Kenichi Muranaga oral history interview, part 1 of 3, October 22, 2007
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 has the utmost respect and appreciation for his father. He says his father is hardworking to provide for the family. Kenichi comes from a family of nine siblings. Kenichi discusses his childhood and his school years in Gardena.
Life changes for Kenichi and his family Kenichi after the Pearl Harbor attack. He recalls the aftermath and the announcement of Executive Order 9066 (EO9066). The Muranaga family evacuates to Santa Anita Assembly Center and then Amache, CO.
Kenichi leaves camp to work at a few jobs before getting drafted into the Army. When Kenichi is in basic training, he receives news of his oldest brother, Kiyoshi's death overseas.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Muranaga%2C+Kenichi%3A+narrator">Muranaga, Kenichi: narrator</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Horsting%2C+Robert%3A+interviewer">Horsting, Robert: interviewer</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center%3A+publisher">Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center">Go For Broke National Education Center</a>
2007OH0818_01_Muranaga
Misuo John Fujikawa oral history interview, part 2 of 6, September 15, 2002
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Education">Education</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Law+and+legislation--Executive+Order+9066">Law and legislation--Executive Order 9066</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--Military+service--Recruiting+and+enlisting">World War II--Military service--Recruiting and enlisting</a>
Fujikawa talks more about growing up in Los Angeles, specifically about the time that he spent in the Japanese language school. In regular school, he would take an interest in sciences, such as botany and would face some discrimination throughout his time there. Next, he talks about being at the produce market working when he heard of the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the signing of the executive order 9066 that followed. He would be forced to pack up his belongings and head to Santa Anita racetrack before taking a train to Granada (Amache) Concentration Camp in Colorado. In order to escape the camps, he decided to join the Army, and would head to Fort Snelling in Minnesota to begin his Military Intelligence Service Language courses.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Fujikawa%2C+Misuo+John%3A+narrator">Fujikawa, Misuo John: narrator</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Dojiri%2C+Michelle%3A+interviewer">Dojiri, Michelle: interviewer</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center%3A+publisher">Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center">Go For Broke National Education Center</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=40&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=2002+September+15">2002 September 15</a>
video/m4v
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=44&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=eng">eng</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Oral+Histories">Oral Histories</a>
2002OH0305_02_Fujikawa
Kintaro Hamashige oral history interview, part 4 of 4, July 22, 2006
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Identity+and+values--Family">Identity and values--Family</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Industry+and+employment">Industry and employment</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Japanese+Americans--Post-World+War+II">Japanese Americans--Post-World War II</a>
Hamashige talks about his family from his wife to his grandchildren and what they're doing now. Next, he shares stories of his time as a consultant in Honduras, where he was able to attend a dinner reception Dictator Samoza of Nicaragua. After this, he gives a message for future generations, encouraging them to vote for your government officials. Finally, he looks through some pictures from his childhood and the military.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hamashige%2C+Kintaro%3A+narrator">Hamashige, Kintaro: narrator</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Miyamoto%2C+Phil%3A+interviewer">Miyamoto, Phil: interviewer</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center%3A+publisher">Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center">Go For Broke National Education Center</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=40&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=2006+July+22">2006 July 22</a>
video/m4v
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=44&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=eng">eng</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Oral+Histories">Oral Histories</a>
2006OH0694_04_Hamashige
Kim Ida Surh oral history interview, part 8 of 8, October 26, 2003
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Industry+and+employment--Medicine">Industry and employment--Medicine</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Identity+and+values--Hanashi">Identity and values--Hanashi</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Race--Stereotypes">Race--Stereotypes</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--Nisei+soldiers">World War II--Nisei soldiers</a>
Surh begins by expressing her appreciation for army medics, since she served as an Army Nurse. She also briefly talks about her and her husband (at that time), Young Kim, deciding to not share their war experiences with one another. Surh moves on to speaking about the contributions of nurses to the American war effort and her experiences as the only Asian nurse in the unit. She also discusses the legacy of the Nisei soldiers in the context of American history and why it is important to recognize their courage and all of their extraordinary contributions to the United States. Lastly, Surh urges future generations to remember the contributions of Nisei soldiers and to also always be aware that the government is not perfect, but a fallible structure run by fallible people.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Surh%2C+Kim+Ida%3A+narrator">Surh, Kim Ida: narrator</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Wasserman%2C+Steven%3A+interviewer">Wasserman, Steven: interviewer</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center%3A+publisher">Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center">Go For Broke National Education Center</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=40&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=2003-10-26">2003-10-26</a>
