(Joseph Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, William Toshio Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was also interviewed individually on October 9, 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":"01:20:38","links_children":"ddr-densho-1000-136","creators":[{"role":"narrator","oh_id":130,"namepart":"Joe Yasutake"},{"role":"interviewer","namepart":"Alice Ito"},{"role":"videographer","namepart":"John Pai"}],"format":"vh","language":["eng"],"contributor":"Densho","rights":"cc","genre":"interview","location":"Seattle, Washington","creation":"October 9, 2002","status":"completed","search_hidden":"Joe Yasutake narrator \nAlice Ito interviewer \nJohn Pai videographer","download_large":"denshovh-yjoe-01-a.jpg"},{"id":"131","model":"narrator","index":"1 126/{'value': 135, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/narrators/131/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/narrator/131/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/narrators/ytosh.jpg","thumb":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/narrators/ytosh.jpg","interviews":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/narrator/131/interviews/"},"display_name":"Tosh Yasutake","bio":"Nisei male. Born June 10, 1922, in Seattle, WA. Father was employed by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service as interpreter for twenty years, until he was separated from family on December 7, 1941, and interned as an enemy alien. Graduated 1941, Cleveland High School, and attended University of Washington before being removed from Seattle with mother, sister and two brothers in 1942. Incarcerated at Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington, and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Worked as hospital attendant and laboratory technician in Minidoka. While incarcerated in Minidoka, volunteered for U.S. Army, March, 1943. Allowed to travel from Minidoka, with sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada, to visit their father, Jack Kaichiro Yasutake, incarcerated at U.S. Department of Justice internment camp in Lordsburg, NM. Mr. Yasutake passed away on December 12, 2016. After basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, served in Europe in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team as a medic assigned to Company I, 2nd Platoon. Wounded during combat in southern France, October, 1944. Awarded Bronze Star. After recovery, assigned as a medic to Anti-tank Company, 1st platoon. December, 1945 discharged from the army. After visiting parents and younger brother in Cincinnati and living briefly in New York City, returned to Seattle. Married. Received B.A., Zoology, from University of Washington. Began career in research on fish pathology. Had four children. Received Ph.D in Fish Pathology from the University of Tokyo. Retired in 1988 as Research Histologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, after 36 years. Continues to serve as a Senior Scientist Emeritus in a volunteer capacity. Dr. W.T. Yasutake is the author of numerous articles published in scholarly journals, and the book, Microscopic Anatomy of Salmonids. He received awards and recognition for his pioneering and outstanding contributions to his professional field."},{"id":"129","model":"narrator","index":"2 127/{'value': 135, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/narrators/129/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/narrator/129/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/narrators/ymitsuye.jpg","thumb":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/narrators/ymitsuye.jpg","interviews":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/narrator/129/interviews/"},"display_name":"Mitsuye May Yamada","bio":"Female, child of Issei parents. Born July 5, 1923, in Fukuoka, Japan while her mother and two older Nisei brothers visited relatives. Named Mitsuye Mei Yasutake at birth. From age 3, grew up in Seattle, WA. Father employed by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service as interpreter for twenty years, until separated from family on December 7, 1941 and interned as an enemy alien. Attended Cleveland High School before being removed from Seattle with mother and three brothers in 1942, and incarcerated at Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington, and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Allowed temporary leave from Minidoka, to travel with brother William Toshio Yasutake to visit their father, Jack Kaichiro Yasutake, incarcerated at U.S. Department of Justice internment camp in Lordsburg, NM. Released from Minidoka in 1943 to work and attend college in Cincinnati. Received B.A. in English and Art from New York University. M.A. in English Literature and Research from University of Chicago. Married and had four children. Moved to Southern California in 1960. Taught for 23 years at community colleges in Southern California and other institutions, retiring from Cypress College as Professor of English in 1989. Author of Camp Notes and Other Poems, first published in 1976; Desert Run, (1988); writer of numerous other essays, short stories, and poems widely anthologized in collections such as This Bridge Called My Back (1981) and Women Poets of the World (1983). Featured in \"Mitsuye and Nellie: Two American Poets,\" documentary film on Asian women in the United States, aired on national public television, 1981. Founder of MultiCultural Women Writers (MCWW), member of Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States (MELUS), and active in many community, arts and cross-cultural programs. Elected to National Board of Directors of Amnesty International USA in 1987 and served for six years. Recipient of numerous awards and honors recognizing her professional and volunteer contributions to society."