Ota discusses his thoughts about Pearl Harbor and experiences after including talking about discrimination and restrictions he experienced, and life at Jerome incarceration camp. He then talks about volunteering for the Army, basic training at Camp…
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…
Akamine reveals the effects of the Attack on Pearl Harbor. He discusses the Big Five companies in Hawaii, his electric work, and the draft. Akamine talks about his basic training experiences and the journey to Europe. He elaborates on his struggles…
Hiraoka discusses about his experiences with 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Italy and France. Including experiences during the Lost Battalion and Carrara. He details his homecoming experiences. Hiraoka also discusses about his post-war life,…
Hiraoka discusses about his childhood, his encounter with discrimination, and the teachers that made an impact in his life. He details about his high school athletics career. Hiraoka also discusses about his experiences in his high school's rotary…
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 talks about his friends he met during the war; and discusses his wife, children and grandchildren. He then talks about his wife’s experiences with work and discrimination, getting remarried, and his cooking hobby. Lastly, Muramaru provides…
Ken Tamura discusses his watch store and sharing his war experience with his customers who will listen. Ken recollects one customer who will not acknowledge the contribution of the Nisei during World War Two.
Ken Tamura discusses his war experiences in Italy. He says it is scary times, but he is thankful to be alive. Ken believes the Nisei contribution in World War Two will help future generations against discrimination. Ken says he is an American, he has…
Ken Tamura severes in the 442nd Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Company L.
He is born in Okmulgee, OK on March 27, 1923. His parents are from Japan, and he has three sisters and a brother. Ken grows up in an isolated area on a farm.
Ozaki talks about his experiences while attending college. Ozaki explains how the Attack on Pearl Harbor affected his family. He goes on to discuss his time living and working in Manzanar Concentration Camp. Ozaki reveals that he worked in Conrad,…
Ozaki discusses his upbringing in Long Beach. Ozaki also talks about his friendships with people of other ethnicities and his siblings. He also talks about trips to Little Tokyo and his encounter with a samurai. Ozaki discusses his religious…
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…
Yamate talks about the Battle of Bulge. He discusses 552nd Field Artillery Battalion and the 100th Infantry Battalion. He talks about his unit, 44th division. He describes the Bruyeres-Biffontaine campaign. He talks about the end of World War Two and…
Wada begins the interview talking about his family coming from Japan and settling in Redlands. He talks about growing up in the Redlands, having picnics, and only being allowed to go swimming after it had been cleaned. He grew up as a Christian and…
Morimoto discusses growing up in Monrovia, California and recalls working at his family's general store, playing football and participating in track and field, attending Japanese language school, and experiencing discrimination during his childhood.…
Ken Nihei discussed the poem If by Rudyard Kipling and how it applies to life.
Ken recalls his wife Masuko and life with their children, Westley Paul and Judith Ann. Ken hopes his children to live a good life and enjoy every moment.
Post-war, Ken Nihei and five other 442nd men escorted 400 German POWs to Rosenheim, Germany. Ken was in Italy for a year and eight months before going home.
In August 1946, Ken returned to the United States, and he took a short road trip to San…
Ken Nihei was born in 1925 in Sacramento, CA. Ken grew up in Sacramento until he was seven years old and moved to Hayward (Bay Area) during the Great Depression.
