Browse Items (153 total)

Minori Sueda recalls his reaction to Pearl Harbor and joining the military. He also talks about volunteering for the 232nd Combat Engineer Unit, basic training, and additional engineer training at Camp Shelby.

During this part of the interview Edward Ichiyama recalls his time spent in the Army and his experiences during the war. He gives details in regards to witnessing the bombing of Pearl Harbor and his family's experience after the attack. This part of…

In this video clip, Ray Nosaka talks about his family and growing up in Hawai'i. He recalls instances where he faced racial discrimination in the work force.

In this segment, Tohara recalls his time with a good friend, Ray, and the advice he was given by another teacher that helped him in the army. We learn about the after school activities he was involved in and his summer job at a machine shop. Tohara…

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…

In this segment Uyemura talks about where he got the means to build his Ford Model T car and the beginnings of his service in the Army upon being drafted. After Pearl Harbor, he talks about his reaction to the attack, his family being relocated, and…

Ito begins his interview with recollections of his childhood in Stockton, California. He describes his experiences in primary and secondary school and auto-mechanic school, before being drafted into the Army in 1940.

Fujimori discusses meeting his wife. He talks more about practicing Judo, and what it meant to be Japanese American. At the end of this section, he talks of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

In this video clip, Tets Asato talks about the Loyalty Questionnaire that the Niseis had to answer while in camp (internment camp) and about the "No-No Boys". He talks about being drafted into the army and his experiences in basic training at Camp…

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…

Mas Takahashi was the youngest of five children. He grew up in San Francisco, and later, Stockton, California, where he attended high school. After the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, he and his family were forcibly removed to the…

Roy Yokote recounts the events leading up to his family's evacuation, the resulting economic losses, and the emotional toll. He describes his family's experience and living conditions at the Marysville Assembly Center and Tulelake Relocation Center…

George Matsui grew up in Long Beach, CA, and his parents are farmers. George's father decided to go back to Japan when George was in junior high school. In Japan, George attended Japanese Grade School and learned the Japanese language. When George…

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…

Taniguchi describes the physical features of his community in Cortez, California. He talks about his stay in the Merced Temporary Detention Facility He also discusses his experiences in the Granada (Amache) Concentration Camp. Taniguchi describes…

Narasaki recalls his time at Tanforan Detention Center and tells us about his job washing dishes and the music and recreational activities. He recounts the journey to Topaz Internment Camp and the living conditions. He also describes the rift the…

In this interview, Samuel Harano describes his early childhood in Hawaii and the tragic loss of his mother in a house fire. He recalls being sent to Japan where he spent his school years rebelling against an increasingly militaristic culture. Upon…

Tanaka discusses what it was like growing up in Hilo, Hawaii. he details about the aftermath if pearl harbor and his draft experience. Tanaka discusses about his experiences during basic training.

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…

Sachio Takata recollects his time at basic training at Camp Blanding training to be a replacement for the 442nd. He made a few friends in the Army. However, if you were not in the same company or platoon, it was harder to build a relationship. Sachio…

Kazuma Taguchi and the interviewers introduce themselves. He talks about his early life in Hawaii. He discusses his education. He describes his work on a plantation. He talks about being drafted. He discusses his time at Schofield Barracks. He lists…

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…

Kimura continues talking about the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, including getting forced to evacuate and move into a temporary detention center at Tanforan racetrack, where his mother would pass away. Next, they would move to Topaz Concentration Camp…

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;…

Sakamoto discusses his family and his childhood experiences. He details the aftermath from Pearl Harbor and the affects it had on his family. Sakamoto also discusses he time in the military before being shipped overseas.

Endo discusses his experiences at Granada (Amache) Concentration Camp. He details gymnastics, being drafted, and basic training. Endo also discusses his experiences at Fort Snelling and heading Japan.

Inami discusses Jerome Concentration Camp and the living arrangements. Due to the conditions of camp, Inamai compares it welfare and how welfare is shameful to the Japanese culture. In camp, jobs are available. Inami recalls the jobs his family…

Inami discusses basic training and being replacements for 442nd Regimental Combat. The European Theater ends and Inami volunteers for the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). Later Inami is inducted into the Counter Intelligence Corps. He describes…

Kagawa talks about growing up in Japan until he was nine; his father's employment; and his childhood in Hawaii including discussing recreational activities and attending Japanese language school. He then talks about attending high school and his…

Shigeru Inouye is born February 3, 1919, in Honolulu, HI. He is the youngest of seven children.

