John Allen Tagami discusses being a military brat and traveling around during his childhood. Tagami's Father served in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) and meets the Emperor of Japan. Tagami's Mother works for Reader's Digest during the war…
Tagami discusses Senator Daniel Akaka contributes to the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) as a unit receiving the Presidential Unit Credentials. Also Senator Akaka assists with individual upgrades, MIS history and Medal of Honor. During Senator…
Grant Hayao Ichikawa discusses his military duties during the occupation of Japan and the Nisei and Kibei contribution as translators. Ichikawa talks about General MacArthur's plan to rebuild Japan and keeping the Emperor of Japan safe. He feels the…
Grant Hayao Ichikawa discusses the language team and their assignments. He describes the difference between Kibei and Nisei and how their attributes working together up contribute to the rebuilding of Japan. Ichikawa also shares how he meets his wife…
Yamasaki begins the interview talking about how his family came from Japan to Hawaii. As his parents were born in Hawaii, he was a sansei, and would speak very little Japanese at home. His father would help to get him into a private elite school,…
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…
Coolidge Wakai guarded thousands of POWs in the Po Valley when the war ended. Later, Coolidge was transferred from guarding the POWs to Headquarters Company as a cleric.
After the war, Coolidge returned to the United States. He participated in a…
Nakamoto discusses prefecture origin and familial description. Nakamoto's Father is a Founder of the Second Buddhist Church and his Grandfather is a Founder of the First Buddhist Church. Nakamoto grows up on a farm and helps with the farming chores.…
Nakamoto discusses various job experiences from working at Federal position level, MCI, and owning his own company. Nakamoto is part of the Japanese American Veterans Association (JAVA) and he describes their mission and contribution to the…
Murakami discusses about his family. He details about his childhood. Murakami also discusses about Pearl Harbor, its aftermath, and his experiences in Marysville Temporary Detention Center.
Murakami continues his recollection of the Marysville Temporary Detention Center and the living conditions there. Shortly after that, he and his family were moved to Tule Lake Concentration Camp where tensions were high and at one point they were…
Murakami continues talking about his involvement in social activism, including a donor wall at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. Along with that, he has been involved in the redress and reparations for those Japanese who were…
Ohta begins the interview with an introduction and talking shortly about his family background, his parents being from Maui. Next, he talks about what it was like to grow up in Hawaii up until the Pearl Harbor attacks. After that, he would join the…
Ohta discusses various war experiences, including the troops in his company. Next, he speaks about having very little correspondence with his family and the rank he earned of staff sergeant. He also discusses aspects of the German Army and the…
Asato begins the interview talking about his family background, including his parents coming from Okinawa prefecture and settling down on Maui. He talks about growing up in Paia, attending Paia School and picking pineapples at Maui Pineapple. He…
Asato continues talking about his first combat while in Italy, at the Rome-Arno area. He talks about being able to see Florence from a distance and the tree bursts that could kill a soldier instantly. While there, he would get sick and end up in a…
Takeuchi discusses about his family and his childhood. He details about Pearl Harbor, its aftermath, being drafted, and basic training. Takeuchi also discusses about his experiences at Fort Snelling, his experiences in occupied Japan, and his…
Mr. Watanabe first discusses where he was born and raised, and talks about his passion for music, which included a career as a musician. Leading a unique military career, Mr. Watanabe served in the 442nd and the MIS, before he was finally assigned to…
Mr. Watanabe discusses the importance of Nisei storytelling and committing these stories to tape through oral histories. He next describes what it was like coming back to Hawaii after the war and talks about the important event of Hawaiian statehood.…
Kawamoto talks about his early life in Winters, California. He shares his fathers backstory. He describes his childhood home. He talks about his first time living in Japan. He discusses the demographics of Winters, California. He briefly talks about…
Kawamoto talks about what life was like behind the military zone. He describes a visit with his family before he went to China. He talks about his basic training. He discusses the front lines in China. He describes the abuses of his superior…
Kawamoto talks about dropping off Korean soldiers at the front lines. He describes his first time in combat. He discusses a strategic meeting with top officials. He describes his platoon's travel through China using a map. He describes the Japanese…
Kawamoto talks about reporting to divisional headquarters. He talks about the Japanese officers fear that the Allies would castrate them. He explains how he prepared to meet the American forces. He discusses translating the book, The Ideal Marriage.…
Kawamoto talks about reporting on the Peace Conference in San Francisco. He briefly talks about returning to Japan. He describes an interview with a Japanese representative about the Treaty of San Francisco. He discusses his job as a Secretary to the…
"Mrs. [Jean] MacArthur and Arthur MacArthur view parade held in the Imperial Plaza, Tokyo, Japan, commemorating Independence Day. Arthur's arm was broken recently in an accident at a Tokyo ice rink."
British Commonwealth Occupation Forces troops march during Independence Day Ceremonies.