Ken's father immigrated to the United States from Fukushima-ken, Japan, to help his…
Mr. Yabu discusses his enlisting into the United States Navy and traveling to San Diego to the naval recruit training center. He worked for a time in the San Diego Naval Hospital before befriending and eventually working for Robert Stewart MacDonald.…
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…
Toshiyuki Uchida and Kiyoshi Kinoshita begin the interview with an introduction and background on their nicknames and families. Both were born in Washington and would attend school and Japanese language school, enjoying the outdoors. Next, they both…
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…
Kuwabara discusses his experiences at Military Intelligence Service Language School (MISLS) including the demographics of the graduates and his thoughts on discrimination in the military. He also talks about interrogation techniques taught at MISLS,…
Kuwabara describes life at Gila River Incarceration Camp including the living quarters, the types of employment opportunities inside the camp for incarcerees, and his experiences as block manager. He also talks about his reasons for volunteering for…
Mukai describes his furlough in Washington. He lists his military decorations. He talks about changes in his hometown. He discuses returning to active duty as a driver. He describes his final military post as a cook for the Presidio Monterey. He…
Mukai talks about his life after high school. He describes his family's relationship with relatives in Japan. He discusses the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He shares his knowledge of the American Concentration Camps. Mukai discuses his…
Yamada talks about his father’s job as a railway laborer, discusses his birth story, and talks about living and working in a hotel during his childhood. He also talks about his experiences growing up in Spokane, Washington and talks about…
Hashimoto talks about his military service while in the United States. He describes the new military training he received. He talks about his retirement and his security work for defense companies. He discusses double agents and his intelligence work…
Hashimoto talks about the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He briefly discusses his religious upbringing. He describes his work with a police department. He also talks about discrimination against Japanese Americans. Hashimoto discusses…
Shiosaki discusses his family's correspondence with relatives in Japan prior to World War Two; talks about celebrating New Years and the food; discusses learning Japanese values; and talks about attending Japanese language school. He then talks about…
Kitada discusses his infantry, rank, parents, growing up in the Los Angeles area, siblings, and working as a gardener. He then talks about school, the attack on Pearl Harbor, experiences with discrimination, and going to Manzanar Concentration Camp.…
Toyoda discusses Executive Order 9066 and people who were nice to him, even though he was Japanese American. He details about discrimination that he witnessed. Toyoda briefly discusses attending the Military Intelligence Service Language School…
Oda discusses his experience going back to Japan and seeing his brother for the first time since childhood, as well as his memories of post-war Japan. He also talks about his marriage and children, being a stay at home father, experiencing…
Umeda talks more about the aftereffects of Pearl Harbor, as the Army no longer accepted Nisei soldiers, they would be reclassified as enemy aliens. Shortly after, they would be forced to evacuate their home, taking their only what they could carry…
Sakamoto describes his journey to the Pinedale Temporary Detention Center. He goes on to describe what the Pinedale Temporary Detention Center looked like. He also describes the Tule Lake Concentration Camp. Sakamoto talks about his social life at…
Sakamoto describes the residents, social activities, and weather on Vashon Island, Washington. He talks about his religious upbringing and excursions to the Mainland. He discusses being left handed and school. Sakamoto shares his childhood…
Nishimura describes shipping out the Big Island. He talks about his journey to Wisconsin. He discusses Camp McCoy. He describes his life in Wisconsin. He talks about his interactions with civilians. He shares his experiences with discrimination. He…
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…
Sumida discusses attending high school; talks about Japanese values he learned from his parents; and describes the term, "Yamato-damashii". He then talks about how Japanese values helped him while in combat; and discusses the experiences of soldiers…
Watada discusses how the legacy of 442nd Regimental Combat Team proves that the Japanese Americans are Americans. After the contribution of the Nisei soldiers there is better treatment of Japanese Americans for the future. Watada can see the…
Watada discusses life at camp consist of working during the day, meals in the mess hall, and socializing in the recreation hall. Watada works in the warehouse and working in the silk screen shop printing silk screen posters with slogans. Watada's…
Watada discusses his Father's personality. Synonymous with Japanese identity and values, there are responsibilities; however, Watada's Father different. As an Issei he speaks English and associates with younger people. This is culturally…
Kojimoto explains how he met his wife at Santa Anita Assembly Center He describes what he did in his leisure time at Santa Anita Assembly Center. He talks about his employment at Santa Anita. He discusses working and living in Utah. He talks about…
Kojimoto talks about applying to Southern Pacific Railroad. He describes the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He talks about his friend who was in the intelligence service. He discusses the purpose of the Japanese American Citizens League.…
Kojimoto and the interviewers introduce themselves. Kojimoto talks about his parents marriage. He explains the origin of his name. He discusses his father's backstory. He shares his father's employment ventures. He describes his father's name. He…
When Shigeru Inouye is at McCormick General Hospital in Pasadena, CA, he meets another wounded Lieutenant who encourages him to go to school in Kentucky.
