Tabata discusses the aftermath from Pearl Harbor and joining the Army. He details about his early experiences in the Army. Tabata also discusses about heading to the Mainland and experiences at Camp Shelby.
Tabata discusses about his family, childhood, and rememberingPearl Harbor and its aftermath. He details about growing up in Lahina (Maui), Hawaii. Tabata also discusses about his schooling
Hiraoka discusses about his childhood activities and typical day. He details about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath. Hiraoka also discusses about being drafted, joining the Military Intelligence Service (MIS), and an experience in Okinawa.
Mukai discusses growing up in Hawaii including talking about the plantation town he lived in; and discusses his siblings and parents. He also describes his childhood home, talks about some of the recreational activities he participated in, and…
W. Kohashi talks about his last days in the European Theater and his return to Hawaii after the end of the war. He also discusses his brothers' military services. He shares anecdotes regarding: fellow soldiers he knew; travels in Europe; and spending…
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…
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…
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 talks about his finishing with Japanese language courses in Monterey and his quick furlough in Hawaii to spend some time with his family and prepare to go overseas. He would head overseas, stopping in multiple countries en route to Yokohama.…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Aoki discusses working with prisoners of war (POW) and his employment once the war was over. He details about his family and children. Aoki also discusses how he met his wife.
Kurokawa begins the interview speaking about his family background. He would grow up first in Hawaii, and then around the age of 5, move to Kyoto, Japan. There, he became immersed in the Japanese culture and began to lose his English, so his parents…
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…
Mitsunaga discusses his childhood growing up on a family-run dairy farm in Manoa Valley, Hawaii. He talks about farming and his adolescence. He also talks about his experiences being drafted before the Pearl Harbor attack and the U.S. military…
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…
Nishioka talks more about growing up in Hawaii and his whereabouts when he first heard about the attacks on Pearl Harbor. At the time, he would be part of both the 4F Club and the Young Buddhist Association (YBA), and would be forced to black out…
Tommy Nishioka begins the interview with an introduction of himself and his parents, who came from Japan and settled in Hilo, Hawaii. His father would work with sugarcane workers, growing trees for firewood, while the children attended school and…
Kamiya discusses his life before the war as an orphan, with siblings, on a sugar plantation in Kekaha and as a young adult in Honolulu. He also gives an account of being drafted and his experience during the Pearl Harbor attack. In addition he…
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…
Nakamura discusses growing up on a sugar planation in Ewa, Hawaii and what it was like attending Japanese language school, and working on the planation, as well as recalling stories regarding values he learned and the discipline he received. He then…
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…
Kimura discusses his best and worst war experiences and talks about the camaraderie among soldiers. He then talks about his post-war life including going back to school for photography in Los Angeles and returning to Hawaii where he had a photography…
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…
Yoshio Izumi was born September 15, 1918, in South Pasadena, CA. His parents are Riozo and Otomi Izumi. Yoshio's mother was previously married and has two children from the previous married. There are nine children in the family.
Ota discusses his parents and their occupations, and talks about growing up in Hawaii including childhood chores, discussing his siblings, and going to Japanese language school. He also talks about the Japanese community in Hawaii, going to church,…
Barney Hajiro was born on September 16, 1916. He was the second oldest of his siblings. He grew up on a plantation in Maui, Hawaii, during the Great Depression.
During Barney's school years, he attended first through eighth grade. He did not have…
Saiki discusses his early childhood years growing up in Hawaii during the Depression Era; and how his father was as an artisan crafting bamboo fixtures. He often helped his father in crafting. In his early college years Saiki developed a passion for…
Nohara discusses growing up on a farm in Hawaii, his parents, siblings, and attending Japanese school. He then talks about religion, Japanese values, experiences with discrimination during his childhood; and attending high school and his…
Muramaru discusses his parents and their occupations; and what it was like growing up in Hawaii and living on a coffee plantation. He then talks about his siblings, childhood activities, what his house was like growing up; and discusses elementary…
Saiki continues to describe the post-war living conditions in Japan. He talks about his wife. He discusses his work for a market in Hawaii. He explains how his military background helped him in other aspects of his life. He discusses his journey back…
Takano discusses meeting his wife; talks about his overseas assignment in Korea; discusses the Korean Army; and talks about his assignments in New Mexico and Vietnam. He then talks about being a teacher at Fort Lee; returning to Hawaii; and discusses…
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…
Tsukazaki describes post-war Japan including talking about visiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He then talks about the head of the Varsity Victory Volunteers(VVV) who helped raise scholarship money in Hawaii, his thoughts regarding the attack on Pearl…
Tsukazaki discusses Hawaiian fish ponds including his family’s fish pond, friendships growing up, his involvement with the Varsity Victory Volunteers(VVV), and his friendship with the YMCA director at University of Hawaii. He then talks about a…
Kurahara discusses a close encounter overseas. He witnesses how the US soldiers gets out of the foxhole at the right time when the German bomb goes into their foxhole. He explain how fate plays a factor.
