Mitsuye Yamada was interviewed together with her two surviving brothers, William Toshio Yasutake and Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. She was interviewed individually on October 9-10, 2002.
Before being contacted by Densho, the Yasutake siblings had planned to conduct their own family history interviews. Individually and jointly, they and other family members had written and gathered material documenting their family history. They shared much of this with me to assist with research and preparation for the Densho interview. Mitsuye's daughter Jeni had coordinated much of the family history work. Jeni participated as a secondary interviewer during the group sessions, October 8-9, 2002.The group interview sessions were conducted in Seattle at the home of Tom Ikeda, executive director of Densho. The oldest Yasutake sibling, Reverend Seiichi Michael Yasutake, had passed away less than a year before the Densho interviewing, in December, 2001. The remaining siblings emphasized that his absence left a gap in their discussion of family history. In addition to Jeni Yamada and videographers Dana Hoshide and John Pai, also present during some portions of the group interview were Tom Ikeda, and Mitsuye Yamada's son Kai Yamada.","extent":"00:09:26","links_children":"ddr-densho-1000-137-8","creators":[{"role":"narrator","oh_id":129,"namepart":"Mitsuye May Yamada"},{"role":"interviewer","namepart":"Alice Ito"},{"role":"videographer","namepart":"Dana Hoshide"}],"format":"vh","language":["eng"],"contributor":"Densho","geography":[{"term":"New York","id":"\"http://vocab.getty.edu/tgn/7007568\""}],"rights":"cc","genre":"interview","location":"Seattle, Washington","creation":"October 9 & 10, 2002","status":"completed","search_hidden":"Mitsuye May Yamada narrator \nAlice Ito interviewer \nDana Hoshide videographer","download_large":"denshovh-ymitsuye-01-a.jpg"},{"id":"ddr-pc-29-9","model":"entity","index":"20 1820/{'value': 1851, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-pc-29-9/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/ddr-pc-29-9/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/ddr-pc-29/ddr-pc-29-9-mezzanine-2e93ea250e-a.jpg","thumb":"http://ddrmedia.local/media/ddr-pc-29/ddr-pc-29-9-mezzanine-2e93ea250e-a.jpg"},"title":"Pacific Citizen, Vol. 44, No. 9 (March 1, 1957)","description":"Selected article titles: \"Noted Oregonians Honored for Wartime Service to Nisei, JACL\" (p. 1); Bill Hosokawa Promoted Post's Exec. News Ed\" (p. 1); Shonien 'red carp,' JACL 'pinwheel' on L.A. museum exhibit\" (p. 1); No. Calif. Japanese Americans launch $5,000 campaign for Immigration Museum\" (p. 1); \"Issei, Nisei, Sansei...Sensei\" (p. 2); \"Seek central camp in Orange County for Japan farm laborers\" (p. 3); \"Salt Lake JACL supports civil rights bill pending before Utah legislature\" (p. 3); \"Disneyland Hotel Reserved for Pacific Southwest Convention\" (p. 4); \"Repeal of Washington State Alien Land Law Motted by JACL\" (p. 5); \"JATB Travelers slap Zebras with 82-71 loss before over 500\" (p. 6); \"Bill Kajikawa resigns head basketball mentor post at Arizona State College\" (p. 6); \"Taul Watanabe in Japan sizing up new enterprises\" (p. 8); \"Ex-Tule Lake head to install cabinet at Santa Barbara\" (p. 8); \"Senate to vote on civil rights bill\" (p. 8); \"Honor new citizens at Snake River fete\" (p. 8)","extent":"11W x 17H","links_children":"ddr-pc-29-9","creators":[{"role":"publisher","namepart":"Japanese American Citizens League"}],"topics":[{"term":"Activism and involvement -- Civil rights","id":"234"},{"term":"Activism and involvement -- Politics -- Lobbying","id":"238"},{"term":"Arts and literature -- Visual arts","id":"180"},{"term":"Geographic communities -- California","id":"271"},{"term":"Geographic