Yamamoto talks about his parents immigration. He discusses his siblings. He talks about his father's first marriage. He describes Seattle, Washington. He discusses living in a hotel. He talks about his family's hotel business. He describes his…
Ouchi begins the interview with an introduction and from there jumps right into Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He speaks about the hardships of selling the store they owned and the low offers for their personal belongings. After this, Ouchi would go…
Tokunaga discusses the labor camps that he saw in Europe, taking souvenirs and the friendships he made through the Army. After V-E Day, he would remain in Frankfurt for another year and half until finally being discharged back in Fort Lewis,…
Frank Matsuda talks about the Nisei legacy and how their service opens the door for many Asians. The 442nd receives 20 to 21 medals, and K Company received two of the medals. Frank feels many other soldiers deserve recognition for their service,…
Frank Tadao Matsuda is born on January 9, 1922, in Seattle, Washington. His father, Saiki Frank Matsuda, and mother, Masae Miyoshi, are from Japan. Frank has an older sister Aiko and a younger sister Kathryn Sumiko. Frank is closest to Aiko because…
Lillian Aiko Inouye Matsudaira is born June 8, 1925, in Seattle, Washington. Her parents are from Senkaku, Japan, and immigrated to the United States. Lillian's father goes to school to learn English and open a restaurant in 1925. The restaurant…
Tochihara begins the interview talking about his family and how they came from Kumamoto prefecture in Japan to Seattle, Washington. He would work as a school boy for a family near his school and would be sent to Japan for a short time to learn…
Sato talks more about his marriage background and what he did after business school at the University of Washington. He would begin his career with the Seattle School District, first becoming a high school teacher and then later becoming a vice…
Sato talks about his health and the surgery that he had and the emotions that he has had because of it, which is much different than the Japanese culture he grew up knowing. Next, he talks about being drafted into the Army and being sent to…
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…
Hagiwara talks more about seeing his parents and gives background on how he met his future wife. While at Fort Sheridan, he would often visit his wife but would get word that he would get transferred. After moving around to a couple of places, he…
Ota talks more about his childhood in Washington and being able to travel around the state playing sports. He would enjoy playing basketball at the YMCA the most and would continue to help his dad working at the hotels they owned. During the summers,…
Yoshimoto discusses his childhood and what it was like growing up in Seattle, Washington. He discusses he experience being drafted into the Army. Yoshimoto also discusses his family.
Suzuki and the interviewers introduce themselves. He explains how he got his nickname. He shares his childhood memories. He describes his Seattle community. He talks about his father's hotel. Suzuki discusses his parent's origins. He describes his…
Matsui discusses a war hero that grew up in the same town as him, named Frank Hachiya. He also talks about facing discrimination after the war, including trying to buy a home in Seattle, but being denied because of prejudice. After this, he talks…
While Matsui was at Camp Savage instructing classes, his uncle would be at Minidoka Concentration Camp, where the living conditions were very poor. He talks about how he met his wife and his outlook on the war while at Camp Savage. Shortly after, he…
After returning from Japan, Matsui would settle in Seattle, noticing the differences between American and Japanese community and culture. He would work as a houseboy for a caucasian family, earning $15 a month and working at the salmon cannery in…
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…
Horikawa discusses growing up in the Seattle area; talks about attending school; and discusses the Japanese American community including the employment of Issei at fishing canneries in Alaska. He then talks about his father including discussing his…
Hara discusses his name, date of birth and birth place. His parents are Issei and his Father comes to the United States for better opportunities. Hara's Father works in various places before leasing a hotel in Portland called Austria Hotel. Growing…
Tomita talks about his parents, siblings, and moving from Washington to Alaska. He then talks about his experiences living in Japan including discussing school, playing sports, his uncle; and his thoughts regarding the Japanese invasion of Manchuria.…
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…
Onodera discusses about his family, childhood, and growing up in Seattle, Washington. He details about his home life and moving to Los Angeles. Onodera also discusses about living in Los Angeles.
Onodera talks about his youth and early adulthood growing up in Seattle. His mother was a Japanese language school teacher (father a plumber) and he had an uncle in the Japanese navy. He also discusses how his family got separated during the Japanese…
Isamu "Sam" Saito was born on April 27, 1925, in Seattle, Washington. His parents are from Japan and immigrated to the United States for a better opportunity. Sam's parents are instrumental in shaping him in his informal years of education.
Suyama explains how he got his name. He talks about his father's early life. He describes his father's work on the railroad. He talks about his father's knowledge of languages. He talks about his father's educational background. He shares memories of…
Izui speaks about growing up in Seattle, Washington and it's Japanese community. He discusses his education from elementary to high school, experiencing subtle discrimination. After this, he talks about what it was like leading up to the war and…
Ishihara describes his experiences working in Alaska including discussing the process of trapping and canning fish. He then talks about the discipline he received growing up, what life was like after the attack on Pearl Harbor including his…
Umeda talks a little bit more about his time in Seoul, translating newspapers during the occupation. He would return to Japan, where they gave him the option of staying in the military or heading home and a friend convinced him to go home and…
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…
Takabayashi discusses being stationed in Seattle before going overseas. He describes his journey to the South Pacific. He talks about the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He discusses reconnecting with his relatives who lived in Japan. He…
Kurahara and the interviewers introduce themselves. Kurahara talks about his family trips to Japan. He describes the demographics of his Seattle community, including that of his high school. He shares his experiences with discrimination. He discusses…
Abe talks about his early life, parents, and family. He goes on to discuss his experiences while growing up as a Japanese American in the Pacific Northwest. Abe explains what happened in the aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He briefly…
Mukai talks about his courtship and marriage to Eugenia Sumiye Okoshi. Eugenia Sumiye Okoshi joins the interview. She talks about her birthplace. She describes her father's early life. She describes her family's bicoastal life. She discusses her…
Jack Sameshima was born in Seattle, Washington. His father came from Kumamoto, Japan, and his mother was a Nisei from Hawaii. When he was younger, his family moved from Seattle to Minot, North Dakota, then to Whitefish, Montana, and back to Seattle…
During this portion of the interview, Edward Ichiyama recalls his duties within his military unit. Specifically, he gives detail s on regards to being a fuseman and forward observer. In addition, Ichiyama recollects his experiences marching with the…
Aiko Nakahara, Peter's wife, tells us of her early life growing up in Seattle, Washington. She recounts her experiences at Puyallup and Minidoka Assembly Centers.The interview ends with photos from Peter's life and a final word regarding advice he…
