Browse Items (107 total)

In this segment, Martin Tohara talks about living in Hawaii and what his father did to secure a safe upbringing. He explains how English school and Japanese school were different and what was taught in Japanese school. He also explained how growing…

Roy Nakawatase begins the interview by discussing the background of his father and mother, detailing his parents' travels to the US and working on the farm. He describes his childhood on the farm, the presence of the Japanese culture in his home, and…

In this segment of the interview, Nakawatase is asked about the types of social circles his family encountered in Stockton, California. He also talks about his time in primary school, as well as Saturday school. Other topics discussed in this segment…

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…

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…

Ito begins his interview with recollections of his childhood in Stockton, California. He describes his experiences in primary and secondary school and auto-mechanic school, before being drafted into the Army in 1940.

Kim Ida Surh begins by discussing her background and her family's background, including her family's time in Mexico, California, and Arizona. She also recounts some memorable childhood stories of her antics with her Uncle Bob before proceeding to…

Allan Okamoto begins his interview by describing his family's reasons for moving to the US, specifically Philadelphia, and his parents' personalities. He shares the demographics and community dynamics of the suburbs and his childhood growing up as…

Thomas Takemoto was born in Waimea, Kauai, but moved to Honolulu, Hawaii at the age of 6. His parents were Japanese immigrants from Hiroshima, Japan, and became rice farmers on Kauai. When they moved to Honolulu, Thomas and his siblings helped their…

Nakayama talks about school, discusses his favorite subjects, talks about life prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, and the restrictions he encountered after the attack. He also talks about his family's experiences after Executive Order 9066…

Yoshii discusses his parents experiences and his father's restaurants. He talks about his years in primary and secondary school. Yoshii briefly discusses the attack on Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. He describes his life after he was drafted. He…

Ohama discusses his grandfather's life in Japan and his immigration to the United States; as well as his childhood relationship with his grandfather and his grandfather's personality. He then talks about his father including his personality and…

Sakaji talks about his childhood bicycles; discusses how he got his nickname; talks about his father's fish market business; discusses the aunt who raised him; and talks about his relationship with his cousin. He then talks about his grammar school…

Morishima reflects on the ethnic slurs directed towards him and those that he directed towards others. He explains that, as children, there was rarely always mal-intent behind the use of such terms. He then describes his passage to Japan for…

Teraoka discusses growing up on a plantation on Hawaii and talks about the workers on the plantation as well as the plantation store. He then talks about his childhood including discussing recreational activities, his family's home, working, school,…

Peterson discusses his father and his immigration to the United States from Sweden; talks about his mother; discusses speaking Swedish at home; and discusses his childhood including talking about religion, his community, classmates, and his…

Yamate discusses growing up in Los Angeles and talks about attending school, his neighborhood, his father’s produce market; and recreational activities such as his involvement with a boys club, going to camp, attending dances, and playing basketball.…

Muto discussing his childhood including talking about attending grammar school and Japanese language school; discusses the languages he spoke at home; talks about his neighborhood and the Japanese community in Sacramento; and discusses friendships.…

Ikuta talks about growing up in Colorado including discussing his father's Model T car; going to church; his childhood home and friendships; school; and his father's death. He then talks about moving to Japan with his family as a child, returning to…

Terasaki discusses his name, his neighborhood growing up in Denver, Colorado, his parents, siblings, and his father's import/export business. He then talks about his childhood including discussing playing sports, friendships, neighbors, food, and…

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…

Asahina discusses her father, his family, his immigration to the United States, his employment as a farmer, his physical traits, and his personality. She then talks about her mother's physical traits, employment, hobbies, and personality; and…

Kagawa talks about a pre-invasion Air Force bombing; and discusses joining the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Bruyeres and his company's experiences assisting in the Lost Battalion rescue. He then talks about his duties in communications operating…

Kagawa discusses the Lost Battalion rescue, talks about his friends who were involved in a flag bearer ceremony in France, and discusses the end of the war including his duties guarding a bridge and processing German POWs. He then talks about going…

Kanada talks about his parents immigrating to Hawaii, childhood activities in Honolulu, values growing up, and attending English and Japanese language school. He then talks about recreational activities such as sports, swimming, and ballroom dancing;…

Nakabe discusses his parents including his father's immigration, employment, physical traits, demeanor; and talks about his mother's physical traits and demeanor. He then talks about lessons he learned from his father, the community he grew up in,…