On August 25, 1947, Shigeru received an acceptance letter to Centre College. Shigeru shares…
Shigeru Inouye recollects the events that lead to his injury in the battle at Cassino, Italy. He goes to the 36th General Hospital in Italy and is in the hospital for two weeks. Later, he is transferred to an Evacuation Hospital and returns to the…
Shigeru Inouye outlines the aftermath of December 7. After Pearl Habor, Shigeru's sister is in California and goes to Rohwer, AK. Shigeru visits his sister at Rohwer and describes the living conditions. He reunites with his sister again at Camp…
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…
Akira Otani continues to talk about his father's arrest. He also talks about how Japanese Americans were under surveillance following the Pearl Harbor attack. He describes volunteering for the military. He discusses his father's imprisonment. He…
Yamanaka talks about his experiences at Camp Roberts during basic training, discusses the Attack on Pearl Harbor, talks about being sent to Fort Lewis to become part of a medics unit; and then discusses getting transferred to reserves and sent home.…
Ichiuji continues to talk about being in Poston concentration camp with his family, the living conditions being poor but they were able to set up a shoe repair shop. He would then volunteer to join the 442nd and talks about the loyalty questions they…
Joseph Ichiuji begins the interview talking about growing up in Pacific Grove, California, fishing and playing football with his siblings. He talks about facing discrimination in the job market and attending Japanese language school while also…
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.
Tanaka reveals what life was like while growing up in Honolulu. Tanaka also talks about his family and his experiences in school. He goes on to discuss the discrimination Japanese people faced after the Attack on Pearl Harbor. Tanaka explains his…
Tsuneishi discusses discrimination and civil rights. After high school he goes to University of California Los Angeles and major in Political Science and minor in English. Then he transfers University of Berkley for Asian Studies in 1941 when the…
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…
Ikari discusses where his family ended up after Executive Order 9066 was signed, sent to a mixture of Rohwer, Poston and Manzanar Concentration Camps. While visiting on leave, he would see the barbed wire in certain sections of the camp and the…
Ikari continues to talk about his work life before the war, getting his start in chick sexing and discussing the technique to learning whether a baby chick was a male or female at the hatchery. Next, he talks about being at Los Angeles City College…
Norman Ikari begins the interview talking about growing up in Seattle, Washington where he would fish often, and go to a baseball games with his father. Due to the Great Depression, his family would move down to Los Angeles, facing his first bout of…
Tamanaha talks about how he got updates on the status of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team while awaiting medical discharge. He describes his journey home. He discusses the discrimination he faced in Marysville. CA. Tamanaha talks about when he…
Tamanaha continues to talk about the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. He discusses why he enlisted and his journey to the Mainland. He describes discrimination at Camp Shelby and Hattiesburg, including racial discrimination against African Americans.…
Harry Tanaka discusses working in a Libby cannery during the summer time and at the University of Hawaii work for a professor. During High school, Tanaka thought he would pursue a career in engineering but he ends up receiving his degree in history…
Suehiro continues talking about his experiences during the attacks on Pearl Harbor and afterwards, including facing discrimination and seeing the Varsity Victory Volunteers at the University of Hawaii. Hearing about the 100th/442nd forming, Suehiro…
Tazoi discusses growing up in Garland, Utah. He details about facing discrimination. Tazoi also discusses the aftermath from Pearl Harbor and joining the army.
James Iso describes growing up as a Japanese American, and his experiences with racial discrimination. He recalls the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the effects it brought within his life and the community.
Matsuda continues to talk about his relationships with Hawaiian soldiers. He also continues to discuss Bruyeres-Biffontaine. He talks about returning to the United States. He describes his experiences with discrimination after World War Two. He…
Matsuda talks about his high school graduation. He talks about his life while living in Heart Mountain Concentration Camp. He discusses his voluntary enlistment. He describes his journey to Fort Logan. He talks about Fort Logan and Camp Shelby.…
Matsuda talks about the racial conflicts that he had with White Americans. He briefly talks about his experiences while in Japanese language school. He describes his home life. He discusses his religious background. He explains why he enlisted in the…
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…
Sato begins the interview talking about being born in Stockton, and then moving to Fresno at the age of three. He would grow up in Fresno on a farm, selling vegetables and fishing occasionally, though he did not enjoy it. Next, he talks about his…
Muramoto discusses the attack on Pearl Harbor, blackout restrictions; and describes Camp Shelby including discussing food, basic training, going into Hattiesburg; and his experiences with segregation and discrimination. He then reads a letter sent…
Fujimoto talks about his birthplace in Honolulu, Hawaii. He discusses his family and parents. He describes how his sister got her name. He talks about his father's work at Washington Place in Honolulu, Hawaii. He discusses his childhood activities.…
