Masato Eddy Kurushima oral history interview, part 4 of 8, February 23, 2002
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On December 7, 1941, Masato Eddy Kurushima was at the free market selling their harvest and heard the news about Pearl Harbor. Eddy was in shock and felt things would go back to normal the next day. The Pearl Harbor attack changed the lives of the Japanese Americans and questioned their citizenship.
Eddy's mother was concerned and wanted to remove any Japanese items from the house. Eddy helps his parents destroy Japanese belongings from their home. The following day after the Pearl Harbor attack, the FBI came to pick up Eddy's father. A few days later, Eddy's father returned home. Eddy experiences racism. Eddy's mother encourages him to continue going to school despite the negative experience.
When Eddy returns from Japan to the United States, he gradually starts to feel accepted. He did not have a connection with Japan, even though Japan was his ancestral home. Eddy recalls President Roosevelt's speech after Pearl Harbor. Eddy feels disbelief that the Japanese Americans are not considered citizens of the United States. Although Eddy's parents are not citizens of the United States, they acted like good citizens. Eddy's parents followed the law and are honest, hard-working people.
On evacuation day, the Kurushima family goes to Fresno Fair Grounds Relocation Center. They stay there for six months before going to Jerome, AR. Eddy describes the living conditions and the attitude of shikata ga nai.
Eddy's mother was concerned and wanted to remove any Japanese items from the house. Eddy helps his parents destroy Japanese belongings from their home. The following day after the Pearl Harbor attack, the FBI came to pick up Eddy's father. A few days later, Eddy's father returned home. Eddy experiences racism. Eddy's mother encourages him to continue going to school despite the negative experience.
When Eddy returns from Japan to the United States, he gradually starts to feel accepted. He did not have a connection with Japan, even though Japan was his ancestral home. Eddy recalls President Roosevelt's speech after Pearl Harbor. Eddy feels disbelief that the Japanese Americans are not considered citizens of the United States. Although Eddy's parents are not citizens of the United States, they acted like good citizens. Eddy's parents followed the law and are honest, hard-working people.
On evacuation day, the Kurushima family goes to Fresno Fair Grounds Relocation Center. They stay there for six months before going to Jerome, AR. Eddy describes the living conditions and the attitude of shikata ga nai.
Identifier
2002OH0247_04_Kurushima
Oral History Item Type Metadata
URL
http://www.goforbroke.org/oral_histories/mp4/247-Kurushima-Eddy-4.m4v
Date of Birth
1924 Dec 06
Location of Birth
War or Conflict
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Citation
Kurushima, Masato Eddy: narrator, Hawkins, Richard: interviewer, and Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher, “Masato Eddy Kurushima oral history interview, part 4 of 8, February 23, 2002,” Japanese American Military History Collective, accessed April 20, 2024, https://ndajams.omeka.net/items/show/1052606.