Kenji Maruko Interview Segment 19

Parents' family background: mother born in Japan, father born in Hawaii (ddr-densho-1010-8-1) - 00:03:57
Father's prewar bicycle shop (ddr-densho-1010-8-2) - 00:03:43
Being tipped off about when to turn in contraband items (ddr-densho-1010-8-3) - 00:04:21
Community sports teams (ddr-densho-1010-8-4) - 00:04:03
Growing up in an ethnically diverse community (ddr-densho-1010-8-5) - 00:08:26
Participating in Boy Scouts (ddr-densho-1010-8-6) - 00:02:30
Father's dealings with young men visiting from Japan (ddr-densho-1010-8-7) - 00:06:24
Description of a community leader (ddr-densho-1010-8-8) - 00:03:21
Memories of gambling establishments in Chinatown (ddr-densho-1010-8-9) - 00:03:40
Hearing about underground tunnels connecting buildings in Chinatown (ddr-densho-1010-8-10) - 00:05:12
Mother's emphasis on speaking Japanese (ddr-densho-1010-8-11) - 00:04:17
Interacting with German and Italian store customers after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (ddr-densho-1010-8-12) - 00:06:43
Father's reaction to the start of war with Japan (ddr-densho-1010-8-13) - 00:02:32
Description of siblings (ddr-densho-1010-8-14) - 00:02:16
Making arrangements to store belongings (ddr-densho-1010-8-15) - 00:03:01
Memories of "evacuation day"; bringing a bicycle to camp (ddr-densho-1010-8-16) - 00:03:59
Memories of Fresno Assembly Center: working in the motor pool, dances in the street (ddr-densho-1010-8-17) - 00:05:26
Working on the cleanup crew for the assembly center (ddr-densho-1010-8-18) - 00:03:55
First impressions of Jerome: "what a forsaken place" (ddr-densho-1010-8-19) - 00:04:32
Getting poison ivy in camp (ddr-densho-1010-8-20) - 00:02:26
Signing "no-no" on the so-called "loyalty questionnaire," attending meetings of other resisters (ddr-densho-1010-8-21) - 00:05:18
Transferring to Tule Lake when it was converted to a segregation center (ddr-densho-1010-8-22) - 00:03:48
Participating in Hoshidan's morning exercises (ddr-densho-1010-8-23) - 00:04:20
Separated from family and sent to Santa Fe (ddr-densho-1010-8-24) - 00:06:25
Hearing about a suicide in camp (ddr-densho-1010-8-25) - 00:05:11
Choosing to stay in the U.S.; restoring U.S. citizenship (ddr-densho-1010-8-26) - 00:02:50
Reuniting with family in California after release from camp (ddr-densho-1010-8-27) - 00:03:57
Reestablishing bike shop after the war (ddr-densho-1010-8-28) - 00:07:40
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ddr-densho-1010-8-19 (Legacy UID: denshovh-mkenji-01-0019)

First impressions of Jerome: "what a forsaken place"

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.

00:04:32 — Segment 19 of 28

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March 9, 2010

Preserving California's Japantowns Collection

Preserving California's Japantowns Collection

Courtesy of the Preserving California's Japantowns Collection

ddr-densho-1010-8

Kenji Maruko

Kenji Maruko Interview

02:04:13 — 28 segments

March 9, 2010

Fresno, California

Sansei male. Born December 13, 1920, in Fresno, California. Father was born in Hawaii, mother was born in Japan. Grew up in Fresno, where parents ran a successful bicycle shop and general store. During World War II, removed to the Fresno Assembly Center, California, and the Jerome concentration camp, Arkansas. Signed "no-no" on the so-called "loyalty questions" and was segregated to the Tule Lake concentration camp, California. Renounced U.S. citizenship, and was transferred to the Department of Justice camp at Santa Fe, New Mexico. Decided to remain in the U.S., and had citizenship restored. After the war, returned to Fresno.

(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.)

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

Preserving California's Japantowns Collection

Courtesy of the Preserving California's Japantowns Collection

API