},{"id":"ddr-densho-121-3","model":"entity","index":"3 128/{'value': 135, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-121-3/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/ddr-densho-121-3/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/ddr-densho-121/ddr-densho-121-3-mezzanine-7e259ced72-a.jpg","thumb":"http://ddrmedia.local/media/ddr-densho-121/ddr-densho-121-3-mezzanine-7e259ced72-a.jpg"},"title":"Pacific Citizen Vol. 21 No. 22","description":"Selected article titles: \"Six Nisei GIs Killed, 16 Hurt in Plane Crash\" (p. 1), \"Trailer Homes for Returning Evacuees\" (p. 1), \"Attorney Wirin Not Connected With Tule Lake Cases\" (p. 1), \"Outrigger Club Officials Will Continue Anti-Oriental Policy\" (p. 1), \"Nisei Soldiers Lead Armistice Parade In Italy\" (p. 1), \"Two Counties Bar Aid to Evacuee Group\" (p. 1), \"Pauley Indicates Reparations Commission Has No Interest In Properties of Loyal Aliens\" (p. 2), \"Four Nisei Veterans Declare Atomic Bombing was Justified\" (p. 2), \"Pearl Harbor Canards: Reporter Unable to Discover Evidence of Any Nisei Part In Japanese Raid on Hawaii\" (p. 2), \"Gen. MacArthur Will Accept Repatriates from U.S, Says Justice Department Official\" (p. 2), \"First Tule Lake Group Deported On Transport\" (p. 2), \"Nisei Veterans Initiated into VFW\" (p. 2), \"Nisei Defends Self in Draft Violation Trial\" (p. 2), \"JACL Committee to Combat Seizures of Nisei-Owned Land\" (p. 3), \"Poston Relocation Center Closes Before Deadline\" (p. 3), \"Manzanar Center Closed by WRA Before Deadline\" (p. 3), \"Report West Coast Reaction \"Mixed\"on Citizenship Plea\" (p. 3), \"Navy Restrictions on Nisei Lifted in Hawaii Area\" (p. 6), \"Urge Canadian Nisei to Fight Deportation\" (p. 8).","extent":"1415W x 2074H (pixels)","links_children":"ddr-densho-121-3","format":"doc","language":["eng"],"contributor":"Densho","rights":"cc","genre":"periodical","creation":"1-Dec-45","status":"completed","search_hidden":"","download_large":"ddr-densho-121-3-mezzanine-7e259ced72-a.jpg"},{"id":"ddr-densho-1012-16","model":"entity","index":"4 129/{'value': 135, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1012-16/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/ddr-densho-1012-16/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/ddr-densho-1012/denshovh-ipeter-03-a.jpg","thumb":"http://ddrmedia.local/media/ddr-densho-1012/denshovh-ipeter-03-a.jpg"},"title":"Peter Irons Interview","description":"White male. Born 1940 in Salem, Massachusetts. Family moved frequently during his childhood due to father's employment. Strongly influenced by parents' values regarding racial tolerance and inclusion, and principles learned through Unitarian Church. While attending Antioch College in Ohio, became involved in political and social activism for civil rights. Joined the youth branch of NAACP, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and other groups. Active in sit-ins and other demonstrations addressing racial inequality, peace and related issues, eventually becoming a full-time organizer. Worked for the United Autoworkers Union. Resisted the draft, and was indicted by a federal grand jury in 1964. Convicted of failing to report for military service and sentenced to three years in prison. Graduated from Antioch College, 1966. Appealed his conviction to the United States Court of Appeals and lost. Served his sentence in federal institutions in Milan, Michigan, Terre Haute, Indiana, and Danbury, Connecticut. Following release from prison in 1969, attended graduate school at Boston University, obtaining PhD in political science in 1973. Accepted to Harvard Law School. While a law student, researched and filed a writ of error coram nobis with the federal court in which he had been convicted, and as a result had his conviction vacated. (Writ of error coram nobis establishes that the original case was premised on errors of fact withheld from the judge and the defense by the prosecution.) Graduated from Harvard Law School in 1978. Taught undergraduate and law school courses at several schools before joining faculty of the University of California at San Diego. While conducting research at the National Archives and Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. in preparation for writing a book, discovered evidence of governmental misconduct during World War II, which refuted the U.S. government's rationale of \"military necessity\" for the mass incarceration of persons of Japanese ancestry in 1942. Using this evidence, assisted the congressional Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. Contacted original defendants, initiated formation of legal teams, and was instrumental in filing petitions using the writ of error coram nobis, resulting in the reconsideration of the wartime \"internment cases\": Hirabayashi, Korematsu, and Yasui. Dr. Irons is a professor of political science and director of the Earl Warren Bill of Rights Project at the University of California, San Diego.(This interview is audio-only. It contains raw footage used by Steven Okazaki in his 1985 film Unfinished Business.
