Ko Stanley Sameshima oral history interview, part 1 of 3, October 13, 2007

Files

Dublin Core

Description

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 brother.

Later, Ko's father goes to Japan to get married and returns to the United States. Ko recalls his childhood in Los Angeles, CA. Ko's home life is minimalistic and his parent works hard to provide for their three children (Ko, Chiko, and Akira). Ko describes his father as the disciplinarian and his mother as nurturing. They are very proud of their children.

The success of Sameshima's produce market allows the family to travel to Japan during the Great Depression. For six months the Sameshima family live in Japan. Ko shares his experience of attending a Japanese School.

After returning from Japan, Ko's parents restart their produce market. Ko describes the Crenshaw district during that period.

Format

video/m4v

Identifier

2007OH0812_01_Sameshima

Oral History Item Type Metadata

Date of Birth

1921 Dec 06

Location of Birth

Branch of Service

Entrance into Service

Citation

Sameshima, Ko Stanley: narrator, Yuge, Tim: interviewer, and Go For Broke National Education Center: publisher, “Ko Stanley Sameshima oral history interview, part 1 of 3, October 13, 2007,” Japanese American Military History Collective, accessed December 22, 2024, https://ndajams.omeka.net/items/show/1053483.