communities -- Oregon","id":"284"},{"term":"Geographic communities -- Washington","id":"290"},{"term":"Community activities -- Associations and organizations -- The Japanese American Citizens League","id":"20"},{"term":"Community activities -- Sports","id":"24"},{"term":"Industry and employment -- Journalism","id":"360"},{"term":"Redress and reparations -- Mobilizing and organizing the community","id":"111"},{"term":"Reflections on the past -- Exhibitions","id":"394"}],"format":"doc","language":["eng"],"contributor":"Densho","rights":"cc","genre":"periodical","location":"Los Angeles, California","creation":"03/01/1957","status":"completed","search_hidden":"Japanese American Citizens League publisher","download_large":"ddr-pc-29-9-mezzanine-2e93ea250e-a.jpg"},{"id":"ddr-densho-10-1","model":"entity","index":"21 1821/{'value': 1851, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-10-1/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/ddr-densho-10-1/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/ddr-densho-10/ddr-densho-10-1-mezzanine-c85f8d0f91-a.jpg","thumb":"http://ddrmedia.local/media/ddr-densho-10/ddr-densho-10-1-mezzanine-c85f8d0f91-a.jpg"},"title":"Nisei soldier and the staff of the Minidoka Irrigator","description":"T-Sergeant Ben Kuroki (center front), a famous Nisei war hero, poses with the staff of the Minidoka Irrigator, the Minidoka concentration camp newspaper. Front (left to right): Mitsu Yasuda, Cherry Tanaka, Ben Kuroki, Kimi Tambara, and Kerry Soejima. Middle: Mitsuko Miyoshi, unidentified, Sachi Yasui, Miye Takatsuka, Masako Tsujikawa, and Watson Asaba. Back: Johnny Okamoto, Peter Ohtaki, Hideo Hoshide, Hiro Nishimoto, Ben Matsumoto, and Hank Hirabayashi. The Minidoka Irrigator, a weekly paper, ran from September 10, 1942, through July 28, 1945, and contained news about the camp and of the war when Nisei began enlisting. Japanese Americans with a background in journalism worked on the Minidoka Irrigator and were paid $16 per month. Because Japanese Americans were not allowed to have cameras or radios, all photographs for the newspaper were camp sanctioned. The paper was published in the city of Jerome, under the supervision of the WRA. A copy of each issue was sent to Washington, D.C.","extent":"2240W x 1576H (pixels)","links_children":"ddr-densho-10-1","topics":[{"term":"World War II -- Concentration camps -- Publications -- Minidoka Irrigator","id":"173"},{"term":"World War II -- Concentration camps -- Work and jobs","id":"76"}],"format":"img","language":["eng"],"persons":[{"namepart":"Yasuda, Mitsu"},{"namepart":"Tanaka, Cherry"},{"namepart":"Kuroki, Ben"},{"namepart":"Tambara, Kimi"},{"namepart":"Soejima, Kerry"},{"namepart":"Miyoshi, Mitsuko"},{"namepart":"Yasui, Sachi"},{"namepart":"Takatsuka, Miye"},{"namepart":"Tsujikawa, Masako"},{"namepart":"Asaba, Watson"},{"namepart":"Okamoto, Johnny"},{"namepart":"Ohtaki, Peter"},{"namepart":"Hoshide, Hideo"},{"namepart":"Nishimoto, Hiro"},{"namepart":"Matsumoto, Ben"},{"namepart":"Hirabayashi, Hank"}],"contributor":"Densho","rights":"pcc","genre":"photograph","location":"Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho","facility":[{"term":"Minidoka","id":"8"}],"creation":"c.1944","status":"completed","search_hidden":"Yasuda, Mitsu \nTanaka, Cherry \nKuroki, Ben \nTambara, Kimi \nSoejima, Kerry \nMiyoshi, Mitsuko \nYasui, Sachi \nTakatsuka, Miye \nTsujikawa, Masako \nAsaba, Watson \nOkamoto, Johnny \nOhtaki, Peter \nHoshide, Hideo \nNishimoto, Hiro \nMatsumoto, Ben \nHirabayashi, Hank","download_large":"ddr-densho-10-1-mezzanine-c85f8d0f91-a.jpg"},{"id":"ddr-densho-10-4","model":"entity","index":"22 1822/{'value': 