Urata begins the interview speaking about his family background and growing up in Japan, Korea and Hawaii. As his father died when he was just 1, Urata would move to Japan for a short amount of time before moving to Seoul, South Korea to live with…
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…
In the first part of Herbert Yanamura's interview, he talks about growing up as a Nisei in the farming community of Kona, Hawaii, his father's emphasis on learning the Japanese language, and his pre-war life. Yanamura also recounts the bombing of…
Kuniyoshi discusses and describes his parents upbringing, background, characteristics, personalities, and careers. Hideo discusses his childhood growing up in Hilo, Hawaii including his childhood activities, neighborhood, attending Japanese language…
Kuniyoshi discusses the action he saw throughout Europe, including battles which liberated the city of Bruyeres, France and helped rescue the "Lost Battalion." Shortly after fighting in the Gothic Line, the war ended in Europe and he was discharged…
Higa discusses the Lost Battalion and getting wounded. He details about his recovery and coming home. Higa also discusses his life after returning to Hawaii.
Kon discusses about life on the plantation. He details about his going to and experiences at Camp McCoy. Kon also discusses about the formation of the 100th Infantry Battalion and his life in the Army.
Mizuki discusses his family and growing up on Kahului. He details about Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. Mizuki also discusses volunteering and his experiences at Camp Shelby. He also details about his combat experiences and captured as a Prisoner of…
Mizuki discusses more about his experiences as a German Prisoner of War. He details about the political involvement of Nisei veterans. Mizuki also discusses about his post-war life.
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…
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…
Arisumi describes his family history and father's employment, his mother and their childhood home, as well as his siblings, school, and employment. He also remembers building the temporary rails for the plantation, school activities he did with his…
In this segment, Hiroshi Kaku introduces himself and begins by talking about his family background and childhood in Hawaii. Kaku also discusses his experiences in school and his community, conveying his memories of Hawaii during that period of time.
In this segment, Hiroshi Kaku begins by recalling his personal memories from the attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent Martial Law in Hawaii before discussing his decision to enlist in the Army. Kaku then recalls the initial screening process in…
Tanigawa discusses Pearl Harbor and the aftermath from it. He details about what he did during the occupation of Japan. Tanigawa also discusses about his time after he leaves the army.
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…
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 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.…
Furumoto discusses his decision to attend veterinary school at Kansas State University. He recounts his feelings during the Bombing of Pearl Harbor. He also discusses his decision to join the army.
Murakami begins the interview speaking about his family background, which included 5 brothers in addition to his parents. Growing up in Paia, Maui, he and his family moved around a lot going from plantation camp to plantation camp as his father…
Murakami discusses his part in the Gothic Line push. Once they completed that mission, he was able to head back to the United States. After arriving in New York, the regiment learned they would be flown back to California, which left them in high…
Tsuji discusses his family and background. He gives in depth descriptions and memories of his mother, father and 8 siblings. Next, he speaks about attending Japanese language school and the end of his classes, punctuated by the Pearl Harbor…
Tsuji discusses about his childhood in Honolulu, recalling the New Years celebrations, the population of his schools and the friends that he had. Next, he looks back at the segregation that he saw both in Hawaii and later in Mississippi while…
Tsuji begins by talking about the New Years traditional film he would watch portraying the 47 Ronin. Next, he begins an in depth recollection of Pearl Harbor, from listening in on the radio to seeing the fire ball and smoke from a distance. He…
While recovering from his wound, Tsuji would be given a 45 day furlough, in which he originally wanted to go back home to Hawaii, however, after talking with officers, he decided upon traveling and seeing Chicago and New York and when he returned, he…
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…
Kaneshiro discusses his family, being raised by a single parent, and other aspects of his childhood. He details about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath. Kaneshiro also discusses his employment and his life during World War Two.
After Camp Shelby, Isamu "Sam" Saito went to Fort Snelling. There were approximately 2,000 soldiers at Fort Snelling training to go overseas. The curriculum focused on reading and writing. Sam discusses his daily schedule at the Japanese school.
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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"…
Araki begins the interview with a short introduction and speaking about his time at the Japanese language school. Being born in Sacramento and then moving to Hawaii, he had a different type of upbringing than most kids in Hawaii. The kids would call…
Araki continues his recollection of his time after being drafted into the Army and having an assignment in Hawaii, guarding Italian prisoners of war. Next, he discusses the Japanese language and the importance of the characters that are used. He…
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.
