Naito shares his experience of being denied membership in the VFW organization due to his Japanese descent. He also discusses the benefits of being in a segregated unit. He further shares recollections of his travels to Asia post-war and how Asian…
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…
Ohama defines "evacuation" and discusses his thoughts and feelings regarding forced removal. He then describes barbed wire; talks about leaving his belongings behind; discusses the reasons why his family sold their farm; and talks about traveling to…
Ohama describes a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR); discusses the duties of an interrogator; talks about the end of the war and getting sent to Japan; and discusses the goals of an interpreter. He then talks about his experiences in Japan including his…
Akamine discusses about his childhood experiences. He details about working on the sugar plantation. Akamine also discusses attending Japanese language school and his personal values and habits.
Akamine discusses about enlisting into the service. He details about the events surrounding Pearl Harbor and his thoughts from it. Akamine also discusses some of his experiences while on guard duty.
Akamine discusses his experiences shortly before and after arriving at Camp McCoy. He details about his experiences in North Africa and landing in Salerno, Italy. Akamine also discusses his experiences in Salerno, Italy.
Akamine discusses crossing the Volturno River and his experiences at Cassino. He details about how he was wounded and receiving disability later in life. Akamine also discusses about the time he spent in the hospital.
Akamine discusses the mindset when going into combat and his combat experiences. He reflects on the war and details about burying a German soldier. Akamine also discusses discrimination and reminisces about Lt. Kim.
Akamine discusses about his life after returning from the war. He details about his career after being discharged. Akamine also discusses his family and gives a message to future generations.
Kodama discusses his family and having to work to the help them. He details about his educational experiences, playing sports, and martial arts training. Kodama also discusses being drafted, basic training, and Pearl Harbor.
Kodama discusses the aftermath from Pearl Harbor and formation of the 100th Infantry Battalion. He details about race relations while traveling and opinion towards American Concentration Camps. Kodama also discusses his experiences in North Africa,…
Kodama discusses his experiences during The battle of Monte Cassino and Anizo Beach. He details about the living conditions during the war and the events that took place after Cassino. Kodama also discusses his early experiences in France and…
Kodama discusses more about saving French civilians. He details about his experiences and opinions on the Recuse of The Lost Battalion. Kodama also discusses being sent back to Italy and The Gothic Line. He closes out by stating that he is thankful…
Kodama discusses his experiences during the Champagne Campaign and the medals he received. He details about returning back to Hawaii, finding employment, and meeting his wife. Kodama also discusses about what he learned from the war, revisiting…
Hamashige begins the interview speaking about his background growing up in Laie in Hawaii, including his childhood home and foods. Next, he talks about the background of his mother and father, who both came to Hawaii from the Yamaguchi prefecture in…
As reading interested Hamashige, he began reading a lot about the racism throughout the United States government which led to a deeper understanding of the modernization of Japan, which eventually turned to the attacks on Pearl Harbor. He speaks…
Following his language school training, Hamashige went to continued his training, going to basic, then to Fort Snelling for interpreting training before being sent out to the Philippines for his first assignment. As the war was coming to an end, the…
Hamashige talks about his family from his wife to his grandchildren and what they're doing now. Next, he shares stories of his time as a consultant in Honduras, where he was able to attend a dinner reception Dictator Samoza of Nicaragua. After this,…
Ota discusses his father and grandparents, including talking about his grandfather working on a citrus farm. He then talks about religion and going to temple, and attending Obon Festivals. When Ota was a child, his family moved to Japan and he talks…
Ota discusses his family’s work on Driscoll Farms, life after Executive Order 9066, and his family’s forced removal to Salinas temporary detention facility. He then talks about life at Poston incarceration camp, discusses getting drafted and going to…
Ota discusses visiting Hawaii both during his childhood and while in the service, talks about his hobbies, and traveling to the Philippines. After his assignment in the Philippines, Ota went to Japan to be an interpreter for Allied Translator and…
Ota discusses lessons he learned from his family and values to pass on to future generations, and talks about the Japanese American community past vs. present. Lastly, Ota describes and shows pictures taken at Fort Snelling, the NYK Building in…
Sumida discusses his childhood, family, and Japan Language school. He details about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath. Sumida also discusses about heading to the Mainland for training and his experiences while there.