Shigeru recalls his school years at McKinley High School and the University of Hawaii. On November 14, 1941, Shigeru receives his draft notice. He…

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…

Kodama discusses the feeling he had that Japanese Americans were limited in their activities during his childhood, including dances and sports. He had hopes of attending UC Berkeley and was originally accepted but was later rejected and would end up…

After the evacuation, Kodama and his family would head to Santa Anita race track where they would spend some time in a temporary detention center, where they would have almost no privacy. It was there, that he would meet his first wife, who taught…

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…

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…

Umeda gives more background on his siblings, and what it was like to grow up on a farm, picking grapes and saving money to go to junior college. He talks about the other recreational activities he did with his siblings, including skating and swimming…

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…

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…

Uchida and Kinoshita continue their recollection of joining the Army. At the time, Uchida was working on the railroads in Montana and Kinoshita was at the Minidoka concentration camp. They talk about their individual basic training at Camp Shelby,…

Ken Nihei was a 16 years old high school student when he went to Topaz, Utah. The perimeter was open at camp, and there were no barb wires yet. Life was different at Topaz.

Ken received his draft letter to report to Fort Douglas when he was 18…

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.

Matsumoto's Father is born 1898 in…

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…

Kurahara discusses his name, birth place, and birth date. His parents are Issei and his Father passes away from an accident. at an early age His Mother remarries a Filipino and Kurahara remembers the intercultural prejudices they face when they take…

Yoshio Izumi goes to Japanese language school first before starting English school. When his family moves from Malibu to Santa Monica, Yoshio attends Santa Monica School. The makeup of the school is primarily Caucasians students and half a dozen…

On December 7, Yoshio Izumi is on his weekend leave and hears about Pearl Harbor on the radio at home. Yoshio was born and raised in the United States, and he feels he would be loyal to his homeland. He feels he is one hundred percent American.

On…

Saito discusses the living conditions at Poston Concentration Camp as well as talking about other incarcerees, friendships, wildlife, recreational activities, employment, food, guards, and dances there. Next, Saito discusses the conflict between…

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…

Nakamura talks about his children and grandchildren, including discussing his children's schooling and occupations. He then talks about how his efforts as part of the 100th Infantry Battalion have helped future generations of Japanese Americans, and…

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…

Hiroshi Yafuso talks about Japanese farming in Hakalau. He also discusses his experiences in Japanese school and church. Yafuso talks about the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He goes on to reveal how he was drafted and how he ended up in…

Hiroshi Yafuso talks about being inducted into the Army and his overall experiences while in the military. Yafuso discusses his military decorations, post military life, and family. He briefly talks about his translation work and his siblings.

Iguchi discusses about his father sending Honeydew Mel ons and life after after high school graduation. He details about being drafted and receiving training to be a medic. Iguchi also discusses about Pearl Harbor, Its aftermath, and joining the…

Masatatsu "Mas" Yonemura discusses in 1941 he is in his third year of law school and works part time as a librarian monitor. Yonemura learns at the news of Pearl Harbor through a friend. Yonemura is in disbelief by the news of events. The following…

Nakasone discusses attending Japanese language school and his involvement with Buddhism and judo. After this, he talks about the attacks on Pearl Harbor; living just three miles from Pearl Harbor, he would see firsthand the Japanese zero's flying…

Urata continues to describes his experiences at the Santa Anita Temporary Detention Center. He also continues to talk about daily life at Poston Concentration Camp. He discusses his job at Poston Concentration Camp. Urata talks about getting married…

Koyano continues to discuss a trip he took to Japan when he was a child. He talks about being drafted and his duties shortly before his deployment. He describes Camp Shelby. He discusses concentration camps and racial discrimination. Koyano talks…

Abe discusses about forced removal and his experiences at Heart Mountain Concentration Camp. He details about getting drafted and father. Abe also discusses about his basic training.