During this portion of the interview, James Mitsumori recalls details about his adolescence and attending trials at the local courthouse. Moreover, James recounts his educational background and his recollects on his school trip to Japan, China, and…
During this part of the interview, James Mitsumori discusses the discrimination that Japanese Americans faced after the war. In addition, he goes on to recount his parent's evacuation experience, as well as his wife's experiences during the war.…
During this portion of the interview, James Mitsumori recalls his time working as a military citations clerk, as well as the qualifications for earning a Congressional Medal of Honor. Next, recalls meeting his wife and he explains why he felt she…
Omatsu discusses about growing up in Hawaii, his family, and their store. He details about his schooling and experiences with discrimination. Omatsu also discusses about his childhood and life after high school graduation.
Oura begins the interview talking about how his family came from Miyagi prefecture to Honolulu, Hawaii. His father came to work at the sugar plantation, where James and his siblings would grow up with very little money and food but surviving…
Janet Brown Hardwick and Susan Hardwick come from a family of men who serves their country. Their great-grandfather serves in the Civil War, and their father, Bill Hardwick, is part of the 36th Infantry Regiment during World War Two. Following their…
Janet Nakakihara and Janice Trubitt say their grandmother is big on celebrating New Year and birthdays. Janet recalls her mother mentioning her mother adopted all of the American holidays and celebrations. Even though they did not have much money,…
Ikemori talks about his early life in Hawaii. He describes his family's move to Japan. He briefly discusses his education in Japan. He talks about teaching Japanese language school in Hawaii. He discusses the languages spoken in his childhood home.…
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…
John Allen Tagami discusses being a military brat and traveling around during his childhood. Tagami's Father served in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and meets the Emperor of Japan. Tagami's Mother works for Reader's Digest during the war…
Sato discusses his familial origin and description. He grows up in a farm community and discusses the Alien land law. He recalls racism pre-war and going into an American Concentration Camp after Pearl Harbor. He soon joins the military and is…
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…
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…
Miyagawa discusses what it was like growing up in Spreckelsville. He gives details about being drafted and the affects of Pearl Harbor. Miyagawa also discusses his experiences at Camp McCoy and Camp Shelby.
Asato begins the interview talking about his family background, including his parents coming from Okinawa prefecture and settling down on Maui. He talks about growing up in Paia, attending Paia School and picking pineapples at Maui Pineapple. He…
Asato continues talking about his first combat while in Italy, at the Rome-Arno area. He talks about being able to see Florence from a distance and the tree bursts that could kill a soldier instantly. While there, he would get sick and end up in a…
Jumpei "Jumpy" Mine is born on August 4, 1920, in Montebello, CA. Jumpei's father is a hard-working man. Jumpei's mother, Jen Mine, passes away early.
Jumpei grows up in Montebello and helps his father with farming. Jumpei's favorite sport is…
Kaneshige discusses his prefecture origin and when his parents came to Hawaii. Kaneshige discusses about his siblings and growing up on Sugar Cane plantation. He also details about his childhood and educational experiences.
Miho discusses about his experiences in the Hawaiian Territorial Guard. He details about the Victory Varsity Volunteers (VVV) and the formation of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Miho also gives a message to future generations.
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
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.
Hamasaki begins by giving a background of his family, as well as a sense of what it was like growing up in Maui. Next, he talks about the Pearl Harbor attacks and the effects that it had on the community, the ministers and the Japanese language…
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…
Mr. Yamane discusses his time at Waseda University, which included military training, before returning home to Hawaii. Mr. Yamane next describes the Selective Service draft and being drafted to the Army a short time before the attack on Pearl Harbor.…
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…
Kenichi "Ken" Nakagawa shares his family's history, his recollection of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and martial law conditions, particularly for Americans of Japanese descent, on Hawaii after the attack. He also goes into volunteering for the Kiawa…
Kenichi Muranaga is born on December 21, 1924, in Los Angeles, CA. Kenichi's father immigrates to the United States from Japan and meets Kenichi's mother in Hawaii. The two get married and move to Los Angeles, CA, before settling in Gardena, CA.…
Kenichi and Kiyoshi Muranaga leave Amache to work on a sugar beet farm. Kenichi describes their living accommodations and their duties at the farm. Their father also has a job but he works in the mess hall at Amache.
