Yoshino continues his discussion on boxing in the Army and after, including a tryout for the Olympic National Team and traveling through Europe for exhibition fights. Next, he talks about time in the Army, including a friendship with General Mark…
Yoshito Fujimoto describes his second tour of duty in Japan, in which he worked undercover and spent time in Korea. He discusses his time in Japan after Korea, the reconstruction of Japan, and returning to California after his father's death. At the…
Yoshio Nakamura talks about his career working with Rio Hondo College and being an art teacher. Next, he discusses his opportunities to speak out about the Japanese American experience in WWII. Lastly, he gives some advice to future generations about…
Yoshio Nakamura discusses the end of the war in Europe, and getting the opportunity to study some university classes in Florence, Italy. Next, he talks about his journey back to the United States, and the process of being discharged from the army.…
Yoshio Nakamura recounts the experiences of evacuation to the Tulare Temporary Detention Facility. Next, he describes the transfer from Tulare to the Gila River Concentration Camp. Lastly, he discusses his father's difficulty living in the camps,…
Yoshio Izumi shares his story about how he knows Sadao Munemori. Both Yoshio and Sadao meet at Camp Savage and visit Manzanar on a pass. There is news of a Nisei group being formed, and Sadao volunteers for the 442nd. Yoshio describes Sadao as…
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…
Aka discusses his family and growing up in Hawaii. He details about moving to Japan for four years and his experiences upon his return. Aka also discusses Pearl Harbor and the 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.
Matsui discusses about growing up in Elko, Nevada and his family. He details about thew family business, neighborhood, and religion. Matsui also discusses about high school, friends, and holidays celebrated.
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…
Ito discusses his thoughts and advice for future generations of Japanese Americans regarding ambition, education, discipline, hard work, health, and medicine. He also talks about his work as a doctor in a private practice and also discusses medical…
Koyano talks about the impact of his military experiences. He reflects on his Japanese American identity. He leaves a message to his family. He discusses the 442nd Memorial and his education. He describes his civic engagement activities.
Tsuneishi discusses his name, birth date, and birthplace. Tsuneishi grows up in Duarte, California and there is only another Japanese family in the area. He is more integrated with Caucasians. During the Great Depression, Tsuneishi's Father is a…
Tanaka discusses his childhood. He details about his schooling. Tanaka also discusses about his experiences with discrimination and the aftermath from Pearl Harbor.
In this segment, Tsuneo "Cappy" Harada introduces himself and begins talking about his early life in Santa Maria, California. He describes his family and his time spent working on the family, which he eventually was charged with managing. In addition…
Toshio discusses trying to find a job after receiving his PHD and describing his wife and children. He details his career in the foreign service. Toshio also gives a message to future generations.
Toshio discusses his thoughts on forced removal and race relations. He details about being sent to Japan after the war ended and his experiences while there. Toshio also discusses about trying to get home after his father's death, being discharged,…
Toshio discusses his interactions with the Japanese people and the political and social climate in Japan. He details about returning to the United States, attending college, remembering December 7, 1941 and aftermath. Toshio also discusses about…
Toshio discusses about interactions with people of Japanese ancestry. He details more about going to Japan to study Japanese and what it was like being a Nikkei in Japan. Toshio also discusses about establishing American football in Japan, attending…
Toshio discusses about family and what it was like growing up in California. He details about athletic endeavors and identification. Toshio also discusses going to Japan and his experiences while there.
Uesato begins the interview speaking about his family background, including his mother and father. Next, he talks about keeping up with the wars overseas and how unexpected the attacks on Pearl Harbor were. Living in Hawaii at the time, they were…
Sakaji discusses his wife including her personality, how they met, corresponding with her while he was in Japan, and his favorite memories of her. Lastly, Sakaji provides a message to future generations regarding values and education.