Kurasaki explains his journey back to Hawaii. He describes a trip to Reno, Nevada. He talks about his KP duties while stationed in the United States. He discusses reuniting with his family. He explains why he doesn’t share his war stories with his…
Kurasaki talks about his other names and his childhood. He talks about his parents and his family's income. He discusses primary school and Japanese language school. He describes his education and carpentry work. Kurasaki explains what life was like…
Yokote has an in depth discussion on his family's time in the American concentration camps. As he was angry about the way Japanese Americans were being treated, he at first refused to visit his family while at the Tule Lake concentration camp. His…
He talks about his employment ventures after high school. He discusses his work for a church. He explains why a reverend was arrested. He describes volunteering for the military. He talks about being a part of the labor battalion. He discusses being…
Tokita and the interviewers introduce themselves. He describes his grandparents immigration. He shares his father's backstory. He talks about his early life on the Wilcox Estate. He discusses J.N. Wilcox. He describes his experiences in primary…
Asahina talks about her husband's participation in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and provides some of her thoughts regarding the importance of the 100th Infantry Battalion and 442nd. She then talks about her husband's friendships with other…
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"…
Yokooji discusses his experiences post high school including farming with his father, working at the Dole Cannery, and working as a carpenter for the Department of Defense. He then talks about the attack on Pearl Harbor and aftermath including…
Iwamoto discusses his nickname, his parents and the reasons why his father immigrated to the United States; his parents' employment; his parent's personalities; and working at his father's cafe. He then talks about going to church, attending school,…
Yano talks about the values that were passed on to him from his parents, such as "gaman" and not bringing shame to the family name. Next, he talks about his elementary school, including the population, which was mostly caucasian. He would face a…
Hideo Morinaka begins the interview speaking of his family background and growing up in Utah. He would enjoy hunting, fishing and playing football while growing up on a 120 acre farm. Throughout his schooling, he would also be responsible for milking…
Yagura talks about how people reacted when Korean War soldiers returned to the United States. He reveals how much he has shared his war stories with family. He explains the reasons for wars. He briefly talks about several United States presidents.…
Yagura talks about the end of World War Two. He briefly talks about the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt and enlisting. He discusses his translation work while in Japan. He describes his social activities while stationed overseas. Yagura talks…
Yagura continues to describes what life was like while at Poston Concentration Camp. He talks about a work stint he had in Colorado. He explains the level of contact he had with his family who returned to Japan. He shares his thoughts on Japanese…
Yagura continues to talk about his experiences while in high school. He describes his experiences with discrimination in California. He discusses his parents decision to return to Japan. He talks about the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath,…
Terasaki talks about getting drafted and his enemy alien classification; working as a soda jerk; and getting reclassified as 1-A. He then talks about his attempts to volunteer for the Navy after induction; his experiences traveling to Camp Shelby;…
Terasaki discusses his name, his neighborhood growing up in Denver, Colorado, his parents, siblings, and his father's import/export business. He then talks about his childhood including discussing playing sports, friendships, neighbors, food, and…
Hayashi begins the interview speaking about his family background, being born in Denver and what it was like to grow up there. As a child, he would have the chance to live in Japan and would do so for two years, learning all about the Japanese…
Kimura discusses meeting his wife while living in Japan as a soldier and then marrying her as a civilian. Next, he talks about becoming a civilian translator, working for double the pay after being discharged from the Army. He would return to the…
Kimura discusses how he came to get the nickname "Rusty" and his sports career during high school, winning a championship for the C Team. He talks about the Great Depression and having the chance to attend college in Los Angeles, but deciding against…
Robert "Rusty" Kimura begins the interview talking about how his parents came from Japan and settled in Oroville, California. He would grow up there, getting into a lot of fights as he grew up a small child and people were always picking on him. He…
Ikuta talks about his siblings in Japan during World War Two; discussing his family who moved to Los Angeles with him post-war; talks about corresponding with his mother while she was in Japan; and discusses getting drafted and sent to Jefferson…
Shintaku discusses basic training in Texas as a machine gunner. Shintaku recalls how he is in forced removed to the assembly centers and interment camp due to being classification of 4C, enemy alien. Shintaku is at Salinas before going to Arizona…
Shintaku discusses his Father, Mother, and siblings. His Father is a share cropper for a Danish Family. Due to the Alien Land Law, his father is unable to purchase his own land. Shintaku faces discrimination at school and when he gets older, he takes…
Iwasaki talks about duties in communications such as laying down wires, and being a courier to deliver documents between the company and the battalion. He then talks about the potential dangers of being in communications; discusses his commanding…
