Ron Osajima Interview Segment 1

Father's family background: farmers in Japan (ddr-densho-1000-486-1) - 0:06:48
Parents' meeting and marriage (ddr-densho-1000-486-2) - 0:02:11
Growing up in Gardena, California (ddr-densho-1000-486-3) - 0:05:44
Description of childhood home (ddr-densho-1000-486-4) - 0:03:43
Loss of father's business after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, preparing for camp (ddr-densho-1000-486-5) - 0:05:05
Enjoying life as a child in Manzanar (ddr-densho-1000-486-6) - 0:04:39
Memories of Manzanar (ddr-densho-1000-486-7) - 0:04:46
Father's decision to return to Southern California (ddr-densho-1000-486-8) - 0:07:29
Living in the Evergreen Baptist Church hostel after leaving camp (ddr-densho-1000-486-9) - 0:03:31
Rebuilding life in Boyle Heights after the war (ddr-densho-1000-486-10) - 0:03:09
Attending school with non-Japanese American peers (ddr-densho-1000-486-11) - 0:07:55
Joining a Japanese American club called the Squires (ddr-densho-1000-486-12) - 0:06:13
Receiving a car as a teenager (ddr-densho-1000-486-13) - 0:04:49
Attending dances, meeting other Japanese Americans (ddr-densho-1000-486-14) - 0:03:57
Working doing seasonal farm work during the summers (ddr-densho-1000-486-15) - 0:05:24
Deciding to attend UCLA (ddr-densho-1000-486-16) - 0:07:22
Family's postwar experiences (ddr-densho-1000-486-17) - 0:02:39
Working on the East Coast, experiencing housing discrimination (ddr-densho-1000-486-18) - 0:07:24
Adjusting to life on the East Coast (ddr-densho-1000-486-19) - 0:04:14
Rising through the ranks at Bell Labs, starting a Japanese American group (ddr-densho-1000-486-20) - 0:09:29
Supporting the redress movement (ddr-densho-1000-486-21) - 0:03:55
Returning to California (ddr-densho-1000-486-22) - 0:02:32
Description of children (ddr-densho-1000-486-23) - 0:01:43
Reflections (ddr-densho-1000-486-24) - 0:06:20
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ddr-densho-1000-486-1 ()

Father's family background: farmers in Japan

0:06:48 — Segment 1 of 24

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9-Dec-21

Densho Visual History Collection

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

ddr-densho-1000-486

Ron Osajima

Ron Osajima Interview

2:02:43 — 24 segments

December 9, 2021

Yorba Linda, California

Nisei-Sansei male. Born July 8, 1935, in Gardena, California. Spent childhood in Gardena, where father had a wholesale produce business. During World War II, removed with family to the Manzanar concentration camp, California. Returned to Southern California after leaving camp, living briefly in a hostel set up at the Evergreen Baptist Church of Los Angeles. Moved to Boyle Heights, where he attended school. Graduated from UCLA and established a career in computer software development.

Brian Niiya, interviewer; Evan Kodani, videographer

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

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