Alameda Japanese American History Project Oral History Collection

Alameda Japanese American History Project
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ddr-ajah-1

This collection consists of interviews with Nisei and Sansei talking about the Japanese American community in Alameda, California. The project partners include The Internet Archive (archive.org), the Alameda Library, the Buddhist Temple of Alameda, Buena Vista United Methodist Church, Rhythmix Cultural Works, and Densho. The Alameda Museum also contributed but was not a partner in the process. The goal of the Alameda Japanese American History Project is to reach and educate the world wide general public.

2021-2022

2021-2022

Alameda Japanese American History Project

Courtesy of the Alameda Japanese American History Project

9 Objects

Kiyoko Masuda Interview (ddr-ajah-1-1)
vh Kiyoko Masuda Interview (ddr-ajah-1-1)
Sansei female. Born May 4, 1940, in Alameda, California. During World War II, as an infant, was sent with family to the Jerome concentration camp, Arkansas, then to the Gila River concentration camp, Arizona. After leaving camp, family lived for over a year in Dayton, Ohio, before returning to Alameda. Kiyo grew up in Alameda, eventually …
Kenneth Narahara Interview (ddr-ajah-1-2)
vh Kenneth Narahara Interview (ddr-ajah-1-2)
Sansei male. Born December 16, 1936, in Oakland, California. Grew up in Alameda, California, where parents had a florist business. Immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans were forced to leave Alameda, so the family split up and moved to Oakland. Removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. …
Kenji Tomita Interview (ddr-ajah-1-3)
vh Kenji Tomita Interview (ddr-ajah-1-3)
Nisei male. Born August 25, 1924, in Alameda, California. Grew up in Alameda, where father ran a food wholesaling business. Was in high school when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. Left Topaz on student leave to attend the University of …
Mary Nakata Tomita Interview (ddr-ajah-1-4)
vh Mary Nakata Tomita Interview (ddr-ajah-1-4)
Nisei female. Born August 6, 1931, in Alameda, California. Had a twin sister, and as an infant was adopted by mother's cousin and her husband. Grew up in Alameda, where adoptive father ran a garage. During World War II, removed to the Santa Anita Assembly Center, California, and the Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming. Returned to …
Mas Takano Interview (ddr-ajah-1-5)
vh Mas Takano Interview (ddr-ajah-1-5)
Nisei male. Born June 15, 1932, in Alameda, California. Grew up in Alameda, where father was a gardener. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, moved to Cortez, California, for a few months before being removed to the Merced Assembly Center, California, and the Amache concentration camp, Colorado. After leaving camp, returned to California. Drafted into the …
Jo Takata Interview (ddr-ajah-1-6)
vh Jo Takata Interview (ddr-ajah-1-6)
Sansei female. Born January 16, 1944, at the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. After leaving camp, the family returned to Alameda, California, where they had lived before World War II. Jo grew up in Alameda and became a high school teacher. Involved with the Buena Vista United Methodist Church and numerous other Japanese American community activities in …
Judy Furuichi Interview (ddr-ajah-1-8)
vh Judy Furuichi Interview (ddr-ajah-1-8)
Sansei female. Born December 27, 1942, in the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. Prior to World War II, parents lived and worked in Alameda, California. During World War II, the family was sent to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. After the war, the family returned to Alameda, where Judy grew up. …
Kay Yatabe Interview (ddr-ajah-1-9)
vh Kay Yatabe Interview (ddr-ajah-1-9)
Sansei female. Born April 16, 1948 in Berkeley, California. During World War II, parents were incarcerated at the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. After the war, the family returned to the Bay Area, and Kay grew up in El Cerrito, California, where parents ran a shoe repair shop. Attended UC Berkeley …
Rev. Michael Yoshii Interview (ddr-ajah-1-10)
vh Rev. Michael Yoshii Interview (ddr-ajah-1-10)
Sansei male. Born August 10, 1952, in Berkeley, California. Graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in social welfare. Attended the Pacific School of Religion and graduated with an MDiv. Appointed full-time pastor to the Buena Vista United Methodist Church in Alameda, California, in 1988. Served as pastor for more than thirty years, leading the church's …
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