Sumida briefly discusses the voyage overseas, interactions with British soldiers, and his stint in North Africa. He details about his experiences early experiences in Italy and crossing the Volturno River. Sumida also discusses mines, mountain…
Sumida discusses The Battle of Monte Cassino and the realities of war. He details about his at Anzio Beach and the sound of artillery. Sumida also discusses the events surrounding Rome and his experiences near the Arno River.
Sumida discusses his experiences at Arno River, in the Vosges, and in the city of Bruyeres. He details about mail, visiting Jerome Concentration Camp, and relationship between Mainland and Hawaiian soldiers. Sumida also discusses his homecoming…
This interview is with both Lawson Sakai and Paul Teruya. First, Teruya discusses his father including his immigration to Hawaii, and his employment; and talks about his mother's immigration. Next, Sakai talks about his father including his…
Teruya discusses his parents' personalities and physical traits; describes the shoes his mother made for him; talks about working in sugar cane plantation; and discusses his favorite memories of his parents. Teruya then talks about his experiences…
Teruya discusses Daniel Inouye; talks about attending Japanese language school; discusses his experiences with prejudice; and talks about the attack on Pearl Harbor. Sakai then talks about his experiences with prejudice; his enemy alien…
Sakai discusses his experiences in Colorado; talks about childhood chores; discusses his reasons for volunteering; and discusses his knowledge of the 100th Infantry Battalion. Next, Sakai discusses his induction; talks about the Sullivan Act;…
Sakai discusses the relationship between Mainland and Hawaiian soldiers; talks about the Hawaiian soldiers who visited incarceration camps in Arkansas; and describes the term, "katonk". Teruya then discusses a song sang by Hawaiian soldiers; talks…
Sakai discusses officers in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team; and talks about weapons he carried. Teruya then discusses his first combat experiences in Italy including encounters with German soldiers, mines, seeing soldiers killed in action, and…
Teruya discusses the liberation of Bruyeres; Teruya and Sakai both discuss their combat experiences prior to Bruyeres; and Sakai discusses visting Bruyeres post-war. Teruya then discusses his Army friendships; his experiences during the rescue of the…
Sakai discusses combat experiences during the Gothic Line including talking about the rescue of Daniel Inouye after he was wounded. Then, Sakai and Teruya describe German soldiers; discuss the end of the war; and talk about corresponding with their…
Teruya discusses returning home; getting discharged; and seeing his family again. He then talks about meeting his wife; discusses his children and grandchildren; and talks about receiving the Bronze Star. Next, Sakai discusses his post-war…
Sato, Wada, and Ito discuss part of their childhoods. They give details their parents, siblings, and attending Japanese language school. They compare then to now and their experiences with prejudices.
Sato, Wada, and Ito discuss their dreams before the war started. They detail about Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. The three also discuss Executive Order 9066 and how it affected them and other Japanese Americans.
Sato and Wada discuss their experiences surrounding the temporary detention centers. Sato, Wada, and Ito detail about their first day and other experiences in the American Concentration Camps. They also recollect their fondest memories from camp.
Sato, Wada, and Ito discuss about the social life and culture within the American Concentration Camps. They detail about the unpleasantries of camp life and how they heard about the 100th Infantry Battalion. The three also discuss their draft…
Sato, Wada, and Ito discuss their experiences during basic training. They discuss their experiences going into town and discrimination. Lastly, they reference the food they had in basic training and in the American Concentration Camps.
Sato, Wada, and Ito discuss preparing to ship off and the voyage on the Queen Mary. They detail about their experiences in France and the mindset of a replacement. The three also discuss their first experiences with combat.
Sato, Wada, and Ito discuss their interactions with the Italian people and give their impressions of the Hawaiian soldiers. They detail about heading to Italy, The Gothic Line, and encounters with the enemy. The three also discuss a patrol mission.