Nakabe describes the school house he attended, talks about seeing snow in his neighborhood as a child, and discusses religion including his family's religion as well as his religion while in the Army. He then talks about Japanese American priests who…

Sakaji discusses his high school activities and classes; and talks about learning how to dance and playing sports. He then talks about the attack on Pearl Harbor; discusses race discrimination against Japanese Americans; and talks about Executive…

Sumida discusses values he learned from his parents; talks about attending church and Sunday school; and discusses learning Kendo. He then provides some thoughts regarding race and citizenship; talks about volunteering for Military Intelligence…

Umeda gives more background on his siblings, and what it was like to grow up on a farm, picking grapes and saving money to go to junior college. He talks about the other recreational activities he did with his siblings, including skating and swimming…

Oda discusses growing up in Stockton, California on a farm before moving to Japan with his mother and brother at his mother's behest. While in Japan, Oda recalls experiences in grammar school with bullies for being American; and attending Koto Gakko…

Kanda discusses his father including talking about his employment in railway systems both in Japan and the United States, as well as his father's automobile garage. He then talks about his mother; his childhood home; neighborhood growing up;…

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…

Shiosaki discusses his family's correspondence with relatives in Japan prior to World War Two; talks about celebrating New Years and the food; discusses learning Japanese values; and talks about attending Japanese language school. He then talks about…

Shimomura discusses his family's business in Japan; commuting to school; and talks about his childhood including discussing his neighborhood, friendships, recreational activities, and playing sports. Next, Shimomura talks about speaking both English…

Shimomura talks about pre-war Japan including describing an incident involving an officers rebellion in Tokyo; and talking about restrictions and rations. He then talks about attending school in Japan and the Japanese school system; learning about…

Shimomura talks about joining the Japanese Navy while he was a medical student; and discusses basic training, duties during an air raid in Yokohama, and his assignments in Navy hospitals. He then talks about the end of the war, discusses the bombing…

Hanamura recites a poem he learned in school, discusses how he would like to be remembered, talks about his friendships with other veterans, and discusses meeting his wife. Lastly, Hanamura talks about his children, discusses the differences between…

Ken Nihei was born in 1925 in Sacramento, CA. Ken grew up in Sacramento until he was seven years old and moved to Hayward (Bay Area) during the Great Depression.

Ken's father immigrated to the United States from Fukushima-ken, Japan, to help his…

Ishihara discusses growing up in Enumclaw, Washington, including his experiences living near a lumber mill, his hobbies such as fishing and playing sports, the demographics and community within Enumclaw, and going to school. He also talks about going…

Yamada discusses being born on August 21, 1940 in Hawaii. His parents
immigrated in 1910 from Japan for the opportunity to be a contract labor. In Japan, their families are farmers. Yamada admires his Father because he bought rental property,…

Tsukazaki talks about his parents and siblings including discussing their education and employment. He then talks about his childhood and discusses playing baseball and fishing; and talks about his father’s writing hobby and learning Kendo. Next,…

Takano discusses his father's personality and physical traits; talks about his father's knowledge of the English language; and discusses values he learned form his parents. He then talks about fishing with his father; his favorite memories of his…

Ken Tamura severes in the 442nd Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Company L.
He is born in Okmulgee, OK on March 27, 1923. His parents are from Japan, and he has three sisters and a brother. Ken grows up in an isolated area on a farm.

At home, Ken speaks…

Muramaru discusses his parents and their occupations; and what it was like growing up in Hawaii and living on a coffee plantation. He then talks about his siblings, childhood activities, what his house was like growing up; and discusses elementary…

Barney Hajiro was born on September 16, 1916. He was the second oldest of his siblings. He grew up on a plantation in Maui, Hawaii, during the Great Depression.

During Barney's school years, he attended first through eighth grade. He did not have…

Theodore "Ted" Yenari discusses the war ending when he is in Okinawa as a paratrooper. He explains the warfare and the use of the war weapons. During the occupation in Japan, Yenari recalls his assignments with the bomb disposal group and traveling…

Kimura discusses his best and worst war experiences and talks about the camaraderie among soldiers. He then talks about his post-war life including going back to school for photography in Los Angeles and returning to Hawaii where he had a photography…

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…

Atagi discusses his childhood house growing up in Oregon, his siblings, and his parents immigrating from Japan. He then continues to talk about his childhood including discussing working on his family’s farm, watching movies, going to grade school,…

Yano discusses his prefecture origin and familial description. Yano grows up in a rural community in Canada. As a young child his parents divorce and Yano and his brothers live with their father. He describes his childhood activities, daily routines,…

Nakashima discusses his childhood growing up in Hawaii including discussing his community and gardening hobby. He then talks about his parents; childhood discipline; siblings; values taught by his parents; and attending school and Japanese language…

Yamate discusses his father including talking about his employment as a carpenter on a plantation on Kauai, and as the owner of a general store. He then talks about his own business which was a fishing and gardening store he opened post-war; and…

Akama discusses his prefecture origin and family. He details about his childhood, upbringing, and schooling. Akama also discusses about his social activities.