Matsushita talks more about his time in occupied Japan, making lots of friends there and even being there during the Korean War. After his discharge, he would begin his career in the civil service sector, working for OSHA until he retired. Following…
Matsushita begins the interview talk about his childhood and growing up in Idaho. He would work on his family's farm while attending school and doing a large variety of chores. He talks about his high school years and then about his whereabouts…
Tom Shigetoki Umeda was born on August 25, 1916, in Los Angeles, CA. Tom's parents met through an arranged marriage in Japan. Previously, Tom's father worked on a farm in Hiroshima, Japan. After moving to the United States, he started a fruit stand…
Toke Yonekawa describes his childhood growing up with his mother, stepfather, and siblings in a multiracial neighborhood in Guadalupe, California. He talks about what it was like growing up in the Depression and how everyone he knew were in a similar…
Tsubota discusses his family and how he obtained his nickname. He also details his educational experiences in both The United States and Japan. Tsubota discusses what it was like being drafted in the Army and his early military experiences.
Takano discusses meeting his wife; talks about his overseas assignment in Korea; discusses the Korean Army; and talks about his assignments in New Mexico and Vietnam. He then talks about being a teacher at Fort Lee; returning to Hawaii; and discusses…
In this video clip, Thomas Sakamoto talks about his parent's immigration to the United States, where they permanently settled in San Jose, California. As the eldest Nisei son, Thomas completed his middle school education in Kumamoto, Japan, where he…
Ted Wakai recounts his family's arrival in Hawaii. He discusses his childhood memories of his father, mother, and siblings. Lastly, there are stories about his school experiences up to boarding school (high school).
Tsukahara discusses his family and childhood. He delivers newspapers to help the family. In high school he is in Reserve Training Officer Corps. After high school graduation he attend junior college for 2 years before moving to Los…
Ted Tsukiyama talks about the effects of Martial Law in Hawaii during wartime, and how it affected the Japanese community. He describes how the war created more opportunities for Japanese Americans, especially in the workforce -- before the war, jobs…
Shindo discusses growing up in Los Angeles, family, and Japanese language school. He details about his love for music came to be and his experiences as a musician. Shindo also discusses about high school.
Ikeda and the interviewers introduce themselves. He talks about his nickname. He describes his early life in Maui, Hawaii. He discusses his siblings. He talks about his childhood activities. He also talks about his parents immigration to the United…
Higa recalls returning to Hawaii after being discharged from service. He returned home to finish high school, then became a butcher. He then returned to school to earn his accounting degree, after marrying his wife and having two sons. He presents a…
Sugihara discusses growing up during the Depression Era. He details about his family and their background. Sugihara also discusses about his education and social activities.
Tamagawa discusses his post-war education and education. He details about getting married and has two children. He shares an experience with Japanese Prisoners of War. Tamagawa leaves a message for future generations and what was the hardest part…
Nukuto discusses about his family. He details about moving to Japan and his experiences while there. Nukuto also discusses about his educational experiences.
Toyoda discusses his parents, educational experiences, and friends. He describes San Gabriel Valley and details about being an athlete. Toyoda also discusses about being a member the Scholarship Society, relation with his brother, religion, and the…
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.
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.
Suga discusses his family's business growing flowers, his father's childhood in Japan, and his mother. He then talks about his childhood including discussing the importance of education and working;attending Japanese language school; and the…
Falk discusses the transportation system in Tokyo including coal fueled cars and trains; and discusses his interrogation work in Japan processing intel. He then talks about the possible threat of Communism; corresponding with his family while in…
Taketomo talks about his wartime experiences. He reflects on how his children opinions differ from those of his generation. He gives his final thoughts and he describes photographs that are captured on video.
Kimura discusses his reaction to arriving in Naples following his basic training. Next, he talks about his job as a mine sweeper throughout the war and the dangers that he faced while doing that. He also talks about the various battles that he was…
Mukai discusses about his family and childhood. He details about a typical day and the communities he grew up in. Mukai also discusses about his educational experiences.
