Yoshisuke Jack Kunitomi first talks about his brothers, and the many crops that Issei farmers grew in California. Next, he discusses that it was difficult for Issei and Nisei to get jobs outside of farming or retail markets. Lastly, he recounts his…
Yoshiro "Yosh" Tokiwa is born on April 29, 1925, in Pismo, California. Yoshiro's Issei parents are from Japan. In Salinas, CA, his father is an independent farmer. Yoshiro has four siblings, three brothers, and a sister.
Yoshio Nakamura begins the interview with his family's background, how the family adapted to life without a mother, and the family's farming business. Next, he describes his elementary and high school experiences and activities. Lastly, he recounts…
Imoto discusses his adolescence in his rural hometown of Lindsay (CA). He talks about the local ethnic communities and his experiences in high school. He also discusses how he got drafted in the army and began artillery training.
Imoto talks about his early years growing up in Lindsay (CA) on a farm owned by his family; and shared with his uncle and his family. He discusses the community they lived in and his primary and secondary education. He also provides background…
Hiraoka discusses about his early experiences at Gila River Concentration Camp and trying to farm. He details about working in a law office inside camp and details about the projects he worked. Hiraoka also discusses about meeting his wife and social…
Hiraoka discusses about his childhood and his plans for the future. He details about is life after high school, experiences during the Great Depression, and experiences at law school. Hiraoka also discusses about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath.
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.
Termaura continues to talk about his marriage and the wedding that they had. Next, he lists out his children and grandchildren. After this, he talks about his farming career and how he's kept up with agriculture even after he's retired. He also talks…
Teramura discusses more about his time in Europe during the war. One of his assignments there would be processing German prisoners of war. He discusses the SS and the power that they had in the Nazi Army. After the war had ended, he would work as a…
Teramura continues his recollection of his school years in Oregon, his favorite subject being math. He discusses some of the impactful teachers he had and some of the discrimination that he faced during his childhood. After graduating from Oregon…
Nagasaka talks about the facial discrimination that he faced after the war, including ignored restaurant service and equipment sales. He also talks more about his career, which included tuna fishing, working as a houseboy in college and having a…
Nagasaka discusses attending Japanese language school as a child and coming from a Buddhist family. He also talks about his recreational activities in school, such as handball, in which he was always the best. Next, he talks about the after effects…
Willie Tanamachi discusses life on the farming Texas with his 12 siblings. Growing up in the 1920's there was no electricity and he cherished opportunities to go to the county fair and movies.
Koyano talks about training soldiers in the 171st unit. He describes his wartime mementos and his attempts to readjust to his family life. He shares his feelings about being drafted. He discusses his marriage. He talks about moving to California and…
Koyano talks about his parent's immigration to the United States. He describes his early life in Northern California and the dynamics in his family. He also describes his parents personalities. He discusses a trip he made to Japan when he was child.…
Tamura describes post-War life in the United States, both moving to different military installations and his return to civilian life. He describes his attempt to revive the family truck farming business, but it proved unprofitable so he farmed…
Tamura discusses his parents' separate backgrounds coming from Hiroshima to the United States and the lives they established in Idaho. He and his older siblings assisted in the family's truck gardening business which was very demanding. Other topics…
Westdale discusses his family and upbringing. He details about joining the Army Air Corps and his experiences in the Corps. Westdale also discusses about December 7, 1941 and the sentiment towards the Japanese in America.
Okabayashi discusses about his family and growing up in Texas. He details about the farm life, selling crops and his childhood. Okabayashi also discusses about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath.
Miyasako discusses about his experiences in France. He details about his friends, his experiences Italy, and his duties as a company clerk. Miyasako also discusses about his life after returning home.