1851, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-10-4/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/ddr-densho-10-4/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/ddr-densho-10/ddr-densho-10-4-mezzanine-15a9676cbd-a.jpg","thumb":"http://ddrmedia.local/media/ddr-densho-10/ddr-densho-10-4-mezzanine-15a9676cbd-a.jpg"},"title":"The staff of the Minidoka Irrigator","description":"People of various ages worked on the Minidoka Irrigator, the newspaper of the Minidoka concentration camp. Issei were in charge of writing the Japanese section of the newspaper, for those who did not understand English. The Nisei concentrated on stories in English. Front (left to right): Kimi Tambara, Cherry Tanaka, and Mitsu Yasuda. Middle: Miyuki Inouye and Kerry Soejima. Back: Takako Matsumoto, Sachi Yasui, and unidentified. The Minidoka Irrigator, a weekly paper, ran from September 10, 1942, through July 28, 1945, and contained news about the camp and of the war when Nisei began enlisting. Japanese Americans with a background in journalism worked on the Minidoka Irrigator and were paid $16 per month. Because Japanese Americans were not allowed to have cameras or radios, all photographs for the newspaper were camp sanctioned. The paper was published in the city of Jerome, under the supervision of the WRA. A copy of each issue was sent to Washington, D.C.","extent":"1166W x 2240H (pixels)","links_children":"ddr-densho-10-4","topics":[{"term":"World War II -- Concentration camps -- Publications -- Minidoka Irrigator","id":"173"},{"term":"World War II -- Concentration camps -- Work and jobs","id":"76"}],"format":"img","language":["eng"],"persons":[{"namepart":"Tambara, Kimi"},{"namepart":"Tanaka, Cherry"},{"namepart":"Yasuida, Mitsu"},{"namepart":"Inouye, Miyuki"},{"namepart":"Soejima, Kerry"},{"namepart":"Matsumoto, Takako"},{"namepart":"Yasui, Sachi"}],"contributor":"Densho","rights":"pcc","genre":"photograph","location":"Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho","facility":[{"term":"Minidoka","id":"8"}],"creation":"c.1943","status":"completed","search_hidden":"Tambara, Kimi \nTanaka, Cherry \nYasuida, Mitsu \nInouye, Miyuki \nSoejima, Kerry \nMatsumoto, Takako \nYasui, Sachi","download_large":"ddr-densho-10-4-mezzanine-15a9676cbd-a.jpg"},{"id":"ddr-njpa-1-464","model":"entity","index":"23 1823/{'value': 1851, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-njpa-1-464/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/ddr-njpa-1-464/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/ddr-njpa-1/ddr-njpa-1-464-mezzanine-0b6fae7fdc-a.jpg","thumb":"http://ddrmedia.local/media/ddr-njpa-1/ddr-njpa-1-464-mezzanine-0b6fae7fdc-a.jpg"},"title":"Clipping regarding the death of Maxim Gorsky","description":"Caption on front [translation]: \"Domei Overseas Photographic News July 7. Giant Oak of Red Russian Literature Withers and Falls. (Moscow) Domei. The great literary figure Maxim Gorky, who played an active part in communist Russia for many years and left a great mark in the international literary world, has finally died, passing like a falling great oak. The funeral was held from early morning in front of the House of the Unions in Moscow on June 19, the day after his death. Several thousand crying people attended, including leaders of the government and many other noteworthy figures, as his remains were laid to rest in a manner appropriate for such a great literary figure. Photographs: His family saying farewell in tears. Communist Party Secretary Stalin (front right), Chairman of the People's Commissars Molotov (front left), and Kaganovich (behind Molotov) carry the remains from the House of the Unions. The funeral in Red Square.