Gene Akutsu Segment 27

Immigrant parent's arrival in U.S. and means of making a living (ddr-densho-1000-1-1) - 00:03:44
Growing up around "Profanity Hill," Seattle, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-1-2) - 00:03:01
Pearl Harbor: A teenager's memories of what he understood and how he felt (ddr-densho-1000-1-3) - 00:02:19
A teenager's memories of how one newspaper misrepresented Japanese Americans (ddr-densho-1000-1-4) - 00:05:11
Prewar family life: a close-knit family (ddr-densho-1000-1-5) - 00:03:19
A boy's shock and anxiety, and reactions of school peers after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (ddr-densho-1000-1-6) - 00:01:50
Memories of father's arrest by FBI, subsequent detention, family separation, and preparation for removal (ddr-densho-1000-1-7) - 00:07:45
Mass removal, and conditions in Puyallup Assembly Center: cleaning septic tanks (ddr-densho-1000-1-8) - 00:05:08
A teenager's memories of Puyallup Assembly Center: bad food, and games on the 4th of July (ddr-densho-1000-1-9) - 00:02:51
A teenager's realization that U.S. democracy "went down the drain" (ddr-densho-1000-1-10) - 00:03:51
Minidoka concentration camp: armed MPs, housing and camp layout; finishing school, drafted for military service, and mail censoring (ddr-densho-1000-1-11) - 00:11:41
Deciding to resist the draft: discussion of answers to the so-called "loyalty questions," and preparing for death (ddr-densho-1000-1-12) - 00:09:56
Considering the consequences of resisting the draft (ddr-densho-1000-1-13) - 00:02:51
Impact on family: father's separate detention in DOJ facilities and draft resistance by self and brother (ddr-densho-1000-1-14) - 00:03:35
Considering the consequences of resisting the draft, and interactions with jailers, other resisters, and jail inmates (ddr-densho-1000-1-15) - 00:06:41
Court appointed lawyer says, "You're on your own, boy" (ddr-densho-1000-1-16) - 00:02:57
Awaiting trial for resisting the draft in county jail: physical deterioration and poor living conditions (ddr-densho-1000-1-17) - 00:02:24
Memories of trial for draft resistance: a mockery of justice (ddr-densho-1000-1-18) - 00:07:52
Family's "stop order" status and restrictions on movement (ddr-densho-1000-1-19) - 00:01:31
Receiving prison sentence for draft resistance (ddr-densho-1000-1-20) - 00:01:24
Reaction of the Japanese American community towards draft resisters (ddr-densho-1000-1-21) - 00:04:43
Arriving at McNeil Island Penitentiary after resisting the draft: living conditions (ddr-densho-1000-1-22) - 00:10:52
Starting over after leaving McNeil Island Penitentiary, resisting the draft (ddr-densho-1000-1-23) - 00:04:24
Impact of draft resistance on family: harsh response from Japanese American community contributes to Mother's suicide (ddr-densho-1000-1-24) - 00:05:15
Starting over after release from McNeil Island Penitentiary, telling children about resistance decisions (ddr-densho-1000-1-25) - 00:04:37
Teenage social life in Puyallup Assembly Center (ddr-densho-1000-1-26) - 00:03:59
Having strict parents -- even in camp (ddr-densho-1000-1-27) - 00:05:16
Deciding to resist the draft (ddr-densho-1000-1-28) - 00:04:38
Attitude towards those who volunteered for enlistment in the military (ddr-densho-1000-1-29) - 00:04:16
Reasons for answering "no-no" on so-called "loyalty questions" and revisiting decision to resist the draft (ddr-densho-1000-1-30) - 00:06:19
Everyday life at McNeil Island Penitentiary after resisting the draft (ddr-densho-1000-1-31) - 00:07:13
Work detail at McNeil Island Penitentiary; imprisoned for resisting the draft (ddr-densho-1000-1-32) - 00:04:03
Visitors at McNeil Island Penitentiary; imprisoned for resisting the draft (ddr-densho-1000-1-33) - 00:02:08
Receiving notification of Presidential pardon for WWII draft resistance (ddr-densho-1000-1-34) - 00:03:00
Deciding between being considered a "repatriate" or an "expatriate" (ddr-densho-1000-1-35) - 00:01:10
Reflecting on Japanese Americans' response to incarceration (ddr-densho-1000-1-36) - 00:01:49
"As long as you're a minority they can pick on you and incarcerate you..." (ddr-densho-1000-1-37) - 00:04:01
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ddr-densho-1000-1-27 (Legacy UID: denshovh-agene-01-0027)

Having strict parents -- even in camp

00:05:16 — Segment 27 of 37

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July 25, 1997

Densho Visual History Collection

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

ddr-densho-1000-1

Gene Akutsu

Gene Akutsu Interview I

02:47:34 — 37 segments

July 25, 1997

Seattle, Washington

Nisei male. Born September 23, 1925, in Seattle, Washington. Spent prewar childhood in Seattle's Nihonmachi. Incarcerated at Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington, and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Refused to participate in the draft and was imprisoned at McNeil Island Penitentiary, Washington, for draft resistance. Resettled in Seattle.

Larry Hashima, interviewer; Stephen Fugita, interviewer; Matt Emery, videographer

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

API