Nakayama talks about school, discusses his favorite subjects, talks about life prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the restrictions he encountered after the attack. He also talks about his family's experiences after Executive Order 9066…
Mukai talks about his early life in Kingston, Washington. He talks about his mother, father, and siblings. He discusses his childhood friendships and his religious upbringing. He describes his family home and holidays. Mukai talks about his…
Espineda talks about his family's move from Hawaii to California. He talks about his Filipino heritage. He discusses his experiences while in high school. He describes the farm work that he did after school. He talks about what he did in his leisure…
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…
Yano discusses his near death experience from surgery, Army Day Parade, and going to the East Coast. While visiting the East Coast, Yano experience discrimination. He details about being discharged, education, and adjust to civilian life. Yano…
Arakaki talks a bit more about his childhood in Okinawa. As he grew up in the village of Gushiken, he would learn folk songs, and play with his siblings. He would also take an interest in karate and learn bo. Next, he talks about the home he grew up…
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 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…
Takashi Matsui begins the interview talking about his family background and his parents coming from Japan and moving to the west coast of the United States. At the young age of three, he would actually move back to Japan, where he would attend school…
Taira Fukushima discusses the importance of family. For example, when he is a student, he gets a paper route job, and with the money earned, he shares it with the family. In the 1930s, there was a notion that tuberculosis was hereditary. By getting…
Yenokida discusses his time after his imprisonment, working in Denver, farming and shipping vegetables with his brother. Later, they would head back to Cortez to visit their mother and start their own farm, which ended up having over 3,000 acres of…
Yenokida begins his trial in Denver, submitting paperwork showing that Japanese Americans were not being given their Constitutional Rights, however, the judge did not agree and he was sentenced to Tuscon Federal Work Camp for 1 year. He and the other…
Satow talks about his post-war life experiences: marriage, career, descendants.He shares recollections of visiting his parents and siblings after his military discharge. He also talks about his activities in the Veterans of Foreign War and other…
Satow discusses curfew conditions in Sacramento in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack. He also talks about his experiences at Pinedale Temporary Detention Center before his family's relocation to the Poston Concentration Camp. He shares…
Satow discusses his childhood and adolescence in a small town outside Sacramento. He talks about farming in youth and having extended relatives living nearby. He also talks about the political climate pre and post Pearl Harbor attack.
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.
Sumio Frank Shimada was born on April 21, 1918, in Vacaville, CA. Later his family moved to Cordelia and then San Jose. Frank revisited Vacaville last year for a reunion. He described the changes in the town since his childhood.
Sukeo “Skeets” Oji worked for 42 years in the military and federal civil service. His hard work was due to his parent's upbringing. Skeets' mother was a picture bride who immigrated to the United States. She gave birth to eight children and raised…
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…
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.…
Yamanaka discusses his parents, his siblings, and his father's various occupations. He then talks about growing up in Colorado, going to church, moving as a child to Los Angeles and Japan, and then returning back to the United States. He also talks…
Matsukawa talks about his parent's reaction to joining the Army and his brother getting killed in action while in the war. He talks about the unfortunate casualties of young men during war time and his brother's path. Soon after his brother passed…
Sameshima and Hayashi discuss their nicknames and their lives after Pearl Harbor, including the Executive Order 9066. Their families would face hard times as they readied to evacuate their homes, as they had to sell property and furniture for pennies…
Samuel Yamaguchi discusses growing up San Diego. He talks about his high school experiences and home life. He talks about his reaction to the Pearl Harbor attack and gives a summary of his military service.
Sam Sakamoto describes his journey to Europe and landing in Naples, Italy. He talks about the 442nd Combat Regimental Team. He explains his relationship with Hawaiian soldiers. Sakamoto discusses the end of the World War Two and his journey back to…
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…
Sakamoto describes his early life and memories on Vashon Island, Washington. He talks about fishing on the island. He describes his mother and father. He discusses his father's agricultural career and his family home. Sakamoto continues to describe…
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…
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…
Fujiwara talks about his birthplace. He describes his father's early life. He discusses his Japanese identity. He talks about his siblings. He explains how his father immigrated to the United States. He describes his father's family. Fujiwara…
Yano talks more about his war experiences, including his involvement in the Lost Battalion and the food that he would enjoy in Europe. He next talks about the end of the war and his plan to go to occupied Japan to see his mother, but upon returning…
Yamamoto discusses his early training and how he ended up in the Counterintelligence Corps. Yamamoto details his work during the occupation of Japan. He discusses how he met his wife and his life after leaving the army.
