Ito begins the interview speaking about his family background, including descriptions of his mother, father and the values they taught him growing up. Next, he speaks about school and what it was like to grow up in Hawaii. During this time, Ito…
Suzuki discusses his childhood and living in California. He details about his family and social activities. Suzuki also discusses about his educational experiences.
Guy begins the interview talking about his family background, and his father coming from Liverpool and settling on the east coast. He would grow up in uptown New York, playing a lot of football and basketball and attending a variety of different…
Guy discusses more about his war experiences, and how he came to befriend Marty Higgins. He talks about about his combat towards the end of the war, and getting liberated. After this, he would return to the United States, where he would settle back…
Shimomura discusses his father including the origin of his name, his fishing hobby, and his immigration from Japan. He then talks about his parents' education and employment in Japan, as well as their disposition and his mother's love for baking.…
Moteki discusses about his siblings and neighborhood. He details about his childhood. Moteki also discusses about the pre-war political situation, Pearl Harbor, and its aftermath.
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…
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…
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;…
Toshio discusses about interactions with people of Japanese ancestry. He details more about going to Japan to study Japanese and what it was like being a Nikkei in Japan. Toshio also discusses about establishing American football in Japan, attending…
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,…
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…
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.
Clarence "Matt" Matsumoto discusses growing up, he isnot close with parents because out playing with friends. Matsumoto says his values and morals are learned by going to church every Sunday. In 1940, he graduates high school and goes to Community…
Izumigawa discusses his parents including talking about his relationship with them and their personalities and physical traits; and discusses prejudice against people from Okinawa in regards to the Japanese community. He then talks about his…
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.
Takano discusses his birthday and birth certificate; talks about getting a driver's license; and discusses growing up on the Big Island of Hawaii. He then talks about his father including his employment at a service station and as a baker; and…
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…
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.
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…
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…
Theodore "Ted" Yenari discusses meeting his wife, children and grandchildren. He shares his hopes and dreams for his grandchildren for the future. After his military career, Yenari is active in community organizations and competes in pole vault,…
Kurahara discusses getting discharged from the hospital and being sent to a reconversion unit for training. Shortly after, Kurahara finds out the war is over and is assign to guard the Prisoners of War. Post-war, Kurahara graduates from Columbia…
Nakashima discusses his prefecture origin, childhood and upbringing. In Nakashima's education years, he did not attend Japanese School. He believes not learning Japanese creates a communication barrier with his Issei parents. He also shares his…
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…
Kuga continues his interview speaking about the medals and awards that were given throughout the war. Next, he speaks about his marriage and career backgrounds, including working for the NRA. After this he speaks about the impact that the niseis have…
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…
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. …
Shinmoto discusses moving to Kingsburg a Swedish farming community. Transitioning in High School is a difficult time for Shinmoto. He recalls sports help him make friends but is lonely during lunchtime. He is also put in the same grade with his…
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…
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 the family business and routine on the chicken ranch. Norwalk is primarily a Dutch community and Kitaoka describes the high school transition. He discusses identity and his heritage.
Nagasaka discusses gambling that occurred during and on the way home from the war, making a nice profit while he ran the craps games with two other friends. He also talks about the cigarette rations they received and how you could sell them on the…
Mitsunaga discusses aspects of his experiences in basic training for the army. He talks about his assignment after the Pearl Harbor attack; traveling to the U.S. mainland for the first time; and describes his military as a jeep driver. Mitsunaga also…
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…
Iwasaki discusses the end of his military service and his post-war life. He also talks about spouse and children. He shares anecdotes regarding: time in Europe, courtship with spouse, and Nisei veterans' legacy.
