After Germany, Henry Gary Shiota is discharged from the Army. Later he re-enlists and goes to Military Intelligence Services Language School (MISLS). Gary goes through intense training to learn about Japan. At MISLS, Gary is one of the oldest…
Kazuo Komoto talks about performing guard duty over an aircraft plant in California, and how a newspaper picture of Nisei's guarding the plant created some issues with the local community. Next, he discusses his transfer to Camp Savage and the…
Kazuo Komoto discusses his high school life in Japan and witnessing the increasing militarism of the Japanese society during the conflict in Manchuria. Next, he talks about not feeling attached to the Japanese society and wanting to return to the…
James McNaughton discusses the risks the Nisei took in fighting during WWII, and the advantages of having Nisei linguists during the occupation of Japan. Next, he describes researching information for his official history, and helping to research…
Yenokida continues his life in Cortez, California, speaking about how his family came to be farmers and how they purchased their property of nearly 20 acres of land. Next, he discusses the attacks on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent evacuation notices…
When Tony Koura goes back to Japan after the occupation, the locals have changed. The people have money, there is no food shortage, no one is starving, and every one is employed. There are thousands of linguists during the occupation. Tony says the…
Urata continues his recollection of his time in the Honouliuli Internment Camp in Hawaii as the war went on. He also speaks about how he got involved in Hole Hole Bushi music, which he later became famous for. Next, he goes back to his discussion on…
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…
Nishimura discusses his free time, visiting relatives, and contact with Japanese citizens. He discloses why Japan lost the war with the United States and the objective of the bomb survey team. He contributes the success of occupation to the Kibei. …
Minato discusses basic training and discharge. After his discharge he meets his wife and gets married. They have children and grandchildren. Minato shares his wartime experience. During Japanese Language School he discloses his memorable moments at…
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…
Okusa discusses his position as an interrogator during occupied Japan. During his assignments there, he would interrogate a lot of prisoners of war to obtain as much information as possible to send back to the NYK building in Tokyo. He would end up…
Okusa begins the interview speaking about his time living in Japan as a child. He would attend middle school and high school before going back to the United States. Next, he talks about the end of the war and going to the occupied Japan to begin work…
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…
Yamada begins the interview talking about his family and how they came to move from Hiroshima to Los Angeles. His father would work as a flower farmer while Kazuhiko and his siblings attended english and Japanese school. He would attend Gardena High…
Grant Hayao Ichikawa discusses the language team and their assignments. He describes the difference between Kibei and Nisei and how their attributes working together up contribute to the rebuilding of Japan. Ichikawa also shares how he meets his wife…
Grant Hayao Ichikawa discusses his military duties during the occupation of Japan and the Nisei and Kibei contribution as translators. Ichikawa talks about General MacArthur's plan to rebuild Japan and keeping the Emperor of Japan safe. He feels the…
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…
At Camp Savage, Robert Sugimoto reports to the Headquarters Company. When Robert joined the Military Intelligence Language School, the classes have already started a few weeks earlier. The class focus on Japanese conversation skills. Robert recalls…
Iwataki discusses discrimination in the Army as well as Kibei experiences in the military. He then talks about experiences with discrimination at Fort McClellan, describes the process of getting a field commission, and describes the term, cadre.…
Inouye discusses the community he grew up in including attending events and church; and talks about his religion. He then talks about some of his childhood hopes and dreams for the future; learning about Japan from his parents; discusses some…
Kubo talks about his whereabouts during the attacks on Pearl Harbor, coming home from work and soon after, reporting to the draft board for induction. He would join the Army, and begin learning the general orders, heading to Camp Robinson in Arkansas…
Ikeda talks about his Military Intelligence Service (MIS) assignments in China translating captured documents, discusses the differences between interrogation, interpretation, and translation, and talks about kibei involvement in MIS. He then talks…
After graduating from Manual Arts High School, Shigeru Iba helps with his Father's nursery business. In March of 1941, Shigeru is drafted into the Army. Springtime is the busiest time for the nursery business. Therefore, he requests a deferment for…
Kaneshiro discusses the reforms that occurred throughout the occupation of Japan and the reconstruction was done throughout the country. Next, he talks about the value of the Nisei linguist throughout the occupation and how it was much easier to do…
Sukeo “Skeets” Oji was at Gila for a short time before attending school fall of 1942. The 442nd formed in early 1943, and in September 1943, Skeets was called to active duty. He went to Camp Shelby, and he was assigned Heavy Weapons.