Yamamoto discusses what it was like growing up on a farm. He also details what it was like growing up in Watsonville, California. Yamamoto discusses the aftermath of Pearl Harbor and his memories from Camp Poston.
Sato and his family would be evacuated from their farm, and moved to a temporary detention center in Puyallup, called Camp Harmony. He talks about the lack of privacy and the barbed wire that surrounded the area. After this, they would be moved…
Robert Sato begins the interview talking about his family and how they came from Kagoshima prefecture in Japan and settled in Washington state. He gives more in depth background on his father and mother, telling of the discipline they had, the foods…
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…
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…
Furukawa talks about his childhood growing up in Missouri and California, and differences in race relations between the two states. He describes his parents backgrounds, and shares how his older brother did not move to America with his parents and…
Murakami discusses about his family. He details about his childhood. Murakami also discusses about Pearl Harbor, its aftermath, and his experiences in Marysville Temporary Detention Center.
Ray Shiiki is inducted at Fort Douglas, UT then goes to Camp Hood. He is assigned to the Tank Destroyer Outfit. After Camp Hood, he goes to Fort Snelling and is assigned as Supply Sergeant, F Company.
Before the war, Ray Shiiki's parents buy land in Damascus, OR. However, due to the alien land law, the property is under Ray's sister's name. Later Ray's parents discover they have been taken advantage of by a cannery worker.
Ray Gerald Shiiki is born January 7, 1927, in Gresham, Oregon. Ray's parents are from Koga, Japan, and immigrated to the United States. They settled in Oregon. He has three sisters and one brother.
After the passing of Ray Mayeda's mother, Ray's father sent his two sisters and younger brother to live in Japan with their grandmother. Later, Ray's father and Ray went to live in Japan too. After living in Japan for a few years, in 1939, Ray…
Ray Kuniteru Mayeda was born on October 18, 1922. His parents were from Kagoshima prefecture before immigrating to the United States. Ray's father came from a family of educators in Japan.
In the United States, Ray's father was a successful farmer…
In October 1949, Ray Mayeda worked at the Civil Censorship until it was dissolved. Then Ray worked at Allied Translator and Interpreter Section (ATIS) as a translator. He translated classified documents into English for a year.
Okada discusses his early years growing up in Los Angeles and Long Beach. He talks about his father's background in Japan, and immigration to the United States. He also discusses how his father's death in 1928 impacted his family and their economic…
Fukasawa discusses his Father immigrating to the United States in 1905 and his Mother immigration in 1909. Fukasawa has two sisters and two brothers, The Fukasawa family lives in Fillmore, California on a ranch until a flod washes away their home.…
Ito talks about a bulletin for weary Caucasian soldiers. He discusses his military government unit. He describes his interpretation work. He talks about his work at the Presidio SF. He discusses his family's lives after the war. He describes his new…
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…
Honda discusses about his family and childhood upbringing. He details about his childhood friends, social activities, and his health as a child. Honda also discusses about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath.
Tsuneishi discusses more of his childhood including nicknames, Christianity and Sunday school. Next, he talks about facing discrimination, giving an anecdote of going to a barber shop and being asked to leave. After that, he speaks about Pearl Harbor…
Tsuneishi begins his interview going through his family background, speaking about his father and mother and their journeys to Monrovia. Next, he talks about his responsibilities growing up on a farm and the recreational activities. After that, he…
Nobuo "Nob" Yamashita is born September 28, 1920, in Los Angeles, CA. Nob and his family worked on the farm before starting a fresh produce business in Bell.
