bostonia, California. He discusses his experiences in high school. He talks about a mentor that…
Minata talks about his parent's backgrounds. He also talks about his siblings. He describes his community and what he did during his leisure time as a child. He discusses his high school experiences. Minata talks about the Attack on Pearl Harbor and…
Ariyoshi discusses his parents immigrating from Japan to Hawaii, his siblings, and his father’s occupations. He then talks about getting thrown out of Japanese language school for fighting, his father speaking about the importance of education, and…
Ariyoshi discusses his experiences in Minnesota while at Military Intelligence Service (MIS), including the cold weather, building an ice skating ring in the barracks, and becoming friends with the local townspeople. Ariyoshi was then shipped out to…
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.
Fujimoto talks about his birthplace in California. He explains how his father immigrated to the United States. He describes his parents physical appearances. He discusses his parent's marriage. He lists his siblings. He talks about his family's move…
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…
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.
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…
Katagiri discusses what it was like growing up in Portland, Oregon. Katagiri paints a picture of his family life. Katagiri also details what is was like being a Japanese American before and after the events of Pearl Harbor.
Sano talks about his parents; his father's employment as a general contractor on Maui; and his experiences while briefly living in Japan with his mother. He then talks about his home on Maui and living with his grandparents; attending school; and his…
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…