British Commonwealth Occupation Forces marched along with United States troops during 4th of July Independence Day Ceremonies held at the Imperial Palace…
British Navy marches during 4th of July celebrations. Units of the British Navy passed in review before Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Douglas MacArthur during 4th of July Independence Day Ceremonies held at the Imperial Palace Plaza, Tokyo, Japan.
Crowds gather as General MacArthur leaves Dai Ichi Building, Tokyo:
General MacArhtur is greeted by a large crowd as he leaves his headquarters in Tokyo, on the historic day of the Japanese people's Celebration of the Promulgation of the New…
While watching American troops parade in Tokyo during observance of Fourth of July, a Japanese child waves the stars and stripes while perched on his father's back for a better view.
Images of Gilbert and Mary Tanji in front of a home. Mary and Gilbert wearing their uniforms: nurse and soldier. Second image of Mary in skirt and blouse next to a tree and in front of a home.
Snow-covered building in Rochester, Minnesota. Right image missing, in it's place "Tanji video" written. Image description, "Camp Blanding, Florida" April 20, 1944
Images of Harry Fukayama, and "Miwako", Gilbert Tanji and Mary Tanji. Images are casual, in a park setting. Not all images have been captured on the same day.
Images capture Japanese American soldiers at Camp Savage in uniform and in barracks in casual activity. Soldiers identified are: Gilbert Tanji, Harry Akune, Lawrence Matsura and Henry Nakakihara.
Photographs of Gilbert Tanji and other Japanese American soldiers. Soldiers who are identified by surname are: Sunamoto, Akiyama, Tabata and Kubata. Soldier identified by first and last name, Taki Matsushita.
Gilbert Tanji and other Japanese American soldiers in uniform, likely at a basic training facility. Named soldiers are: Mas Terai, Tony Sunamoto. Other soldiers identified by surname: Kubota and Akiyama.
Top row, left to right: Frank Okada in snow with pipe, signed photograph, "Sincerely, Frank C. Okada", Henry Nakakihara making a snowball, Shirai in long overcoat, Mitsuo Useri standing on rock.
Top row left to right, "Always, Ester" written on image. Esther carrying books; portrait of Betty Jeanne, two portraits of Mary Tanji; Children on front steps of a house.
Top row left to right: Family portrait, 1945; George Ushiyama; Ushiyama family; Three (3) Ushiyama sisters, Mary Tanji holding family dog; Some family members and Mary Tanji.
Top row, left to right: Mary and Gilbert Tanji standing in a snow-covered field; Mary Tanji holding Gilbert Tanji's military portrait; Gilbert Tanji in military training attire.
Bottom row, left to right: Marty Tanji with friends at a ranch,…
Photos on this page taken in Washington, D.C. at Tidal Basin on March 25, 1945
Top row, left to right: Jefferson Memorial across the basin; Washington Monument, hidden by the fog; Jefferson Memorial across the basin; Washington Monument up…
Top row, left: James Tanji on the Rockefeller Center Roof Studio in New York. Written on photo: "Gil & Mary"; top row, right: "Base Headquarters, Bolling Field, D.C."
Bottom row, left: [Frudin] and Robert holding newborn baby. 1947; bottom row,…
Top row, left: Oscar [Tanji] eating a snack in the kitchen; top row, second left: Oscar and May [Tanji] sitting on a small rock; top row, second right: Oscar [Tanji] sitting on a wooden post; top row, right: Gilbert Tanji in uniform.
Top row, left image of Katsutoshi Tabata in uniform on the balcony of a building with the Empire State Building in the background. Written on the image, "To my barracks pal Tanji, always Katsutoshi."
Top row, left photograph: Miss Ozawa playing with her stuffed animal; Top row, middle photograph: Miss Takeoka looking unhappy in her overalls; Top row, right photograph: Galen, May and unknown boy standing against a building.
Top row, left photograph: Grayce Ishizaki standing against wall of a building; top row, middle: Grayce [Ishizaki]; Top row, right: "kids" standing against side of the building.
Bottom row, left: "Sachi and Jerry Terai" Sachi holding baby Jerry…
Top row, left: Kishi Family; top row, middle: Mary Sakai, handwritten on image: "Best wishes, Mary Sakai"; top row, right: Mary Sakai, handwritten on image, "Most smilingly, Mary." Photographs show barracks in the background, presumably of an…
Top row, left:" Mom [Gilbert Tanji's mother] and Marry Sakai", top row, middle, Joseph Makata; top row, right, Mary Shige and Lucy Kishi standing by a young tree. Images possibly captured from within American Concentration Camp; barracks in…
Top row, left: Ken Sumita; top row, middle: Clarice Matsuda, handwritten on image, "To Gilbert, Sincerely yours, Clarice" top row, right: Nobuko Kobayashi standing next to a sundial. handwritten on photo: "Nobuko Yamasake Kobayashi."