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…
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…
Suyama continues to talk about his first encounter with German soldiers. He discusses his studies at the University of Florence. He describes being discharged. He talks about discrimination in higher education. He discusses the first Nisei soldier to…
Suyama talks about the benefits of enlistment. He describes the Bubonic Plague in Naples, Italy following World War Two. He lists movies that are about the war. He shares his opinions on current events. He explains why he supports a Japanese American…
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…
Saito discusses home life, living conditions, and farming lifestyle. Saito helps his Father in the Farm Trucking and describes how Japanese Merchant deals with payment and trade. He socializes more with the Japanese Community more due to work and…
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,…
Yano discusses moving to Ontario, Oregon because his Issei Father finds work as a farmer there. Yano plays sport and experiences racism in high school. After December 7, 1941 Yano's Mother is arrested and he visits her. He recalls the treatment of…
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…
Nakashima discusses a [Hawaiian] dish and his cooking hobby; talks about post-war friendships; and discusses his experiences with discrimination while trying to get a job. Next, Nakashima discusses his relationship with his children; talks about…
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…
Hoashi talks in depth about his family and the relationship he had with his grandparents. As he was adopted and his mother had re-married, Seichi was brought up by his grandparents in Kauai, running a boarding house. He talks also about his knowledge…
Hoashi discusses more about growing up on Kauai. At the age of 12, he would begin working at McBride plantation during the summers. He also talks about the impactful people he knew during this period of time. From there, he gives us his whereabouts…
Oshita begins the interview talking about her family background, her father being born in Hawaii and going back to Japan at a young age and her mother coming from Kochi, Japan. She talks more about how the families came to Hawaii and the jobs they…
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.…
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…
While George was overseas, Margaret would often visit with her in-laws, which became a good emotional support while George was gone. After this she talks about the end of the war, and George returning to Hawaii. She also talks about a change in her…
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.
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.…
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…
Yamate describes some methods for catching squid; shows and describes documents such as an Army morning report, news articles, and newspaper cartoon; and shows a portrait of himself in uniform.
Nakamura begins the interview with an introduction, talking about what it was like to grow up in Hawaii, attending McKinley High School and Japanese language school while his father was a fisherman from Hiroshima and his mother came from Fukuoka. He…
Akama discusses his prefecture origin and family. He details about his childhood, upbringing, and schooling. Akama also discusses about his social activities.
Saiki discusses more about his childhood years, including festivals where the local children would be able to try sumo wrestling and win prizes. He would attend Kauai High School and talks about his whereabouts during the Pearl Harbor attacks. His…
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…
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…
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 explains how he got into politics. He talks about being a senator for Hawaii. He explains his popularity as a senator. He discusses governor John Anthony Burns. He shares his biggest achievements as a senator. He describes his leadership…
Nishioka talks about his early life in Hilo. He describes the sugarcane work camps in the Hilo area. He discusses the items his family made and purchased from the store. He talks about the sports that he was involved in during childhood. Nishioka…
W. Kohashi discusses his youth in the Shinmachi neighborhood of Hilo. He talks about his family, early education, and his father's fishcake business. He also talks about Martial Law in Hawaii after the start of World War Two.
Furukawa describes his childhood extracurricular activities. He talks about spending time with an Italian family. He discusses the entertainment that he enjoyed as a child. He describes his family's relationship with Japan and his Japanese American…
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.
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…
Oda talks about his career work after graduating from University of Hawaii with Pan-American Airlines. Next, he talks about the recreational activities he did as a child, including fishing and going to the movies. After getting married, he would…
Endo discusses the reasons why he changed his last name to his mother's maiden name; and talks about his parents and grandparents including disucssing his grandparents immigration and his parents employment. He then talks about a fatal car accident…
Gustafson discusses growing in Illinois in a farming community. His father is well known surgeon. Gustafson shares who are his favorite teachers in school and playing golf. He continues his education after high school by joining the Reserve Officer…
Hirose discusses his birth date and being born in San Pedro, California. Growing up he lives in Rolling Heights, California near the Peninsula. Part of his childhood activities includes fishing and skin diving. He recalls one incident with blue…
Hirose discusses playing baseball in the military and shares memorable stories. In the military here is segregation units and Hirose reflects on discrimination.
