Kawahara discusses his prom experiences, life after high school, and his college studies. He talks about Pearl Harbor and its aftermath, including his experiences with forced removal and at Poston Concentration Camp. Kawahara also discusses about…
After the President of the United States signed Executive Order 9066, Enoch Kanaya and his family evacuated to the Portland Assembly Center. The Portland Assembly Center was a place where horses lived. Enoch describes the living conditions of the…
At Rohwer, the Issei parents help organize a school structure for their children. Part of the school structure is to encourage social activities and clubs. Later learns about the opportunities of leaving camp to attend school outside Rohwer or…
Kawano begins the interview speaking about his family background including his father, that was involved in World War Two. He talks about the samurai spirit and childhood values that would lead him to a career in graphic design and then photography.…
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…
John Togashi concludes the interview by giving advice to future generations about his and the Japanese American experience during WWII, as well as his general feeling of satisfaction in overcoming all the challenges he was confronted with during that…
Mr. Mitsui discusses his family's knowledge about his military and incarceration experiences and talks about how Japanese-Americans were forced to prove their loyalty during World War II. Mr. Mitsui also discusses his family, including what happened…
Taira Fukushima discusses the importance of family. For example, when he is a student, he gets a paper route job, and with the money earned, he shares it with the family. In the 1930s, there was a notion that tuberculosis was hereditary. By getting…
Shiosaki begins the interview giving an introduction of himself and his family and how they came from Japan and ended up in Idaho. His father would work on the railroads and the family would live in railroad housing in Fort Hall and in Blackfoot. He…
Kamemoto provides his thoughts about citizenship and loyalty in regards to World War Two; describes the term "yamato-damashii"; and discusses the attack on Pearl Harbor and aftermath including his experiences with blackouts and rationing. He then…
Bright and Sam continue their recollection of the aftermath of Pearl Harbor. Their stepfather would be taken in by the FBI and they had to continue working until they heard about Executive Order 9066. With that, they were forced to evacuate their…
James Fujii felt the teachers were instrumental with the move to Nyssa. The teachers protected the Japanese Americans from discrimination. In 1944, James graduated high school. He recalls spending three and a half years in Nyssa during wartime.…
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.
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…
Uchida describes walking to and from school through the mountainous terrain where he lived. An avid surfer, he describes building his own surfboard out of inferior materials for lack of balsa wood. Later, he describes his role in the popular…
The interview with Clarence Yayoi Tamayori is combined with Robert Tokuo Nagata.
Clarence and Robert discuss their employment after graduating high school. Clarence works at a lumber mill and Robert is employed at the Hawaiian cannery. Later,…
Sato talks about proving his loyalty to the United States, and the various ideals of the Japanese Americans. On his way to Camp Shelby, he would make a stop in Jackson, Mississippi and notice the segregation and prejudice that was prevalent…
Sato first talks about how he came to get the name Robert and how he and his siblings chose their names during grade school. He also talks about how his parents were able to keep them involved in Japanese culture, including Japanese language school…
Thomas Kaihara recounts his first combat experiences. He describes the horrors of war. He talks about the Battle of Monte Cassino. Kaihara describes his injuries and he gives his reflections on the 100th. He also reflects on what it means to be an…
After Executive Order 9066, Sumio Frank Shimada was forcibly removed to Santa Anita Assembly Center. Frank describes the living conditions and life at the Assembly Center. He found a job in camp making camouflage nets.
Ethel Uchida describes her childhood and memories of her family including the values her father instilled in her. She also describes her childhood wish to study in Japan and her subsequent employment there during the occupation.
Hitoshi G. Sameshima recalls going to Gila in the first part of September. He says the first place you go when you enter camp is the employment office. Hitoshi recalls his interview with Kimiko Murakami. Hitoshi is assigned to be an interviewer since…
During the Military occupation in Japan, Tommy Mayekawa works for the Third Military Railway Service Headquarters as an interpreter. He guards the trains to make sure they are not pilferage.
Living in Yokohama, Japan, Tommy does not encounter…
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…
Hirano begins the interview speaking of his family background, including his mother, father and siblings. At the young age of 4, he was moved to Japan to begin his schooling and would not return to the United States until the end of high school.…
Nishimoto talks about meeting his wife during his junior year of high school and the activities they used to do for fun. He also talks about going to Japanese language school for a few years, where he would learn discipline and leadership. He would…
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".
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…
Nishioka discusses what it's like to get a shrapnel wound and what happened to him after being sent back to Hawaii. He would get a second opinion of a doctor in Hawaii but he ended up not having an operation again. He also talks about his limited…
Hashisaka discusses his family background, including his children and grandchildren and their involvement in the oral history program and continuing the history of the Japanese Americans. Next, he discusses telling his own personal story to his…
Hashisaka begins the interview talking about his life, growing up on Kauai and moving to Honolulu and attending McKinley High School. He then talks about his family background, his parents came from Yamaguchi prefecture in Japan and would settle in…
Ichiuji continues to talk about being in Poston concentration camp with his family, the living conditions being poor but they were able to set up a shoe repair shop. He would then volunteer to join the 442nd and talks about the loyalty questions they…
Tateishi discusses more about his war experiences, missing out on Cassino because of trench foot. He also talks about interacting with local Italian civilians, including delivering mail from Rome to Livorno for a family and eating rabbit. He would…
Tanaka discusses his Nisei Father being born in Hawaii, His father is drafted in 1918 for World War One and when he finishes his basic training, the war has ended. Post-war, his Father works for Sunrise Soda company as a truck driver until his…
Suehiro discusses reasons for joining the Army and how he felt that it was the right thing to do when called for. He also talks about the legacy of the Nisei soldiers and how much of a brotherhood they became because of the hardships of war. He…
Sakamoto continues to talk about his family background, which now includes grandchildren. After this, he speaks about his career work in landscape architecture, with some of his favorite projects being California State University Northridge and…
Yokote continues talking about his experiences in the 206th band, including raising morale for the unit as a whole and helping soldiers deal with the harsh conditions of war. After the war, he would return home and be discharged at Beale Air Force…
Yokote talks about his induction into the Army, getting his draft notice and heading to Presidio Monterey. He talks about the activities they did during their first basic training at Camp Grant, including inspections and KP duty. After this, he would…
Nakagawa reflects on life and changes over time. He details about the action that led to receiving an accommodation and the realities of war. Nakagawa also discusses about loyalty and his views towards war.
Sato, Wada, and Ito discuss about the social life and culture within the American Concentration Camps. They detail about the unpleasantries of camp life and how they heard about the 100th Infantry Battalion. The three also discuss their draft…
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…
Katagiri discusses what it was like living after the events of Pearl Harbor. Katagiri discusses what is was like living in the temporary detention facilities. Katagiri relates stories about moving and staying at the American Concentration Camp…
Sogi discusses being a student at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack and his reaction to the events that took place afterwards, including Executive Order 9066. Sogi also speaks about discrimination, the…
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.
