Irene Najima Interview Segment 1

Father's immigration to the U.S. (ddr-densho-1000-226-1) - 00:03:19
Mother's arrival in the United States (ddr-densho-1000-226-2) - 00:03:01
Parents' poultry business in Petaluma, California (ddr-densho-1000-226-3) - 00:03:30
An "unspoken divide": awareness of discrimination growing up (ddr-densho-1000-226-4) - 00:05:22
A typical day growing up (ddr-densho-1000-226-5) - 00:01:55
Involvement with the Buddhist church; recreational activities (ddr-densho-1000-226-6) - 00:06:19
Attending Japanese language school (ddr-densho-1000-226-7) - 00:02:02
The voyage to Japan (ddr-densho-1000-226-8) - 00:03:20
Memories of visiting Japan (ddr-densho-1000-226-9) - 00:04:24
Visiting father's hometown in Japan, and a trip to Korea (ddr-densho-1000-226-10) - 00:05:32
A memory of discrimination as a child (ddr-densho-1000-226-11) - 00:02:28
Hearing about the bombing of Pearl Harbor: "I felt uncomfortable because I was of Japanese descent" (ddr-densho-1000-226-12) - 00:03:44
Father's arrest by the FBI; preparing for mass removal (ddr-densho-1000-226-13) - 00:08:10
First impressions of the Merced Assembly Center, California (ddr-densho-1000-226-14) - 00:03:31
The journey to the Amache concentration camp, Colorado (ddr-densho-1000-226-15) - 00:02:55
Adjusting to life in camp: meeting Japanese Americans from the cities (ddr-densho-1000-226-16) - 00:02:58
Attending school in camp (ddr-densho-1000-226-17) - 00:03:40
The negative psychological impact of internment on father (ddr-densho-1000-226-18) - 00:05:00
Difficulties finding a teaching job because of ethnicity (ddr-densho-1000-226-19) - 00:05:54
Encountering hostility upon returning home (ddr-densho-1000-226-20) - 00:04:50
Attending college (ddr-densho-1000-226-21) - 00:04:27
Working as a teacher in Hawaii (ddr-densho-1000-226-22) - 00:07:14
Returning to California (ddr-densho-1000-226-23) - 00:03:14
Getting married, living in Berkeley (ddr-densho-1000-226-24) - 00:05:44
Description of teaching career (ddr-densho-1000-226-25) - 00:05:16
Breaking barriers: venturing outside of the Japanese American community (ddr-densho-1000-226-26) - 00:07:30
Attending the Amache pilgrimage (ddr-densho-1000-226-27) - 00:03:05
Reflections: returning to Japan to visit family's hometown (ddr-densho-1000-226-28) - 00:05:04
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ddr-densho-1000-226-1 (Legacy UID: denshovh-nirene-01-0001)

Father's immigration to the U.S.

00:03:19 — Segment 1 of 28

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August 4, 2008

Densho Visual History Collection

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

ddr-densho-1000-226

Irene Najima

Irene Najima Interview

02:03:28 — 28 segments

August 4, 2008

Seattle, Washington

Nisei female. Born August 9, 1927, in Petaluma, California. During World War II, removed to the Merced Assembly Center, California, and the Granada concentration camp, Colorado. Following World War II, established career as a teacher in Hawaii and California.

Megan Asaka, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

API