Kazuhiko Yamada oral history interview, part 2 of 3, January 30, 2009

Yamada discusses learning Japanese at a young age, taking Japanese language school, in addition to his regular schooling. He would also visit Japan with his family and see the farming community that his family came from. While back in the United States, he would read the Los Angeles Times and listen to the radio to strengthen his english. He would graduate from high school and attend junior college before being drafted and taking his basic training at Fort Ord. He was then moved to Fort Snelling in Minnesota to join the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). Next, he talks about his time in occupied Japan and his interactions with Japanese civilians, including a wealthy neighbor that owned a bookstore in Tokyo. He discusses other parts of the occupation including democracy, reform, and the influence of American culture. Next, he talks about his mother, who was stranded in Japan right before the start of the war and being able to see her again while in occupation. Yamada also talks about his wife, who was near the epicenter of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and how that affected her health. He then talks a little about what he saw when arriving in Japan and the influence of communism towards the end of his time there.

video/m4v

0:55:00

2009OH0969_02_Yamada

http://www.goforbroke.org/oral_histories/mp4/969-Yamada-Kazuhiko-2.m4v

1915 Oct 24

Yes