Sato begins the interview talking about how his parents came from Fukushima to Maui. His father would farm silk worms and work on the sugar plantation, also learning sumo and carpentry along the way. He talks quickly about his wife's parents route to…
Watanabe discusses his father's immigration from Japan to the United States and his work at a plantation in Hawaii. He then talks about his mother; discusses attending Japanese language school; discusses Japanese dialects; talks about attending…
Hagino discusses his parents and their employment; his siblings; and describes his childhood homes. He then talks about his family's farm; provides definitions for the terms "Issei" and "Nisei"; and discusses his childhood including talking about…
Kenneth Inada begins the interview talking about his childhood home and what it was like to grow up in Honolulu. He would be immersed in Japanese culture and ethics, watching Japanese movies and attending Japanese language school after his normal…
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…
Takehara begins the interview speaking about his family background and growing up in Maui. During his childhood, he would attend school and Japanese language school, where he would learn kendo and judo. He would attend high school in Maui and then…
Kenneth is joined by his wife for the last part of the interview. They discuss their family, which even includes a great grandchild. They also talk about the Amache concentration camp in Colorado and knowledge of the 442nd Regiment within the camps.…
Sugamura provides some thoughts regarding the treatment of Japanese Americans; discussing her parents and her father’s employment as a doctor; and talks about speaking Japanese at home. She then talks about attending Japanese language school and…
Hamashige begins the interview speaking about his background growing up in Laie in Hawaii, including his childhood home and foods. Next, he talks about the background of his mother and father, who both came to Hawaii from the Yamaguchi prefecture in…
As reading interested Hamashige, he began reading a lot about the racism throughout the United States government which led to a deeper understanding of the modernization of Japan, which eventually turned to the attacks on Pearl Harbor. He speaks…
Kiyoji Morimoto discusses his birth date, birthplace and familial description. Morimoto's father is from Japan and becomes a commercial fisherman in Hilo, Hawaii. Morimoto's Father is a happy go lucky guy. His occupation requires him to work on the…
Kiyoji "Jonah" Morimoto discusses his home life and childhood in Hawaii. His family is Buddhist and goes to church on the weekends. Coming from a fisherman family, his meals at home consist of fish. At an early age, he learns not to eat fishes with…
Kiyoji "Jonah" Morimoto discusses the difficulties to transition civilian life and takes two years to find himself on the mainland. Morimoto decides to return home when his financials are running low after traveling to various cities such as Chicago,…
Kodama discusses his family and having to work to the help them. He details about his educational experiences, playing sports, and martial arts training. Kodama also discusses being drafted, basic training, and Pearl Harbor.
Kodama discusses his experiences during the Champagne Campaign and the medals he received. He details about returning back to Hawaii, finding employment, and meeting his wife. Kodama also discusses about what he learned from the war, revisiting…
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…
Ishikawa discusses his family and upbringing. He details about Pearl harbor and its aftermath. Ishikawa also discusses about volunteering for service and his brief experiences with Japanese Prisoners of War.
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…
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…
This interview is with both Lawson Sakai and Paul Teruya. First, Teruya discusses his father including his immigration to Hawaii, and his employment; and talks about his mother's immigration. Next, Sakai talks about his father including his…
Teruya discusses 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…
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…
Before going overseas, the three Morishita brothers, Kenzo, Leo, and Yutaka receives a good luck charm from their mother. After his tour, Leo receives a ribbon for being in the European Theater and a good conduct medal for his service. At the end of…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
M. Saito discusses his life in Hawaii before and after the World War Two, and his experiences in the war after being drafted. He shares anecdotes regarding his father's migration to Hawaii from Japan and growing up in Hawaii pre and post war. M.…
Koga discusses being in the reserves before the start of World World War II and about his family. He details about the formation the 100th Infantry Battalion and Pearl Harbor. Koga also discusses about his experiences in Camp McCoy, Italy, and…
Doi begins the interview talking about the sugar plantation that he grew up on in Hawaii. He would attend Japanese language school while also attending Honokaʻa School. Next, he talks about his parents, coming over from Yamaguchi prefecture and…
Doi talks about his reasons leading up to joining the Army, including having feelings that the United States would get involved with the war, and forming the Varsity Victory Volunteers (VVV). He would be inducted and be shipped over to the mainland,…
Doi talks about his whereabouts when he found out about V-E day, deciding to volunteer with the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) to fight in the Pacific Theater. However, while in transition between the Europe and Asia, he would be on a furlough…
Doi talks about his involvement with the Democratic Revolution, working with various senators and representatives and eventually getting appointed a judgeship. After this, he speaks about the statehood of Hawaii and what that did for the community.…
In this segment, Matsuji Sakumoto begins by introducing himself and proceeds to describe his childhood home in Hawaii. He also discusses a variety of other topics, including school, his family, and different activities he participated in as a child.…
In this segment, Matsuji "Mut" Sakumoto discusses a variety of topics, including the Japanese language and culture, sports, his family religion, and taking up smoking cigarettes. Throughout the storytelling, Sakumoto also discusses his parents in…
In this segment, Matsuji "Mut" Sakumoto begins by discussing his favorite school subjects before elaborating on his interest in history, and specifically military history. He then recalls visiting Gettysburg while stationed on the East coast and how…
In this segment, Matsuji "Mut" Sakumoto discusses a variety of topics, including family, post-war activities, and his career working overseas. Specifically, Sakumoto discusses his feelings on General Dahlquist before concluding on his war…