video/m4v
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=44&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=eng">eng</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Oral+Histories">Oral Histories</a>
2003OH0397_08_Surh
Roy Nakawatase oral history interview, part 7 of 8, January 25, 2003
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--Military+intelligence">World War II--Military intelligence</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--Military+service--Discharge">World War II--Military service--Discharge</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--Atomic+Bombings+of+Hiroshima+%26+Nagasaki">World War II--Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki</a>
In this segment, Nawatase begins by talking about his last impressions of the captain he interrogated. He also recalls his leave from the army while still in Japan, which involved going to visit family in the country. He talks about how he got to the countryside and how special he felt getting luxurious treatment. He remembers how awkward he felt when someone gave him two benches while he was on a crowded train. He also recalls a story where he caused a commotion in the village by riding in on a fire truck. His family was shocked to see how Japanese he was, and the family made jokes about it. Nawatase also remembers seeing the devastation that happened to Japan, and recalls some of the terrible things he witnessed. After leaving the army after two years, he returned home to take care of his family and later used the GI Bill to go back to school.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Nakawatase%2C+Roy%3A+Narrator">Nakawatase, Roy: Narrator</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Horsting%2C+Robert%3A+Interviewer">Horsting, Robert: Interviewer</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center%3A+Publisher">Go For Broke National Education Center: Publisher</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center">Go For Broke National Education Center</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=40&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=2003-01-25">2003-01-25</a>
Video/m4v
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=44&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=eng">eng</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Oral+Histories">Oral Histories</a>
2003OH0320_07_Nakawatase
Roy Nakawatase oral history interview, part 4 of 8, January 25, 2003
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--American+Concentration+Camps--Tule+Lake">World War II--American Concentration Camps--Tule Lake</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Identity+and+values">Identity and values</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Race--Segregation">Race--Segregation</a>
In this segement, Nakawatase explains his feelings towards not being able to recall much of his time at camp due to being a young child. At the age of 16, Nakawatase was the head of the family upon leaving the camp. In high school, Nakawatase considered himself a poor student due to being tossed from class for challenging his teachers for personal beliefs, such as being an American citizen and being demoralized. In camp, Nakawatase was aware of the war, from the victories and setbacks of both Japan and U.S., but felt very removed. He wondered if would have to go back to Japan, or if he would be able to stay in the U.S. Nakawatase recalls the guards also feeling removed. He remembers them performing sweeps for contraband. When the War ended, Nakawatase was head of the household and was left to decide the next step for the family.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Nakawatase%2C+Roy%3A+Narrator">Nakawatase, Roy: Narrator</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Horsting%2C+Robert%3A+Interviewer">Horsting, Robert: Interviewer</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center%3A+Publisher">Go For Broke National Education Center: Publisher</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center">Go For Broke National Education Center</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=40&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=2003-01-25">2003-01-25</a>
video/m4v
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=44&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=eng">eng</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Oral+Histories">Oral Histories</a>
2003OH0320_04_Nakawatase
Edward Ichiyama oral history interview, part 2 of 7, January 22, 2002
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--Pearl+Harbor+and+aftermath">World War II--Pearl Harbor and aftermath</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--Military+service--442nd+Regimental+Combat+Team">World War II--Military service--442nd Regimental Combat Team</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=World+War+II--Military+service--Basic+training">World War II--Military service--Basic training</a>
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 the interview concludes with Ichiyama talking about volunteering for the 442nd.
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Ichiyama%2C+Edward%3A+narrator">Ichiyama, Edward: narrator</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Hawkins%2C+Richard%3A+interviewer">Hawkins, Richard: interviewer</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=39&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center%3A+publisher">Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=48&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Go+For+Broke+National+Education+Center">Go For Broke National Education Center</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=40&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=2002-01-22">2002-01-22</a>
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<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=44&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=eng">eng</a>
<a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Oral+Histories">Oral Histories</a>
2002OH0236_02_Ichiyama