Mizuki discusses the Gila River Concentration Camp and the day-to-day lifestyle. He then speaks about working in Chicago as a bus boy and having lunch breaks with famed musician Duke Ellington. Then, he talks about getting drafted by the Army and his…

Misaka discusses December 7, 1941 and the aftermath after Pearl Harbor. When the war happens, Misaka focuses on school and plays sports. He recalls his game in New York and Kansas for the NCAA. Misaka remembers when he receives the draft notice to…

Muroshige describes growing up in Hawaii and his conscription into the United States Army. He is suffers a leg wound during the Allied invasion of Italy and is left stranded for a day before being evacuated to military hospitals and eventually…

Hiroki talks about his early life in Kauai. He discusses his family's move to Honolulu. He describes his mother. He talks about his childhood leisure time and being drafted. Hiroki talks about family finances and his high school experiences. He…

Howard Hiroki continues to talk about his high school experiences. He describes his time in Japanese language school. He discusses his studies at the University of Hawaii. He reflects on courting his wife. Hiroki explains how he paid for college. He…

Susumu "Chick" Sarae is born on August 2, 1923, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His parents are from Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, and they have six children. One child lives in Japan for ten years before reuniting with the family in Hawaii.

Susumu discusses…

Hamasu talks about his parents, siblings, neighborhood, and his childhood growing up on a coffee plantation in Hawaii. He also talks about his hobbies, going to Japanese language school and elementary school, being a member of a future farmers club;…

Arakaki begins the interview with an introduction and talking about how his parents came to Hawaii. At the age of two, he and his family would move back Japan and Taro would live there until the age of 16, when he would make the move back to Hawaii.…

Katagiri discusses the loyalty questionnaire he was given at Tule Lake Concentration Camps; and getting his draft notice and his parents' reaction. He then talks about basic training, weather, and friendships at Camp Blanding; preparing to ship out…

Nishikubo discusses traveling to Tule Lake Concentration Camp, and what life was like there including his job in the fire department. After leaving Tule Lake, Nishikubo went to Cleveland and discusses his experiences there including his job at a…

M. Furuto talks about his recollections of Pearl Harbor and events he and his family went through in the aftermath. He discusses being evacuated and moving to Manzanar, and some activities he did while incarcerated. He also talks about his receipt of…

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…

Ito talks about his birthplace, Fresno, California. He discusses his experiences in primary school. He describes how and why his parents immigrated to America. He talks about his father's work at a cannery. He discusses his father's launch into…

Tanaka discusses about joining the service and his early experiences in the military. He details about the aftermath from Pearl Harbor. Tanaka also discusses about hid family.

Kitajima discusses about his childhood and family. He details about living in Honolulu and moving to California. Kitajima also discusses about being drafted, Pearl Harbor, and the events that followed.

Mori continues to talk about Japanese language school. He discusses citizenship and sumo wrestling. He describes being drafted and inducted into the Army. Mori discusses basic training. He talks about the Attack on Pearl Harbor and how it caused…

Anzai discusses growing up in Maui, before relocating to Japan with his mother and siblings when he was five years old. Anzai talks about his experiences traveling to Japan, learning Japanese, going to school in Japan, watching samurai movies, and…

Arakaki discusses discrimination faced by Japanese Americans in Hawaii in regards to employment before World War Two, and his employment as a hoist operator at a trucking company. He then talks about his experiences during the attack on Pearl Harbor…

Karatsu talks about growing up in Los Angeles, going to school, and discusses his parents and siblings. He then talks about going to Japanese language school, values growing up, recreational activities, and childhood friends. After graduation,…

Harry Uchida grows up on the island of Maui in Hawaii attending Japanese language school and gets drafted into the army. He serves in the Military Intelligence service during the occupation of Japan.

Yokoyama discusses about his childhood and the events prior to Pearl Harbor. He details about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath.

Kashiwagi talks about his life after high school including his farming work. He discusses what he did during his leisure time. He continues to talks about the draft. He describes the Attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. Kashiwagi discusses the…

George Mitsuru Matsunaga was born on May 28, 1925, in Wailuku, Maui. George had many positive influences that shaped him during his informal educational years. At home, his parents taught him filial piety and to study hard. In English school and…

Aki continues to talk about his experiences as a prisoner of war while in Japan. Towards the end of the war, he noticed that a lot of weird things were happening with the Japanese Army guards and that the POWs were taken out of work. He overheard…

Terumoto "Paul" Ichiuji was born in Pacific Grove. He was very active in high school with sports and the student body and had many friends.