Tsubota discusses his time at the University of Hawaii as a member of the College of Agriculture and ROTC. Along with his experiences at college, Tsubota also talks about finishing college and deciding to become a teacher.
Tsubota discusses his childhood and childhood activities before moving on to his high school experiences and eventually enrolling at the University of Hawaii.
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…
Momoda discusses about his family and growing up in Seattle, Washington. He details about his education, the business he ran and working in Alaska. Momoda also discusses about being drafted, basic training and his experiences in France.
In Berlin, Shigeo Iwamasa is assigned to be a driver. He describes the experience driving through the bombed cities in Germany. In Koblenz, there is a distinctive smell due to the dead bodies under the building rubbles. The bombed cities in Germany…
Aizawa discusses about his experiences at Tanforan Temporary Detention Facility. He details about his experiences at Topaz Concentration Camp. Aizawa also discusses about his experiences with prejudices, D-Day, V-E Day, and his schooling.
Kimoto continues to discuss life on coffee farms and sugar plantations. Kimoto details more about his family life. He also discusses his education experiences and one of his favorite teachers.
Sasai discusses his parents including retelling the story about how and why they immigrated to Hawaii. He also talks about his father's childhood, and discusses his grandfather on his mother's side. Next, Sasai talks about attending school; playing…
Fujimoto talks about his mother, his family's friendships with Japanese American families, typical meals at holiday celebrations, having asthma as a child, memorable teachers, and his art hobbies. He then talks about the impact World War Two had on…
Sachio Takata was born on March 14, 1923, in Southern California. Sachio's father, Kizo, was from Kagoshima, Japan, and immigrated to the United States. He met Sachio’s mother, Hatsumi, from Hawaii, and they married. Sachio is the oldest of ten…
Doi discusses about schooling, friends, and social activities. He details about the Japanese community growing up and religion. Doi also discusses about high school, life afterwards, the Great Depression, and living own his own.
Rudy Tokiwa talks about growing up on a farm in Salinas, California. When he was in high school, he moved to Japan and traveled to Manchuria and Korea. He describes what it was like living in Japan and how his fellow Japanese students treated him --…
In this segment, Nawatase talks about his educational journey, what he studied, and the job positions he held. Education is very important to him, and he cannot stress that enough, especially with young minds. He also recalls how he met his wife and…
In this segment, Nakawatase talks about his time training at the Military Intelligence Service Language school. He talks about negotiating his time of service as a recruiter for MIS. He also talks about the experts he met in language school and…
Matsumoto describes his early life growing up in Los Angeles and later moving to Japan with his grandparents to attend school. Upon returning to the Los Angeles area, Matsumoto settled in Long Beach, graduating from the local high school and worked…
Yoshida discusses about leaving camp for college and his experiences at college. He details about his life in the Army and his employment with the Marquardt Corporation and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Yoshida also discusses about his family,…
Yoshida discusses his about family, childhood, and education. He details about Pearl Harbor and the immediate aftermath. Yoshida also discusses about his experiences at Tanforan Temporary Detention Center and later at Topaz Concentration Camp.
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 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.
Robert Sugimoto moves to California from Detroit with his sister, brother-in-law, and nephew. He enrolls in television school and graduates six months later. Robert works several jobs before buying an appliance store. He operates a store called Bob's…
Sato discusses his experiences in Europe. He details his fondness for chess and his educational experiences. Sato also recalls his experiences in post-war japan and reflects on various aspects of his life.
Moteki discusses about veterans and post-military experiences. He details about his work in therapy. Moteki also discusses about being drafted, joining the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and his experiences in Korea.