\"","extent":"4W x 3.25H","links_children":"ddr-njpa-1-464","creators":[{"role":"publisher","namepart":"Domei"}],"format":"doc","language":["jpn"],"persons":[{"namepart":"Gorky, Maxim"}],"contributor":"Hawai'i Times Photo Archives Foundation","rights":"pcc","genre":"clipping","location":"Moscow, Russia","creation":"1932","status":"completed","search_hidden":"Domei publisher Gorky, Maxim","download_large":"ddr-njpa-1-464-mezzanine-0b6fae7fdc-a.jpg"},{"id":"ddr-csujad-55-658","model":"entity","index":"24 1824/{'value': 1851, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-658/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/ddr-csujad-55-658/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/ddr-csujad-55/ddr-csujad-55-658-mezzanine-099b48f7b3-a.jpg","thumb":"http://ddrmedia.local/media/ddr-csujad-55/ddr-csujad-55-658-mezzanine-099b48f7b3-a.jpg"},"title":"General information bulletin (Cody, Wyo.), series 26 (October 15, 1942)","description":"General information bulletin, series 26, published at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp, Wyoming on October 15, 1942. Bulletin including news, events, and topics related to Heart Mountain incarceration camp. Includes: Evacuees protected by disability benefits; Offer aid in application for ballots; Doctors rotate for duty at hospital; Dr. Ito in charge of milk station; Fourth appendectomy at hospital; Vital statistics; Radio preacher to speak at rally; Catholics change church locale; Personal items welcome; Evacuee property now under WRA control; Home canning project employs 26 women; School and music announcements; Boys club leaders appointed; Four mess halls designated for recreation activities; Vehicles with sirens have right of way; Fire damages bedding of resident; Nisei soldiers visiting Heart Mountain; and Recreation activities, meetings, announcements. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0660","extent":"6 pages; 10.5 x 8 inches","links_children":"ddr-csujad-55-658","creators":[{"role":"author","namepart":"United States. War Relocation Authority"}],"topics":[{"term":"World War II -- Concentration camps -- Facilities, services, and camp administration","id":"69"},{"term":"World War II -- Concentration camps -- Social and recreational activities","id":"195"},{"term":"World War II -- Concentration camps -- Publications","id":"74"}],"format":"doc","language":["eng"],"contributor":"California State University, Sacramento, Department of Special Collections and University Archives","rights":"nocc","genre":"misc_document","location":"Cody, Wyoming","facility":[{"term":"Heart Mountain","id":"5"}],"creation":"10/15/1942","status":"completed","search_hidden":"United States. War Relocation Authority author","download_large":"ddr-csujad-55-658-mezzanine-099b48f7b3-a.jpg"}],"query":{"query":{"query_string":{"query":"News","fields":["id","model","links_html","links_json","links_img","links_thumb","links_children","status","public","title","description","contributor","creators","creators.namepart","facility","format","genre","geography","label","language","creation","location","persons","rights","topics","image_url","display_name","bio","extent","search_hidden"],"analyze_wildcard":false,"allow_leading_wildcard":false,"default_operator":"AND"}},"aggs":{"facility":{"nested":{"path":"facility"},"aggs":{"facility_ids":{"terms":{"field":"facility.id","size":1000}}}},"format":{"terms":{"field":"format"}},"genre":{"terms":{"field":"genre"}},"rights":{"terms":{"field":"rights"}},"topics":{"nested":{"path":"topics"},"aggs":{"topics_ids":{"terms":{"field":"topics.id","size":1000}}}}},"_source":["id","model","links_html","links_json","links_img","links_thumb","links_children","status","public","title","description","contributor","creators","creators.namepart","facility","format","genre","geography","label","language","creation","location","persons","rights","topics","image_url","display_name","bio","extent","search_hidden"]}}