Mukai discusses growing up in Hawaii including talking about the plantation town he lived in; and discusses his siblings and parents. He also describes his childhood home, talks about some of the recreational activities he participated in, and…

Kashiki discusses growing up in Southern California, his family's farming business, going to school, his parents, and father's various jobs. He then talks about childhood activities such as fishing with his father, walking to school; and playing…

Hirose discusses what is blue stone and his experience in court. He shares his interment camp and military service experiences to the Judge. Hirose is only fined a small fee and is place on probation.

Hirose recalls his Father wanting to make a…

Masatatsu "Mas" Yonemura discusses name, birth date, birthplace and familial description. Yonemura's Father Tameki Yonemura and Mother Keku Yonemura
immigrate to the United States (US) with the early wave of Issei. When Yonemura's parents arrive…

Isamu "Sam" Saito recalls his school years. At school, the students are primarily Japanese Americans. The teachers had a hard time pronouncing the Japanese names. Therefore, many of the Japanese American students used English names for the benefit of…

Isamu "Sam" Saito discusses his friends' and parents' reactions after Pearl Harbor. One evening after the attack, Sam's parents burned items connected with Japan.

When Executive Order 9066 (EO9066) was announced, Sam's family prepared for…

Yukihiro discusses his prefecture origin, family, and social activities. .He details about the climate pre and post forced removal and the type of treatment he feels in the community and with friends. Yukihiro also discusses why he learns Japanese…

Mizuki starts the interview discussing growing up in Santa Maria, such as going to multiple schools, his family and recreational activities. Next, he talks about where he was during the Pearl Harbor attacks and the impending move to the temporary…

Hayakawa discusses his childhood and recalls his parents' boarding house and renters who boarded there; his neighborhood community in Utah; friendships; and experiences with discrimination. He then continues to talk about his childhood and discusses…

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…

Maeda discusses his adolescent years growing up on a plantation in Paia, Hawaii and the Japanese Community. He details his schooling including Japanese language school. Meada also discusses speaking Hawaiian Pidgin while in the 442nd Regimental…

Sasai discusses his experiences in English standard school including talking about his classmates and teachers. He then talks about speaking Pidgin English, friendships, and his mother's travels to Japan. Next, Sasai, talks about childhood activities…

Arakaki begins the interview with an introduction and talking about how his parents came to Hawaii. At the age of two, he and his family would move back Japan and Taro would live there until the age of 16, when he would make the move back to Hawaii.…

Katagiri discusses the attack on Pearl Harbor and aftermath including his parents' reactions; his experiences with bullies and discrimination; and his family's experiences prior to forced removal which involved having to turn in weapons and radios,…

Kobayashi talks about his assignment censoring letters while at Camp Stoneman and then being sent overseas to Japan where he was assigned to translate documents. While in Japan Kobayashi also taught English, visited relatives, went on sightseeing…

Taketomo gives an overview of his early life in Hollywood, his family and his school years. He also speaks about his relationship with Japan, his army service, and the discrimination against Japanese Americans. Later on, he describes the city of…

Nakabayashi discusses his brother, grandfather, fishing, golfing, and what it was like growing up as a Japanese American in Riverside. He then talks about Japanese American community events, attending school in Poston and his job in Poston drafting…

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.…

Sato discusses how he got his name, his parents immigrating from Japan, and his first memories growing up in Idaho. He then talks about his childhood home, moving to Utah, and his childhood chores on a farm. Next, Sato discusses more of his childhood…

Sato discusses religion, school, and recreational activities growing up such as swimming and skiing. He then talks about a close friend; chores on the farm; holidays; and his experiences after he quit high school and worked at a labor camp in…

Hagino discusses his parents and their employment; his siblings; and describes his childhood homes. He then talks about his family's farm; provides definitions for the terms "Issei" and "Nisei"; and discusses his childhood including talking about…

Miyamoto discusses growing up in Hawaii; talks about his father and his occupation on a plantation; discusses his mother; and talks about attending Japanese language school. He then talks about attending high school and his participation in the…

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.