Miyamoto describes his childhood in Merced County, California. His recollections include playing with neighbors and busing to school, and helping out with family farming and participating in the Cortez Growers' Association. In high school he took an…
Masato "Eddy" Kurushima discusses why the natives in the Pacific did not like anyone with Japanese ancestry. Eddy recalled an encounter with the Filipino natives and was mistaken for Japanese soldiers. Eddy says there was always a guard with the…
In the six months at Fresno, the Kurushima family learns how to make the most of the situation in Jerome. Masato Eddy Kurushima says the barracks at Jerome are similar to Fresno Fair Grounds Relocation Center. He describes the living conditions and…
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,…
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…
To begin the interview, Uyeda speaks about how he learned the Japanese language, while living in a small town in Washington. The conversation jumps to the United States occupation in Japan following the war and first impressions of a Japan that had…
Ishimoto begins the interview talking about his whereabouts when he first heard of the surrender of Japan. At this time, he was already beginning preparations to move into Japan for scheduled invasions, and therefore, when shipped to Japan, he would…
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…
Kimoto discusses his experience with Japanese Language School. Kimoto details about finding out about Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He also discusses about his experiences with the Kibei.
G. Koshi discusses his experiences through childhood to early adulthood. He talks about his adolescence in Colorado and his childhood in Japan. He also discusses his entrance into the military.
Yoshino continues his recollection of his time overseas in Japan during the occupation. First, he speaks about the different assignments that he had, working as an overseer for reporting and as an interpreter for officers. Next, he speaks about the…
Hirano continues his recollection of his time in Japan, starting with his arrival in Hiroshima. There, he would see the devastation after the atomic bomb and be assigned to the Counter Intelligence Cops (CIC). After leaving that, he would stay in…
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…
Nakamura begins the interview talking about being born in America and quickly being moved to Japan as a child, where he would spend the next 8 years of his childhood. It was there that he would learn the culture of Japan and begin his elementary…
Arakaki continues his discussion on his time interpreting in the Philippines and the other places that he served during the war. He would also have the chance to visit Okinawa and see his family that was living there. He also talks about the time…
Nishimoto talks more about his war experiences, including seeing German soldiers and the weapons that they used. He talks about his dislike for snipers and wanting to catch one so that he could take care of him himself. Another assignment included…
Hayakawa describes getting assistance from a Kibei when writing letters home due to his lack of knowledge regarding the Japanese language; discusses combat experiences at Po Valley; and talks about getting sick and his hospital stay near Livorno. He…
Meyer continues to discuss about his time in Japan. Meyer discusses about his life after leaving the Army. He also details about returning to Japan on several occasions, years later.
Meyer discusses what is was like working with different groups of people. He also details about the time he spent stationed in Japan during the American Occupation. Meyer discusses his awareness of the American Concentration Camps.
Oye begins the interview speaking about her family background and how her father and mother began their journey to California. Once settled in Salinas, her family opened a parlor, selling candy and dry-goods. During her childhood, she was able to…
Oye discusses his first landing in Civitavecchia and the first combat that he saw during the war. He talks about the team that he was with and how they were commanded to put their weapons aside and become litter-bearers to help the medics out. Next,…
Nakasone talks more about the occupation of Japan and the recreational activities such as dancing and the caucasian soldiers that were there. Next, he goes back and talks about his language courses at Fort Snelling, learning kanji and the root…
Nakasone talks about the reactions to the Japanese attacking the Americans at Pearl Harbor and the effect that it had on his family. His parents understood that they would be seen as enemy aliens after the attacks but also understood that their…
Inami discusses about the effectiveness of Japanese Americans during the Occupation of Japan, loyalty, and visiting Japan post-occupation. He details about the Occupation of Japan. Inami also discusses about his family and the "Zebra platoon".
Inami discusses about his time living in Japan and childhood. He details cultural differences and Japan's surrender. Imani also discusses about his experiences at Fort Snelling, the Nisei mindset, Japanese culture, and Japanese Americans.
