Friends of Manzanar Collection

ddr-densho-1003

This collection consists of interviews conducted in partnership with Friends of Manzanar. The group's mission is to work with the National Park Service and other interested groups to preserve and restore the Manzanar site, and to interpret its stories, resources and lessons, for this and future generations.

For more information about Friends of Manzanar, please visit http://www.nps.gov/manz/supportyourpark/joinourfriends.htm.

16 oral history interviews

Densho

Courtesy of Friends of Manzanar

16 Objects

Kiyo Maruyama Interview (ddr-densho-1003-1)
vh Kiyo Maruyama Interview (ddr-densho-1003-1)
Nisei male. Born August 28, 1920, in Los Angeles, California. Grew up in the Glendale area, where father ran a gardening business. Was in college at UC Berkeley when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. During World War II, removed to the Manzanar concentration camp, California. Left camp to work in Chicago. Drafted into the army and served …
Sam H. Ono Interview (ddr-densho-1003-2)
vh Sam H. Ono Interview (ddr-densho-1003-2)
Nisei male. Born July 10, 1926, in Sacramento, California. Moved frequently as a child after mother passed away. During World War II, removed to the Manzanar concentration camp, California. Graduated from high school in Manzanar. Left camp to attend Morningside College in Iowa. Drafted into the army and served in the medical corps. Eventually returned to …
Nancy Nakata Gohata Interview (ddr-densho-1003-3)
vh Nancy Nakata Gohata Interview (ddr-densho-1003-3)
Sansei female. Born October 16, 1940, in Compton, California. As an infant, taken with family to the Manzanar concentration camp, California. After the government issued the so-called "loyalty questionnaire," family was transferred to the Tule Lake concentration camp, California. After leaving camp, lived for ten years at a farm labor camp on an island outside of …
Robert A. Nakamura Interview (ddr-densho-1003-4)
vh Robert A. Nakamura Interview (ddr-densho-1003-4)
Nisei/Sansei male. Born July 5, 1936, in Venice, California. During World War II, removed to the Manzanar concentration camp, California. After leaving camp, lived for a time in Denver before returning to Los Angeles. After the war, became a pioneering filmmaker. Founder of Visual Communications, the oldest community-based media arts center in the United States. Along …
Arnold T. Maeda Interview (ddr-densho-1003-5)
vh Arnold T. Maeda Interview (ddr-densho-1003-5)
Nisei male. Born July 17, 1926, in Santa Monica, California. Grew up in the Santa Monica area where parents ran a nursery business. During World War II, removed to the Manzanar concentration camp, California. After leaving camp, worked as a chick sexer, technical illustrator in the aerospace industry, and a life insurance salesman. Returned to California …
Chikaye Sande Azeka Hashimoto Interview (ddr-densho-1003-6)
vh Chikaye Sande Azeka Hashimoto Interview (ddr-densho-1003-6)
Nisei female. Born May 29, 1936, in Los Angeles, California. Grew up in Los Angeles, where parents ran a cleaning business. During World War II, removed to the Manzanar concentration camp, California, with family. After leaving camp, returned to Los Angeles where parents reestablished the family business. Studied and performed Japanese classical dance during and after …
Takenori Yamamoto Interview (ddr-densho-1003-7)
vh Takenori Yamamoto Interview (ddr-densho-1003-7)
Nisei male. Born February 21, 1938, in Los Angeles, California. Age three when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, and was removed with family to the Poston concentration camp, Arizona. After leaving camp, returned to Los Angeles. After World War II, served in the U.S. Air Force, and later became involved in numerous Japanese American community organizations, including …
Grace Shinoda Nakamura Interview (ddr-densho-1003-8)
vh Grace Shinoda Nakamura Interview (ddr-densho-1003-8)
Nisei female. Born February 18, 1927, in Los Angeles, California. Grew up in Los Angeles. During World War II, removed to the Manzanar concentration camp, California. After leaving camp, lived for a time in Colorado before returning to California. After the war, became a teacher and an artist.

(This material is based upon work assisted by …

Bill Watanabe Interview (ddr-densho-1003-9)
vh Bill Watanabe Interview (ddr-densho-1003-9)
Nisei male. Born January 5, 1944, in the Manzanar concentration camp, California. After World War II, left camp with family for the Los Angeles area, where parents had lived before the war. Established a career as an engineer. Active in the Little Tokyo Service Center.

(This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from …

Grace Hata Interview (ddr-densho-1003-10)
vh Grace Hata Interview (ddr-densho-1003-10)
Nisei female. Born December 5, 1930, in Gardena, California. Grew up in Gardena where parents ran a restaurant. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, father was arrested and taken away by the FBI. During mass removal, family was sent to the Manzanar concentration camp, California, and reunited with father. Following the Leave Clearance questionnaire in 1943, …

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