Frank discusses…

Sukeo "Skeets" Oji was born on February 24, 1918, in Sacramento, CA. He got his nickname Skeets because Sukeo was hard to pronounce. Skeets' father, Ozo Oji, was a hard-working man. He immigrated to the United States by himself from Hiroshima, Japan.…

Sukue “Skeets” Oji enrolled at Sacramento Junior College and took flying classes. However, Skeets did not complete his civilian flying classes because he was drafted. Skeet went to Presidio Monterey for his induction and was stationed at Moffett…

Kaihara discusses his parents origins. He talks about his community and primary school experiences. He also explains what he did with his leisure time as a child. Thomas Kaihara talks about his relationships with family members. He describes his…

Ishida discusses his parents and his father's employment; his siblings; and attending Japanese language school. He then talks about his mother; discusses the loyalty questionnaire he was given while incarcerated; getting drafted; his childhood home;…

Hagiwara discusses his whereabouts during the end of the war, and his route to get back home. He would get on a plane and take a long trip home, stopping along the way in Puerto Rico, then Miami, before taking a train to Chicago where his wife and…

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…

Sato discusses his parents and his father's reason for immigrating to the United States, as well as his father's employment in Japan. He then talks about his father's jobs in the United States which included truck farming and a flower shop business.…

Sato discusses the latrines in incarceration camps; talks about his wife's childhood growing up in Hawaii; and discusses Gila River incarceration camp including the living conditions and his job. He then talks about leaving Gila River to go to school…

Tadayoshi "Tad" Sugiyama is originally from San Francisco City, few blocks away from Japan Town. Tadayoshi's Issei parents come to the United States in the early 1900s and work at Tadayoshi's grandfather's restaurant in San Francisco, California.…

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…

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,…

During Paul Takao Bannai's school years in Utah, and Colorado there are no Japanese American students. Paul's friends are mainly white. When he moves to Los Angeles, CA, his friends are more diverse, and he meets other Japanese Americans. Paul…

Uchida recalls his childhood on Kawaii, first employments working in sugar cane fields, and eventual move to Honolulu at the age of 18 to live with his sister. There he found work at the Halekulani Hotel near Waikiki Beach where he remained an…

Julian Quayles' interview is combined with Ray Wells.

Raymond C. Wells is born May 5, 1922, in Eagle Colorado. Julian Minor Quayles, Jr is born January 15, 1917, in Staunton, Virginia. Both men serve in the 141st Infantry Battalion during World…

Ray Wells's interview is combined with Julian Quayles.

Raymond C. Wells is born May 5, 1922, in Eagle Colorado. Julian Minor Quayles, Jr is born January 15, 1917, in Staunton, Virginia. Both men serve in the 141st Infantry Battalion during World…

Leo Morishita is born December 24, 1923, in Shelley, Idaho. Leo's parents are from Hiroshima, Japan, and immigrates to the United States for a better life. When Leo's father arrives in the United States, he works on the railroad and later becomes a…

Ko Stanley Sameshima is born December 6, 1921, in Long Beach, California. Ko's parents are Issei from Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. His father immigrates to the United States at seventeen years old with dreams of a better future with his younger…

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…

Hamanaka discusses his parents orign and growing up as an only child. During his adolescent years he helps with his Father's business after school and is active in journalism at school. Hamanaka recalls learning how to cook in Puyallup and making…

Dr. Coolidge Shiro Wakai was part of the 100th Company B. He was born December 2, 1925, in Kappa, Kauai, Hawaii. Coolidge's father was a missionary for Japanese Immigrants and established the first Christian church in Kappa, Kauai. Coolidge has six…

Chiye (Hayashi) Watanabe, Henry M. Hayashi, and Seiichi Nakawatase recall Pearl Harbor and the aftermath. When evacuation orders are announced, Chiye and her family plan to go to Arkansas. However, the government places travel restrictions. Chiye and…

Goodall discusses moving from Oklahoma to California as a child; talks about his father and his military service; discusses the Seminole tribe and the treatment of Native Americans; and talks about the history of slavery in the United States. Next,…

Nishijima discusses returning home after his overseas duty and going back to school. He also talks about his post-war employment in a produce market; meeting his wife; experiences with discrimination while trying to find an apartment; and discusses…
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