Sato, Wada, and Ito discuss their worst experiences during the war. They detail about the events after Po Valley, the end of the war, and their experiences in Europe after the war ended. The three also discuss their homecoming experiences.
Sato discusses his homecoming experiences and gives his closing remarks. Ito and Wada leave a message for future generations. The three all give their closing remarks. Photographs and artifacts are also shown.
Shigenaka discusses about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath. He details about forced removal. Shigenaka also discusses about going to and his experiences in Gila River Concentration Camp.
Shigenaka discusses about his experiences in Tulare Temporary Detention Center and Gila River Concentration Camp. He details about his family, volunteering, and his thoughts on military service. Shigenaka also discusses about basic training,…
Shigenaka discusses about his experiences in Italy. He details about his journey back home and and his post-war. Shigenaka also discusses about meeting his wife and hope for future generations.
Shigenaka discusses about his post-war experiences and hobby of barbecuing. He discusses his family Shigenaka ends the interview by showing various photographs.
Kurahara and the interviewers introduce themselves. Kurahara talks about his family trips to Japan. He describes the demographics of his Seattle community, including that of his high school. He shares his experiences with discrimination. He discusses…
Kurahara continues to talk about his combat experiences while in the Apennine Mountains. He explains how he was injured while in this mountain range. He also explains how he reconnected with his unit after he was infirmed. He discusses other brief…
Sakaji discusses his parents including his mother's death, father's employment, and their reasons for immigrating to the United States. He then talks about his siblings; his childhood chores; discusses the differences between past and present day…
Sakaji talks about his childhood bicycles; discusses how he got his nickname; talks about his father's fish market business; discusses the aunt who raised him; and talks about his relationship with his cousin. He then talks about his grammar school…
Sakaji discusses his employment assisting his father and tells a story where he attempted to fix a tractor. He then talks about his post-war employment working for a mechanic; the attack on Pearl Harbor and aftermath; and discusses his forced removal…
Sakaji talks about his friendship with a sheriff prior to forced removal; discusses restrictions and the curfew that was enforced after the attack on Pearl Harbor; and discusses volunteering for the Army and his brother's military service. He then…
Sakaji discusses his experiences at the end of the war taking POWs from Wisconsin back to Japan. He then talks about his translation and interpreting assignment in Japan working for motor pool; discusses his relatives in Japan; and talks about his…
Sakaji discusses his wife including her personality, how they met, corresponding with her while he was in Japan, and his favorite memories of her. Lastly, Sakaji provides a message to future generations regarding values and education.
Morishima recounts his father and mother's emigration to the United States from the Shizuoka Prefecture on the Izu Pensinsula. His father landed first in Mexico, came across the border illegally, met his mother in the U.S., and then returned to…
Morishima reflects on the ethnic slurs directed towards him and those that he directed towards others. He explains that, as children, there was rarely always mal-intent behind the use of such terms. He then describes his passage to Japan for…
Morishima reflects on the pleasant experience of attending school in Japan as a Japanese American, even after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He then describes his mother and siblings being stranded in Japan due to illness while his father was held in…
At War's end, Morishima was a Japanese soldier and feeling a sense of defeat until he met some Hawaiian soldiers who helped him secure a job with the Civil Censorship Detachment (CCD) in Tokyo. He excels there and is well-liked, but he conceals his…
Morishima discusses his post-War occupations and the accomplishments of his children. He speaks passionately about the value of family and about the general goodness of both Japanese and American people. He is grateful for both experiences and…
The interview begins with Paul Yamashita talking about his life, growing up in Hakalau Hawaii on a sugarcane plantation. He would attend regular and Japanese school and enjoyed playing games with friends and pounding mochi on New Years. Next, he…
Yamashita talks more about his time at Camp Shelby in Mississippi. There, he see segregation of races for the first time and talks about some of the experiences he had there. He also talks about meeting Earl Finch and how generous he was towards the…
Yamashita discusses the fighting between the Hawaiian and mainland soldiers, until Earl Finch decided to take some of the Hawaiian soldiers to the American concentration camps to show them what the mainland soldiers were going through. After that,…