This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.)","extent":"01:06:01","links_children":"ddr-densho-1012-16","creators":[{"role":"narrator","oh_id":122,"namepart":"Peter Irons"}],"format":"vh","language":["eng"],"contributor":"Steven Okazaki","rights":"cc","genre":"interview","location":"San Francisco, California","creation":"November 11, 1983","status":"completed","search_hidden":"Peter Irons narrator","download_large":"denshovh-ipeter-03-a.jpg"},{"id":"122","model":"narrator","index":"5 130/{'value': 135, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/narrators/122/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/narrator/122/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/narrators/ipeter.jpg","thumb":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/narrators/ipeter.jpg","interviews":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/narrator/122/interviews/"},"display_name":"Peter Irons","bio":"White male. Born 1940 in Salem, Massachusetts. Family moved frequently during his childhood due to father's employment. Strongly influenced by parents' values regarding racial tolerance and inclusion, and principles learned through Unitarian Church. While attending Antioch College in Ohio, became involved in political and social activism for civil rights. Joined the youth branch of NAACP, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and other groups. Active in sit-ins and other demonstrations addressing racial inequality, peace and related issues, eventually becoming a full-time organizer. Worked for the United Autoworkers Union. Resisted the draft, and was indicted by a federal grand jury in 1964. Convicted of failing to report for military service and sentenced to three years in prison. Graduated from Antioch College, 1966. Appealed his conviction to the United States Court of Appeals and lost. Served his sentence in federal institutions in Milan, Michigan, Terre Haute, Indiana, and Danbury, Connecticut. Following release from prison in 1969, attended graduate school at Boston University, obtaining PhD in political science in 1973. Accepted to Harvard Law School. While a law student, researched and filed a writ of error coram nobis with the federal court in which he had been convicted, and as a result had his conviction vacated. (Writ of error coram nobis establishes that the original case was premised on errors of fact withheld from the judge and the defense by the prosecution.) Graduated from Harvard Law School in 1978. Taught undergraduate and law school courses at several schools before joining faculty of the University of California at San Diego. While conducting research at the National Archives and Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. in preparation for writing a book, discovered evidence of governmental misconduct during World War II, which refuted the U.S. government's rationale of \"military necessity\" for the mass incarceration of persons of Japanese ancestry in 1942. Using this evidence, assisted the congressional Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. Contacted original defendants, initiated formation of legal teams, and was instrumental in filing petitions using the writ of error coram nobis, resulting in the reconsideration of the wartime \"internment cases\": Hirabayashi, Korematsu, and Yasui. Dr. Irons is a professor of political science and director of the Earl Warren Bill of Rights Project at the University of California, San Diego."},{"id":"ddr-densho-1000-138","model":"entity","index":"6 131/{'value': 135, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-138/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/ddr-densho-1000-138/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/ddr-densho-1000/denshovh-ytosh-01-a.jpg","thumb":"http://ddrmedia.local/media/ddr-densho-1000/denshovh-ytosh-01-a.jpg"},"title":"Tosh Yasutake Interview","description":"Nisei male. Born June 10, 1922, in Seattle, WA. Father was employed by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service as interpreter for twenty years, until he was separated from family on December 7, 1941, and interned as an enemy alien. Graduated 1941, Cleveland High School, and attended University of Washington before being removed from Seattle with mother, sister and two brothers in 1942. Incarcerated at Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington, and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Worked as hospital attendant and laboratory technician in Minidoka. While incarcerated in Minidoka, volunteered for U.S. Army, March, 1943. Allowed to travel from Minidoka, with sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada, to visit their father, Jack Kaichiro Yasutake, incarcerated at U.S. Department of Justice internment camp in Lordsburg, NM. Mr. Yasutake passed away on December 12, 2016. After basic training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, served in Europe in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team as a medic assigned to Company I, 2nd Platoon. Wounded during combat in southern France, October, 1944. Awarded Bronze Star. After recovery, assigned as a medic to Anti-tank Company, 1st platoon. December, 1945 discharged from the army. After visiting parents and younger brother in Cincinnati and living briefly in New York City, returned to Seattle. Married. Received B.A., Zoology, from University of Washington. Began career in research on fish pathology. Had four children. Received Ph.D in Fish Pathology from the University of Tokyo. Retired in 1988 as Research Histologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, after 36 years. Continues to serve as a Senior Scientist Emeritus in a volunteer capacity. Dr. W.T. Yasutake is the author of numerous articles published in scholarly journals, and the book, Microscopic Anatomy of Salmonids. He received awards and recognition for his pioneering and outstanding contributions to his professional field.