Before December 7, 1941, Paul's brother, Joe, and cousin were drafted into service. Paul recalls hearing…

Maya Miyamoto was born on January 28, 1922, in Carmel Valley, CA. His father and mother were from Kumamoto, Japan. Maya's father taught him respect, how to get along with others, honesty, and do not shame the family. Maya said his parents wished him…

Masato Yamashita's interview is with Lloyd Fujitani.

Masato Yamashita and Lloyd Fujitani recall hearing the news about Pearl Harbor on the radio. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, anyone who is a leader of a Japanese Organization is taken away by…

Tommy Mayekawa and his family evacuate to Santa Anita Assembly Center after receiving the evacuation orders. He describes the living conditions and life in the camp. Tommy and his family live in a horse stable, and his parents accepted the situation…

In the six months at Fresno, the Kurushima family learns how to make the most of the situation in Jerome. Masato Eddy Kurushima says the barracks at Jerome are similar to Fresno Fair Grounds Relocation Center. He describes the living conditions and…

Growing up in Pasadena, CA, Hitoshi G. Sameshima's favorite event is the Rose Parade. He recalls attending the Rose Parade at age four and has attended every year.

As a child, Hitoshi's knowledge of Japan is shaped by his parents and Japanese…

Hitoshi G. Sameshima recalls going to Gila in the first part of September. He says the first place you go when you enter camp is the employment office. Hitoshi recalls his interview with Kimiko Murakami. Hitoshi is assigned to be an interviewer since…

Kitagawa talks about his life after high school, graduating and then working on the farm. During this time, two of his brothers would be drafted into the Army, one being part of the 45th Infantry and the other in the 442nd Regiment. Next, he talks…

After Pearl Harbor, Executive Order 9066 is issued and calls for the evacuations of Japanese Americans. Don describes the preparation his family makes before going to Poston, Arizona. At Poston, Don outlines life at camp and the living conditions of…

After Executive Order 9066, Sumio Frank Shimada was forcibly removed to Santa Anita Assembly Center. Frank describes the living conditions and life at the Assembly Center. He found a job in camp making camouflage nets.

In September 1942, Frank…

In the relocation center, James Murata worked as an ambulance driver. For entertainment, there were plays and sports. The Assembly Center was a racetrack and some internees lived in horse stalls. James described how he made most of the situation. He…

Yoshihara talks about his experiences at Minidoka incarceration camp including the weather, living conditions, school, size of the camp, and working as a lab technician at the camp hospital. He then talks about his parents' thoughts and reactions to…

Masuda talks about his early life in Livingston. He describes his life as a Japanese farmer and social activities in his community. Masuda briefly talks about his Methodist background and primary school. He explains what happened to his family after…

Miyamoto describes his childhood in Merced County, California. His recollections include playing with neighbors and busing to school, and helping out with family farming and participating in the Cortez Growers' Association. In high school he took an…

Masuda talks about his experiences while in high school. He discusses Japanese language school. He explains what he did in his childhood leisure time. He shares his aspirations after high school. Masuda talks about being drafted and inducted. He…

Kurata discusses life in the Rohwer Concentration Camp. He details he draft experience and his thoughts on the 442nd. Kurata also discusses how he ended up in the Counter Intelligence Corps.

Sukeo "Skeets" Oji was born on February 24, 1918, in Sacramento, CA. He got his nickname Skeets because Sukeo was hard to pronounce. Skeets' father, Ozo Oji, was a hard-working man. He immigrated to the United States by himself from Hiroshima, Japan.…

Sukue “Skeets” Oji enrolled at Sacramento Junior College and took flying classes. However, Skeets did not complete his civilian flying classes because he was drafted. Skeet went to Presidio Monterey for his induction and was stationed at Moffett…

William Yoshito Thompson is a World War Two veteran who volunteered for the 442nd (Head Quarters 2nd Battalion). He is born March 15, 1924, in Hilo, Hawaii. His father is from Scotland, Ireland, and moved to Hawaii. He remains a British subject and…
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