Frank Yamasaki Interview I Segment 29

Description of parents' early life adjusting to the U.S. (ddr-densho-1000-107-1) - 00:07:21
Choosing an "American" name: from "Hideo" to "Frank" (ddr-densho-1000-107-2) - 00:04:49
Moving with family as a child: "we were all poor in that area, and it was home to me" (ddr-densho-1000-107-3) - 00:05:29
Ethnic make-up of childhood neighborhood; first exposure to Italian culture (ddr-densho-1000-107-4) - 00:03:37
Maintaining traditional Japanese community activities (ddr-densho-1000-107-5) - 00:03:27
Raising Nisei children within the community, Issei methods of parental control (ddr-densho-1000-107-6) - 00:03:32
Encountering racial discrimination: denial of access to public pool (ddr-densho-1000-107-7) - 00:12:13
Teenage "rites of passage": driving, smoking (ddr-densho-1000-107-8) - 00:03:22
Moving to Seattle, living in family's hotel (ddr-densho-1000-107-9) - 00:03:12
Language barriers: mother's difficulties with language and customs (ddr-densho-1000-107-10) - 00:07:03
Ostracization by classmates following bombing of Pearl Harbor: "I'm still bitter" (ddr-densho-1000-107-11) - 00:07:14
Preparing for mass removal: selling the family business and packing for the unknown (ddr-densho-1000-107-12) - 00:05:33
"Evacuation day": "Everyone was dressed in their Sunday best" (ddr-densho-1000-107-13) - 00:08:50
Teenage activities in Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-107-14) - 00:03:25
Former teacher visits camp: loss of "happy-go-lucky" adolescence in Puyallup (ddr-densho-1000-107-15) - 00:03:53
Quarantined for measles in Puyallup Assembly Center (ddr-densho-1000-107-16) - 00:03:10
Memories of assembly center: dances, friends (ddr-densho-1000-107-17) - 00:06:05
Memories of Minidoka concentration camp: sand everywhere, even in the food (ddr-densho-1000-107-18) - 00:09:14
Increased leisure time for the Issei in camp (ddr-densho-1000-107-19) - 00:03:41
Community life in Minidoka concentration camp: bands, sumo, Japanese crafts, and other activities (ddr-densho-1000-107-20) - 00:08:05
Deciding to leave camp and go to Spokane, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-107-21) - 00:04:13
Contracting tuberculosis and living in a sanitarium (ddr-densho-1000-107-22) - 00:04:43
Meeting Gordon Hirabayashi and gaining a civil rights perspective (ddr-densho-1000-107-23) - 00:04:40
Making the decision to resist the draft: "just pure gut" (ddr-densho-1000-107-24) - 00:07:11
Family's response to decision to resist the draft (ddr-densho-1000-107-25) - 00:07:03
Standing trial for resisting the draft: "it became a farce" (ddr-densho-1000-107-26) - 00:04:00
Resisting the draft on principle (ddr-densho-1000-107-27) - 00:03:30
Feelings upon being sentenced to prison for draft resistance: "it was a nightmare" (ddr-densho-1000-107-28) - 00:06:35
Serving sentence at McNeil Island Penitentiary for draft resistance, thoughts on other inmates (ddr-densho-1000-107-29) - 00:06:52
Daily life at McNeil Island Penitentiary; work and visitors (ddr-densho-1000-107-30) - 00:06:43
Issei struggles to start over after the war, impact on father (ddr-densho-1000-107-31) - 00:04:35
Career decisions upon being released from prison: interest in art (ddr-densho-1000-107-32) - 00:02:47
Intimidation by other Japanese Americans in response to wartime draft resistance (ddr-densho-1000-107-33) - 00:04:55
Starting over after the war: denial of all things Japanese, and attitude toward pardon of draft resisters (ddr-densho-1000-107-34) - 00:06:22
Words of wisdom: have compassion for all of humanity (ddr-densho-1000-107-35) - 00:03:08
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ddr-densho-1000-107-29 (Legacy UID: denshovh-yfrank-01-0029)

Serving sentence at McNeil Island Penitentiary for draft resistance, thoughts on other inmates

00:06:52 — Segment 29 of 35

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August 18, 1997

Densho Visual History Collection

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

ddr-densho-1000-107

Frank Yamasaki

Frank Yamasaki Interview I

03:10:32 — 35 segments

August 18, 1997

Lake Forest Park, Washington

Nisei male. Born January 26, 1923, in Seattle, Washington. Spent prewar childhood in South Park and Belltown areas of Seattle. Incarcerated at the Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Refused to participate in draft, imprisoned at McNeil Island Penitentiary, Washington, for resisting the draft. Resettled in Seattle.

Lori Hoshino, interviewer; Stephen Fugita, interviewer; Matt Emery, videographer

Densho

Courtesy of Densho

API