During Hirose's time in occupation there are many orphan children in Japan and he…
Masatatsu "Mas" Yonemura discusses name, birth date, birthplace and familial description. Yonemura's Father Tameki Yonemura and Mother Keku Yonemura
immigrate to the United States (US) with the early wave of Issei. When Yonemura's parents arrive…
Taketa discusses a meeting he had with a reporter and other MIS veterans. He describes his family homes. He talks about his favorite foods when he was a child. He describes his mother's family and her personality. Taketa discusses his religious…
Inami discusses his parents immigrating from Japan to Madera, California, and talks about his father's work as a farmer. He then talks about his childhood and discusses his siblings, chores, helping out on the farm, going to school, and the values he…
Oshiro describes his early life in Papa'aloa. He describes his parents and siblings. He talks about the chores that he had as child. He describes what he would do in his leisure time, including fishing. Oshiro talks about school and the learning…
Oshiro begins the interview with a short introduction and talking about his whereabouts during the Japanese surrender during World War Two. Next, he talks about his childhood, growing up in Hawaii and being brought up with a heavy influence of…
Kumagai discusses his father's various jobs, and talks about his mother, siblings, religion, and speaking Japanese at home. He then talks about his experiences growing up during the depression, discusses the community he grew up in, and talks about…
Onodera discusses about his family, childhood, and growing up in Seattle, Washington. He details about his home life and moving to Los Angeles. Onodera also discusses about living in Los Angeles.
Unoura shares his parents backstories. He talks about the churches that his father started in Los Angeles, California. He discusses his knowledge of the Japanese language. He describes the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He briefly talks…
Urata talks about his birthplace. He describes his father, mother, and his family's grocery business. He talks about prominent uncles in his family. He discusses his mother's death. He shares memories of his mother. Urata talks about his religious…
Yukihiro discusses his prefecture origin, family, and social activities. .He details about the climate pre and post forced removal and the type of treatment he feels in the community and with friends. Yukihiro also discusses why he learns Japanese…
Louise Kashino talks about Shiro's medals and awards. She discusses the children that she had with Shiro. Raymond Jiro Takisaki returns to the interview. She explains how she met Takisaki. Takisaki also talks about how they met. He talks about their…
Oye begins the interview speaking about his family and how they came from Japan to Seattle, Washington. His father would work for various places while his mother would volunteer as a midwife to those in need at the Buddhist church. Growing up in…
Akiyama talks about growing up in the Pacific Northwest and moving as a child to eastern Oregon, Portland, and Seattle. He then talks about his father and his employment as a cook; discusses his favorite dishes his father cooked; and talks about…
Misaka discusses Ogden, Utah, his Issei parents, and siblings. In elementary school, he was the only Japanese American in his class. Also Misaka attends Japanese Language School. In high school he plays sports. His parents are supportive of Misaka…
Misaka discusses his basketball teammates and having reunions every five years. He also takes about his contribution to his basketball team. After basketball, gets involved in bowling and other sports. Misaka meets his wife in Salt Lake in 1947 and…
Oye begins the interview speaking about her family background and how her father and mother began their journey to California. Once settled in Salinas, her family opened a parlor, selling candy and dry-goods. During her childhood, she was able to…
Oye discusses the music and dance that she was involved with, traveling all the way down to Long Beach to perform. Next, she talks about her childhood home and the various things she was involved with as a kid, which included such things as skating,…
Matsushita begins the interview talk about his childhood and growing up in Idaho. He would work on his family's farm while attending school and doing a large variety of chores. He talks about his high school years and then about his whereabouts…
Matsukawa begins the interview with an introduction of what it was like to grow up in Salt Lake City, Utah. While living there, he would go to school and enjoy the playing sports. As it was the Great Depression years, his family would only have one…