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.
Tom Yamada discusses stories from his time in service. During occupation in Japan, Yamada works with naval officer Lieutenant Lim. 20 years later, Yamada runs into Lieutenant Lim at Radio City Music Hall and thinks of him kindly . Yamada also thinks…
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.
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…
Ito discusses the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and the pressures of war hysteria. It was during this time that he was drafted into the Army and selected for Military Intelligence Service (MIS). He was sent to Fort Snelling to take Japanese language…
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…
Nishimura and the interviewers introduce themselves. He describes his early life in Hawaii. He talks about his parents and siblings. He describes his involvement in sports. He describes his religious background. He talks about the social activities…
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…
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…
Yukimara discusses revisiting the USS Missouri and coming home. He details about his employment and career after the war. Yukimura also discusses about his life after retirement, his family, and gives a message to future generations and Nisei…
Isonaga discusses the Varsity Victory Volunteers, joining the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, traveling to the mainland, and basic training at Camp Shelby. He then talks about the relationship between Hawaiian and mainland soldiers, discusses his…
Akira Otani and the interviewers introduce themselves. Otani shares his parent's backstories. He talks about what his father did for work. He describes his father's personality. He discusses Kakaako, Hawaii. He lists his siblings. He describes his…
Tanaka talks about his career as a fireman and his subsequent retirement. He also talks about his wife, children grandchildren, and siblings. He also explains the complicated nature of his U.S. Identity after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Tateishi discusses more about his war experiences, missing out on Cassino because of trench foot. He also talks about interacting with local Italian civilians, including delivering mail from Rome to Livorno for a family and eating rabbit. He would…
Tateishi talks more about what it was like to grow up in Hawaii, including playing marbles and working at a brewery. He also gives more background on his family, such as his six sisters and the family he had that was living in Hiroshima when the…
Tateishi begins the interview talking about how his family came from Hiroshima in Japan and settled in Hawaii. Growing up in Hawaii, he would attend McKinley High School and pick pineapples in his spare time, before joining the National Guard. He…
Takekawa discusses his assignment in Okinawa training police officers in the Provost Marshal’s office; and talks about his wife, life in Okinawa, getting discharged, and returning to Hawaii. He then talks about working as a sales manager in…
Kiyabu discusses more about his experiences in Italy and the Rescue of the Lost Battalion. He details about his experiences with trench foot and R&R. Kiyabu also discusses about getting married, his family, and life after the service.
Kiyabu describes his early life in growing up in Hana (Maui), Hawaii. He details about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath. Kiyabu also volunteering for the Army and traveling to the Mainland.
Tanaka discusses his post-war employment. His work is mainly in corporate and property law. In 1982 , he is appointed to Intermediate Member of Court of Appeals. Tanaka recalls the highlight of his career is being appointed a judge,
Tanaka discusses taking a furlough to Sydney before going to the Philippines. Tanaka is diagnosis with tuberculosis. He then is sent back to the mainland to Denver for treatment and then back to Hawaii for discharge.