(William Toshio Yasutake was interviewed together with his sister Mitsuye (Yasutake) Yamada and surviving brother, Joseph Yasutake, in group sessions on October 8-9, 2002. He was interviewed individually on November 14, 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":"04:04:06","links_children":"ddr-densho-1000-138","creators":[{"role":"narrator","oh_id":131,"namepart":"Tosh Yasutake"},{"role":"interviewer","namepart":"Alice Ito"},{"role":"interviewer","namepart":"Tom Ikeda"},{"role":"videographer","namepart":"Dana Hoshide"}],"format":"vh","language":["eng"],"contributor":"Densho","rights":"cc","genre":"interview","location":"Seattle, Washington","creation":"November 14, 2002","status":"completed","search_hidden":"Tosh Yasutake narrator \nAlice Ito interviewer \nTom Ikeda interviewer \nDana Hoshide videographer","download_large":"denshovh-ytosh-01-a.jpg"},{"id":"ddr-densho-1000-127","model":"entity","index":"7 132/{'value': 135, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-127/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/ddr-densho-1000-127/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/ddr-densho-1000/denshovh-ipeter-02-a.jpg","thumb":"http://ddrmedia.local/media/ddr-densho-1000/denshovh-ipeter-02-a.jpg"},"title":"Peter Irons Interview II","description":"White male. Born 1940 in Salem, Massachusetts. Family moved frequently during his childhood due to father's employment. Strongly influenced by parents' values regarding racial tolerance and inclusion, and principles learned through Unitarian Church. While attending Antioch College in Ohio, became involved in political and social activism for civil rights. Joined the youth branch of NAACP, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and other groups. Active in sit-ins and other demonstrations addressing racial inequality, peace and related issues, eventually becoming a full-time organizer. Worked for the United Autoworkers Union. Resisted the draft, and was indicted by a federal grand jury in 1964. Convicted of failing to report for military service and sentenced to three years in prison. Graduated from Antioch College, 1966. Appealed his conviction to the United States Court of Appeals and lost. Served his sentence in federal institutions in Milan, Michigan, Terre Haute, Indiana, and Danbury, Connecticut. Following release from prison in 1969, attended graduate school at Boston University, obtaining PhD in political science in 1973. Accepted to Harvard Law School. While a law student, researched and filed a writ of error coram nobis with the federal court in which he had been convicted, and as a result had his conviction vacated. (Writ of error coram nobis establishes that the original case was premised on errors of fact withheld from the judge and the defense by the prosecution.) Graduated from Harvard Law School in 1978. Taught undergraduate and law school courses at several schools before joining faculty of the University of California at San Diego. While conducting research at the National Archives and Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. in preparation for writing a book, discovered evidence of governmental misconduct during World War II, which refuted the U.S. government's rationale of \"military necessity\" for the mass incarceration of persons of Japanese ancestry in 1942. Using this evidence, assisted the congressional Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. Contacted original defendants, initiated formation of legal teams, and was instrumental in filing petitions using the writ of error coram nobis, resulting in the reconsideration of the wartime \"internment cases\": Hirabayashi, Korematsu, and Yasui. Dr. Irons is a professor of political science and director of the Earl Warren Bill of Rights Project at the University of California, San Diego.","extent":"02:41:34","links_children":"ddr-densho-1000-127","creators":[{"role":"narrator","oh_id":122,"namepart":"Peter Irons"},{"role":"interviewer","namepart":"Lorraine Bannai"},{"role":"interviewer","namepart":"Alice Ito"},{"role":"videographer","namepart":"Dana Hoshide"}],"format":"vh","language":["eng"],"contributor":"Densho","rights":"cc","genre":"interview","location":"Seattle, Washington","creation":"October 27, 2000","status":"completed","search_hidden":"Peter Irons narrator \nLorraine Bannai interviewer \nAlice Ito interviewer \nDana Hoshide videographer","download_large":"denshovh-ipeter-02-a.jpg"},{"id":"ddr-densho-1000-126","model":"entity","index":"8 133/{'value': 135, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-126/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/ddr-densho-1000-126/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/ddr-densho-1000/denshovh-ipeter-01-a.jpg","thumb":"http://ddrmedia.local/media/ddr-densho-1000/denshovh-ipeter-01-a.jpg"},"title":"Peter Irons Interview I","description":"White male. Born 1940 in Salem, Massachusetts. Family moved frequently during his childhood due to father's employment. Strongly influenced by parents' values regarding racial tolerance and inclusion, and principles learned through Unitarian Church. While attending Antioch College in Ohio, became involved in political and social activism for civil rights. Joined the youth branch of NAACP, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and other