Inami talks about his reasons for volunteering for Military Intelligence Service (MIS), discusses joining ROTC in college, and talks about the reasons why he wanted to be in the military. He then talks about induction and basic trianing before going…
Hirose discusses his Father being arrested and going to North Dakota in suspicions of using a short wave radio. Hirose's Father rejoins the family at Tule Lake Concnetration Camp. Hirose recalls going to Granada (Amache) Concentration Camp, Ellis…
Tsuda talks about facing discrimination after the war and not being served at a gas station. He would go on to volunteer with the Army, get inducted at Fort Douglas and began basic training at Camp Shelby. There, he would join up with E company and…
Nakamura would get drafted into the Army and be assigned to the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) at Schofield Barracks. They would head first to San Francisco, then get on a train leading to Fort McClellan in Alabama to begin boot camp. While in…
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…
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…
Nomura talks about his youth in Washington through the attack on Pearl Harbor. He provides background on his parents' immigration to U.S.; explains how some of his siblings lived in Japan for a period; and life on the family farm in Washington. He…
Mitsunaga discusses some of his combat experiences: Salerno Beach and Cassino. He also talks about being in a racially segregated military unit; and his impression of Colonel Turner. He also discusses Nisei veterans he knew who got into politics in…
Kaneshiro goes through his family background, where his parents originated from Okinawa and immigrated to Hawaii. However, on a visit back to Okinawa, his mother's visa expired and she was unable to get back to Hawaii, stranding George and his…
Saito discusses the living conditions at Poston Concentration Camp as well as talking about other incarcerees, friendships, wildlife, recreational activities, employment, food, guards, and dances there. Next, Saito discusses the conflict between…
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.
Teraoka discusses his parents and siblings including talking about how his parents and two older siblings returned to Japan before he was born and the meaning of the term "kibei". He then talks about his relationship with his father, tells a story…
Kanda talks about attending school, and discusses his teachers and some of the classes he took. He then continues to discuss his childhood and talks about recreational activities such as going to the movies and listening to the radio. Next, Kanda…
Oda talks about moving back to the United States, learning English again, and employment opportunities including working at a produce market and becoming an organizer for a union for markets. He also discusses his thoughts regarding the attack on…
Murakami talks about his observations of Japanese nationals during his participation in Occupied Japan. He talks about cultural nuances in Japan and the politics of Niseis interactions with Japanese citizenry. He also discusses his work after his…
Tateishi continues to talk about his whereabouts during the attacks on Pearl Harbor, including the weather during that day. He also talks about his various experiences in the war, starting with Anzio and moving up through Rome, where they would…
Tateishi begins the interview talking about how his family came from Hiroshima in Japan and settled in Hawaii. Growing up in Hawaii, he would attend McKinley High School and pick pineapples in his spare time, before joining the National Guard. He…
Yano continues to talk about he and his families time at Gila River Concentration Camp and being reclassified for the draft. After this, he talks about the loyalty questionnaire and knowing he would answer yes, yes to the draft questions. He would…
Inami discusses Jerome Concentration Camp and the living arrangements. Due to the conditions of camp, Inamai compares it welfare and how welfare is shameful to the Japanese culture. In camp, jobs are available. Inami recalls the jobs his family…
Keegan discusses his trajectory becoming a commissioned officer assigned to the 442nd. He shares his recollections of the Pearl Harbor attack. He also talks about some of the hardships Nisei soldiers faced.
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…
Kimura discusses how both the Japanese citizenry and Nisei soldiers worked to make Occupied Japan successful. He talks about the value of Nisei and Kibei being participants. He also talks about the cultural resilience of Japan.
Kimura discusses his experiences working in Occupied Japan as both a military lieutenant and later a civilian. He talks about his time in Yokohama and Tokyo, working on translation services. He also shares anecdotes regarding: the Japanese citizenry,…
While at the Topaz Concentration Camp, Kimura would see Army recruiting teams, looking for Japanese speakers to join the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). He would volunteer and pass the tests, giving him a sense of patriotism and a reason to get…
Ikeguchi discusses his experiences with prejudice; talks about his childhood friendships and recreational activities; and discusses school including his favorite subjects, involvement in clubs, and playing sports. He then talks about his goals for…
Arakaki discusses Akira Sakima and various friends that he made in the Army from his platoon and squad. After this, he talks more about his basic training experiences and how he was assigned to the bazooka team. Once overseas, he would face his first…
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…
Tanaktsubo continues his discussion on moving from the main basic training camp to a segregated unit made up of all Japanese American soldiers. The team is moved to Fort Lewis then Camp Crowder, and finally to Camp Savage, doing menial military work…
Thomas Sakamoto describes the implications of the Occupation of Japan. He talks about his role as an interpreter and translator during the occupation. The involvement of the Nisei and Kibei in Occupied Japan was an important component to the success…
Harry Fukuhara was evacuated to Tulare Assembly Center in California. In this video clip, he talks about his experience living there. He and many other Japanese American internees were relocated to the Gila River concentration camp. From there, he…
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.…
Akune continues with his experiences with Japanese prisoners of war. He describes how he preferred to be on the front lines rather than at General Headquarters, and how different interrogation techniques were when preformed on the front lines. He…
Furumoto discusses his efforts to enlist and his experience in Military Intelligence Service Language School. He goes on to talk about his experiences in basic training at Camp Shelby.