Tanaka discusses his Nisei Father being born in Hawaii, His father is drafted in 1918 for World War One and when he finishes his basic training, the war has ended. Post-war, his Father works for Sunrise Soda company as a truck driver until his…
Harry Tanaka discusses being born in Honolulu, Hawaii and being the second son of four children. At a young age he learns how to care for himself since his Mother passes away when he is very young. As a child he would spend time at the pier or the…
Suehiro discusses more of his war experiences, including receiving a wound on his leg from shrapnel. He would help get his friends that was also wounded, back to safety and would head to the Red Cross to take care of his own wound, taking many…
Hiromi Suehiro begins the interview talking about his family and how they immigrated to Hawaii. His father, coming from Japan, ended up fighting in World War I for the United States, while his mother was born in Hawaii. While growing up, he would…
Miyashiro talks about his post-war experiences in Sacramento; discusses the food in the POW camp; and talks about the checkpoint between East and West Germany (checkpoint Charlie) and Russian POWs, He then talks about returning back to Hawaii and…
Miyashiro discusses his childhood including his community and neighborhood; friendships; and how he got his nickname. He then talks about his father's employment as a taxi driver, his mother's death, his siblings, attending Japanese language school,…
Takabayashi talks about his mother's teaching career. He discusses his family business. He describes the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He discusses his time in the Hawaiian Territorial Guard. He briefly talks about the Varsity Victory…
Tokita explains how he met his wife. He talks about his marriage and children. He explains the extent to which he has shared his war stories with family. He shares his motivations for serving in the military. He leaves a message for future…
Tokita lists his medals and awards. He describes his experiences during the Champagne Campaign. He discusses leaving France. He talks about combat in Italy. He describes climbing a mountain and chasing German soldiers. He explains the circumstances…
Yokooji discusses how his family traveled to and from the Hawaiian Islands; discusses his reasons for volunteering; and provides some thoughts regarding World War Two and opportunities for Nisei during the war. He then talks about the "Go for Broke"…
Otoshi discusses his role during his assignment in Japan interrogating repatriates and families in Maizuru and Hakata. He then discusses the treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs), returning to Hawaii, and attending college. Lastly, Otoshi talks about…
Tahara talks about the end of the war, as they were marching through Europe, a plane flew overhead and threw leaflets out to them. He would return to Hawaii, seeing his mother and hearing about the death of his father. He also talks about seeing his…
Tahara discusses his father's incarceration at Sand Island and the living conditions that he had to deal with there. Next, he talks about his induction into the Army and the processes of getting uniforms and equipment at Schofield Barracks. Following…
Tahara begins the interview talking about the origin of his name and the background of his parents. His father would come to Hawaii and begin a general store, his mother was born in Hawaii and would help out at the store, while all of his brothers…
Meada discusses his childhood and religion. He details about being drafted into the Army and December 7, 1941. Meada also discusses working at the post exchange and his journey to California.
Kazuma Taguchi talks about his involvement in sports. He discusses fishing. He describes the foods that he likes and dislikes. He talks about his military training in Kauai, Hawaii. He discusses the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He…
Mori continues his discussion on cave experiences while serving overseas in Okinawa. Following Okinawa, he is moved back to the Philippines until the end of the war. After thinking they would be sent back home after the atomic bombs, they are instead…
Takiguchi discusses the Army point system, returning home to Hawaii, and seeing his brother while in Europe. Next, Takiguchi talks about post-war life, going to Chicago for school, his wife and children, and his worst war experiences. Lastly,…
In 1940, Sachio Takata graduated high school and went to the Delta Islands to work in the celery field. Sachio wanted to save money to further his education and attend medical school.
After the signing of Executive Order 9066, Sachio and his…
Sachio Takata was born on March 14, 1923, in Southern California. Sachio's father, Kizo, was from Kagoshima, Japan, and immigrated to the United States. He met Sachio’s mother, Hatsumi, from Hawaii, and they married. Sachio is the oldest of ten…
Arakaki's time in Europe would come to an end after the surrender of both the German and Japanese Armies, he would be in Marseille at the time. From there, he would return to Hawaii, and marry a french woman once returned. He would work in a security…
Arakaki begins the interview speaking about how his father came from Okinawa to Hawaii to work on the sugar plantations. His mother was a picture bride and would join his father in Hawaii to begin their life, having five children. They would have a…
Choichi discusses being discharged, his journey back to Hawaii and how he met his wife. He details about his admiration for Nisei veterans and gives a message to future generations. Choichi also discusses about his life and career after the army.
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,…
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…
Sakoda discusses his family and life growing up in Waimea, (Kauai) Hawaii, including the time he spent living on a sugar cane plantation, and becoming a member of Future Farmers of America (FFA). He also talks about his whereabouts during the attack…
Inouye discusses the events before and after Pearl Harbor. He details about The Battle of Midway. Inouye also discusses the journey to the Mainland and the differences between Mainland and Hawaiian soldiers. He details about the events before…
Kubota discusses his Father immigration from Hiroshima, Japan. His Father is able to come to the United States in 1903 through sponsorship of his own Father. He works on the plantation before returning to Japan to marry his Mother. His parents…
Yamashita talks about his whereabouts during the end of the war. At the time of the V-J day, he was guarding German prisoners of war in Italy but would get the chance to come home due to the points system. He would ship back to the Hawaii, but would…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