groups. Active in sit-ins and other demonstrations addressing racial inequality, peace and related issues, eventually becoming a full-time organizer. Worked for the United Autoworkers Union. Resisted the draft, and was indicted by a federal grand jury in 1964. Convicted of failing to report for military service and sentenced to three years in prison. Graduated from Antioch College, 1966. Appealed his conviction to the United States Court of Appeals and lost. Served his sentence in federal institutions in Milan, Michigan, Terre Haute, Indiana, and Danbury, Connecticut. Following release from prison in 1969, attended graduate school at Boston University, obtaining PhD in political science in 1973. Accepted to Harvard Law School. While a law student, researched and filed a writ of error coram nobis with the federal court in which he had been convicted, and as a result had his conviction vacated. (Writ of error coram nobis establishes that the original case was premised on errors of fact withheld from the judge and the defense by the prosecution.) Graduated from Harvard Law School in 1978. Taught undergraduate and law school courses at several schools before joining faculty of the University of California at San Diego. While conducting research at the National Archives and Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. in preparation for writing a book, discovered evidence of governmental misconduct during World War II, which refuted the U.S. government's rationale of \"military necessity\" for the mass incarceration of persons of Japanese ancestry in 1942. Using this evidence, assisted the congressional Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians. Contacted original defendants, initiated formation of legal teams, and was instrumental in filing petitions using the writ of error coram nobis, resulting in the reconsideration of the wartime \"internment cases\": Hirabayashi, Korematsu, and Yasui. Dr. Irons is a professor of political science and director of the Earl Warren Bill of Rights Project at the University of California, San Diego.","extent":"02:21:49","links_children":"ddr-densho-1000-126","creators":[{"role":"narrator","oh_id":122,"namepart":"Peter Irons"},{"role":"interviewer","namepart":"Alice Ito"},{"role":"interviewer","namepart":"Lorraine Bannai"},{"role":"videographer","namepart":"Dana Hoshide"}],"format":"vh","language":["eng"],"contributor":"Densho","rights":"cc","genre":"interview","location":"Seattle, Washington","creation":"October 25, 2000","status":"completed","search_hidden":"Peter Irons narrator \nAlice Ito interviewer \nLorraine Bannai interviewer \nDana Hoshide videographer","download_large":"denshovh-ipeter-01-a.jpg"},{"id":"ddr-densho-1000-137","model":"entity","index":"9 134/{'value': 135, 'relation': 'eq'}","links":{"html":"https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-1000-137/","json":"https://ddr.densho.org/api/0.2/ddr-densho-1000-137/","img":"https://ddr.densho.org/media/ddr-densho-1000/denshovh-ymitsuye-01-a.jpg","thumb":"http://ddrmedia.local/media/ddr-densho-1000/denshovh-ymitsuye-01-a.jpg"},"title":"Mitsuye May Yamada Interview","description":"Female, child of Issei parents. Born July 5, 1923, in Fukuoka, Japan while her mother and two older Nisei brothers visited relatives. Named Mitsuye Mei Yasutake at birth. From age 3, grew up in Seattle, WA. Father employed by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service as interpreter for twenty years, until separated from family on December 7, 1941 and interned as an enemy alien. Attended Cleveland High School before being removed from Seattle with mother and three brothers in 1942, and incarcerated at Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington, and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Allowed temporary leave from Minidoka, to travel with brother William Toshio Yasutake to visit their father, Jack Kaichiro Yasutake, incarcerated at U.S. Department of Justice internment camp in Lordsburg, NM.Released from Minidoka in 1943 to work and attend college in Cincinnati. Received B.A. in English and Art from New York University. M.A. in English Literature and Research from University of Chicago. Married and had four children. Moved to Southern California in 1960. Taught for 23 years at community colleges in Southern California and other institutions, retiring from Cypress College as Professor of English in 1989. Author of Camp Notes and Other Poems, first published in 1976; Desert Run, (1988); writer of numerous other essays, short stories, and poems widely anthologized in collections such as This Bridge Called My Back (1981) and Women Poets of the World (1983). Featured in \"Mitsuye and Nellie: Two American Poets,\" documentary film on Asian women in the United States, aired on national public television, 1981.Founder of MultiCultural Women Writers (MCWW), member of Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States (MELUS), and active in many community, arts and cross-cultural programs. Elected to National Board of Directors of Amnesty International USA in 1987 and served for six years. Recipient of numerous awards and honors recognizing her professional and volunteer contributions to society.(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":"04:29:53","links_children":"ddr-densho-1000-137","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","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"}],"query":{"query":{"query_string":{"query":"U.S. Department of Justice","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"]}}