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…
Robert Iso recalls his time growing up in San Jose, California and talks about attending Buddhist Temple and seeing picture shows near Japan Town. He talks about his mother's jovial personality, playing basketball and playing trumpet in the high…
Fujimoto talks about returning back home and seeing his mother again, discusses his nephew, and talks about his family’s property. He then talks about his attempt to get a government job; his experiences with discrimination; and talks about…
Endo discusses his experiences while applying to work at UCLA; talks about visiting California prior to moving back there and seeing his mentors again; and talks about working at UCLA and getting transferred to work at University of California,…
Tochihara discusses a couple of soldiers that he knew and talks about the various medals he received for his time overseas, including a Purple Heart. Next, he talks a little bit more about his war experiences, including going AWOL, but not getting…
Nakamura discusses about his family in Japan, visiting Hiroshima, and his experiences in Japan. He details about coming home, going to college, and his career. Nakamura also discusses about his wife, baseball, and gives a message to future…
In the final part of his interview, Richard Narasaki shares his message to future generations on the importance of education and perseverance. He also implores youths to remember the impact that the 442 had and to take advantage of the opportunities…
Muranaka discusses both his father and mother's backgrounds and the influence that they had on his life even as young boy. Though living in poverty, his father was able to buy him an encyclopedia and type writer to instill in him the importance of…
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…
Okada describes details of the work he did in Occupied Japan in both military and civilian jobs. He talks about how his wife and mother moved to Japan to live with him. He shares anecdotes regarding: social activities he participated in; language…
Shimizu discusses about his childhood. He details about his household, self identification, and school years. Shimizu also discusses his life after high school, geopolitics, Pearl Harbor, and its aftermath.
Kaseguma discusses his family and childhood. He details his experiences attending Japanese language school and college. Kaseguma also discusses Pearl Harbor and the aftermath.
Hagiwara begins the interview talking about how his parents came from Nagano and Shiga in Japan and both settled down individually in Ketchikan, Alaska. He talks more about his family, such as his family learning how to cook and becoming a baker and…
Iwatake discusses his early life of growing up in Hawaii, before moving to Japan. He details the events that led up to his family moving to Japan and what it was like living in Japan. Iwatake also discusses being drafted into the Japanese Army.
Ishizaki discusses about her family and education. She details about experiences during the war and her decision to go to occupied Japan. Ishizaki also discusses about her experiences in post-war Japan.
Mitsuo Tominaga begins the interview by recounting his childhood experiences with family and school mates. Next he discusses his American identity growing up in a community that was mostly Caucasian. Lastly he talks about volunteering for the Army…
Kamemoto discusses Korea including talking about the Seoul city gates; transportation; living conditions; and his Army boots. He then talks about getting discharged; returning to the United States; and going back to the University of Hawaii to finish…
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…
Tamashiro discusses the medals and awards he received and his experiences during post-war guard duty of German Soldiers. He details about his discharge, homecoming, and his brother's military service. Tamashiro also discusses his post-war life.
Shinmoto discusses name, birth date, birthplace and growing up during the Great Depression. He recalls his Father and Mother's personality and child rearing. Shinmoto's Father is a quiet man and he learns about his Father history through his Uncle. …
Fukuzawa discusses about life outside of camp including working and college. He details more about forced removal and being drafted. Fukuzawa also discusses about his send off, induction, and experiences at Camp Blanding.
Muramoto talks about his various jobs including working on lunar mapping as a cartographer, and working for an orthodontist. He then talks about joining the Veteran of Foreign Wars (VFW), attending E Company reunions, and discusses his wife and…
Yokoyama discusses about his family and childhood. He details about his schooling. Yokoyama also discusses about the values taught to him and living in his hometown.
Inouye discusses his experiences applying to graduate school; and talks about taking a French language course while at Meiji University, and taking summer courses at UC Berkeley. He then talks about his father's death; returning to the United States…
Masato Eddy Kurushima discusses the contributions of the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) during the Occupation of Japan. Unlike the 442nd, 100th, and 552nd, the MIS wartime efforts are not well known because they were a top-secret unit. Eddy…
Masato Eddy Kurushima and his family go to Japan for a few years. During his time in Japan, he sees the country militarizing. After a year of recovery, Eddy's father decides to return to the United States earlier. After living in the United States,…
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…
