Louie Watanabe Interview Segment 2

Born in Walnut Grove; receiving an American name (ddr-densho-1010-1-1) - 00:05:55
Parents' family background (ddr-densho-1010-1-2) - 00:02:16
Parents' establishment of Mary's Restaurant (ddr-densho-1010-1-3) - 00:05:11
Description of family's restaurant and rooming house (ddr-densho-1010-1-4) - 00:03:54
Description of parents (ddr-densho-1010-1-5) - 00:03:34
Memories of the community bathhouse (ddr-densho-1010-1-6) - 00:05:09
Going to a Japanese-owned grocery store (ddr-densho-1010-1-7) - 00:02:42
Observing the customers at family's boarding house (ddr-densho-1010-1-8) - 00:02:40
Remembering several fires in the neighboring Chinatown (ddr-densho-1010-1-9) - 00:05:44
White and Asian neighborhoods separated by river (ddr-densho-1010-1-10) - 00:02:00
Prewar Japanese in Walnut Grove allowed to own property, but not land (ddr-densho-1010-1-11) - 00:03:30
Trying to fight landownership restrictions through formation of a Japanese Association (ddr-densho-1010-1-12) - 00:03:46
Little interaction between ethnic groups (ddr-densho-1010-1-13) - 00:06:40
Attending a segregated elementary school (ddr-densho-1010-1-14) - 00:06:27
Going to Japanese language school (ddr-densho-1010-1-15) - 00:03:56
Recreational activities: learning how to swim in the Sacramento River (ddr-densho-1010-1-16) - 00:05:14
Organized sports (ddr-densho-1010-1-17) - 00:02:24
Underground activities in the community (ddr-densho-1010-1-18) - 00:03:11
Memories of large Japanese community picnics (ddr-densho-1010-1-19) - 00:02:03
Church-sponsored sports teams (ddr-densho-1010-1-20) - 00:03:23
The importance of New Year's celebrations (ddr-densho-1010-1-21) - 00:04:30
Watching Japanese movies in the community theater (ddr-densho-1010-1-22) - 00:02:43
A dangerous game of hide and seek as a young person (ddr-densho-1010-1-23) - 00:02:47
The closeness of the Japanese American community (ddr-densho-1010-1-24) - 00:04:14
Playing baseball (ddr-densho-1010-1-25) - 00:01:56
Taking a loss on family business prior to mass removal (ddr-densho-1010-1-26) - 00:04:57
A few non-Japanese friends to help during the war (ddr-densho-1010-1-27) - 00:05:45
Leaving for Merced Assembly Center by train (ddr-densho-1010-1-28) - 00:03:11
Memories of assembly center (ddr-densho-1010-1-29) - 00:03:38
The journey to the Granada concentration camp, Colorado (ddr-densho-1010-1-30) - 00:02:47
First impressions of concentration camp (ddr-densho-1010-1-31) - 00:03:21
Family members' jobs in camp (ddr-densho-1010-1-32) - 00:05:30
Attending high school in camp (ddr-densho-1010-1-33) - 00:01:30
Playing local high school basketball teams (ddr-densho-1010-1-34) - 00:03:07
Being drafted, but failing the physical (ddr-densho-1010-1-35) - 00:03:14
Coping with day to day life in camp (ddr-densho-1010-1-36) - 00:01:47
Leaving camp and living in Chicago (ddr-densho-1010-1-37) - 00:05:40
Working in a resort hotel (ddr-densho-1010-1-38) - 00:02:02
First experience with segregation (ddr-densho-1010-1-39) - 00:05:11
Returning to Walnut Grove, observing changes (ddr-densho-1010-1-40) - 00:02:08
Diminished Japanese American population in Walnut Grove after the war (ddr-densho-1010-1-41) - 00:02:44
Working to rebuild after World War II (ddr-densho-1010-1-42) - 00:05:21
Getting married and raising children (ddr-densho-1010-1-43) - 00:02:12
Important values to pass on to grandchildren (ddr-densho-1010-1-44) - 00:05:39
Reflections (ddr-densho-1010-1-45) - 00:03:17
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ddr-densho-1010-1-2 (Legacy UID: denshovh-wlouie-01-0002)

Parents' family background

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.

00:02:16 — Segment 2 of 45

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December 8, 2009

Preserving California's Japantowns Collection

Preserving California's Japantowns Collection

Courtesy of the Preserving California's Japantowns Collection

ddr-densho-1010-1

Louie Watanabe

Louie Watanabe Interview

02:48:50 — 45 segments

December 8, 2009

Sacramento, California

Nisei male. Born August 22, 1925, in Walnut Grove, California. Grew up in Walnut Grove, where parents owned and operated a restaurant and rooming house. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, removed to the Merced Assembly Center, California, and Granada concentration camp, Colorado. Left camp for Chicago, Illinois, and worked in various places, including Colorado Springs and Oklahoma City. Eventually returned to Walnut Grove, and currently resides in Sacramento, California.

(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.)

Tom Ikeda, interviewer; Jill Shiraki, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

Preserving California's Japantowns Collection

Courtesy of the Preserving California's Japantowns Collection

API