In 1938, Nob graduates high school. When his younger brother Ace graduates high school a…
Kishiue discusses his early years in California's King County. He talks about his family background and their experiences evacuating their home during WW2. He also talks about being drafted in the military before the Pearl Harbor attack; and race…
Yoshimura begins the interview discussing how he came to be on the USS Missouri with General MacArthur when the emperor of Japan was announcing his surrender. As a child, Yoshimura had moved from America to Japan to begin his education and to learn…
Kawamoto discusses his youth and early adulthood in Kaimuki, Hawaii. He talks about his family's living conditions and his recollections of the Pearl Harbor. He also talks about how his mother was widowed before his birth and how his older half…
Kagawa discusses family, his early childhood and adolescence experiences in Gardena, California, his family's "voluntary evacuation" to Rexburg, Idaho, the Bombing of Pearl Harbor, third person accounts of incarceration camps and a visit to the…
Takashima talks about his correspondence with his family while he was overseas and finding them once he was back in the United States. After discharge in California, he meets with his brother and begins courses at Los Angeles City College before…
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…
Kunihiro discusses his early years growing up in southern California: Imperial Valley and Sierra Madre. He also talks about his father's immigration to the U.S. and how he became established in farming. Kunihiro shares anecdotes regarding: childhood…
Inaba discusses about what it was like growing up on a coffee farm. He details about his experiences in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). Inaba also discusses about his career with the credit union.
Fujikawa begins the interview talking about his family background and how his family moved from San Francisco down to Los Angeles with the changing of the crops. There, he would be raised as a Christian and attend Japanese language school. He talks…
Mr. Tsubota introduces himself and discusses his parents background and what brought them to settle in Kent, Washington. There was a strong Japanese community in Kent, and Mr. Tsubota talks about the various cultural activities his family took part…
Minoru Miyasaki recalls the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. When President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, Minoru and his family went to Tanforan on a Greyhound Bus. The Miyasaki family left their belongings with Mr. Driscoll. However, in 1946…
M. Fujita talks about his childhood experiences in San Diego county circa 1930s. He also talks about his family's experiences in Santa Anita and Poston. He shares anecdotes regarding: basic training in Camp Shelby, getting wounded in combat, and his…
Uchiyama discusses his childhood experiences growing up in farming community in central California. He shares information of how his parents immigrated to the U.S. from Japan and what it was like for him living in a primarily Caucasian neighborhood…
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…
Masuo Tsuda talks about his family coming from the Ehime prefecture in Japan, and settling in the Watsonville area of California, starting a farm. Masuo would grow up on that farm, learning how to farm while attending both english and Japanese…
Hashimoto explains how his parents immigrated to the United States. He talks about his parents marriage. He describes his father and mother. He discusses his father's accident and the way it changed his mother's role in his family. He talks about his…
Masato Yamashita's interview is with Lloyd Fujitani.
When the news of the war is over, Masato Yamashita hears that they might go to the Pacific, and soldiers from I Company sign up for the Military Intelligence Service (MIS).
Masato Yamashita's interview is with Lloyd Fujitani.
Masato Mauch Yamashita is born on December 27, 1924, in Lodi, CA. Lloyd Katsuto Fujitani is born January 1, 1917, in Lodi, CA. Both Masato and Lloyd are with 442nd Company I. Masato, and Lloyd's…
Masato Eddy Kurushima records his childhood through his drawings. He shows an illustration about his home life. During Christmas and New Year's time, the family makes mochi. Making mochi on special occasions is a Japanese tradition that Eddy's…
Masato Eddy Kurushima is born on December 6, 1924, in Brawley, CA.
Masato changes his name to Eddy because of the confusion of his Japanese name with his sister's name in high school.
Eddy grows up on the farm and he describes his childhood and…
Akiyama talks about the differences between [Portland] temporary detention facility and Minidoka incarceration camp including discussing the living conditions at both locations. He then talks about his experiences working on a sugar beet farm in…
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…
Inoshita talks about his return to the United States. He describes what his family did after leaving Gila River. He discusses his return to farming. He explains how he dealt with aging. He explains how he met his wife. Inoshita talks about his wife,…
