Arthur Ogami Interview Segment 20

Family background: parents' immigration from Japan to Whittier, California (ddr-densho-1000-154-1) - 00:07:07
Early memories of childhood: speaking mixed Japanese and English, visiting family friends on a farm (ddr-densho-1000-154-2) - 00:05:20
Memories of mother's difficulties with the English language (ddr-densho-1000-154-3) - 00:03:53
Moving to Montebello, California during the period of the Great Depression (ddr-densho-1000-154-4) - 00:04:55
Values passed on from parents: don't do anything to "smear the family name" (ddr-densho-1000-154-5) - 00:08:23
Taking a typing class from Patricia Ryan, prior to her becoming the wife of President Richard Nixon (ddr-densho-1000-154-6) - 00:05:54
(ddr-densho-1000-154-7) - 00:02:26
Hearing of the onset of World War II: "I was devastated" (ddr-densho-1000-154-8) - 00:04:46
In preparation for mass removal, volunteering to help fill out registration applications for community families (ddr-densho-1000-154-9) - 00:02:42
Memories of the bus trip from Burbank, California, to Manzanar concentration camp, California: a pit stop in the desert (ddr-densho-1000-154-10) - 00:07:26
Initially having to share a barracks room with another family in Manzanar concentration camp, California (ddr-densho-1000-154-11) - 00:04:02
Mealtime at Manzanar concentration camp, California (ddr-densho-1000-154-12) - 00:03:08
Jobs in Manzanar: working in the freight office, then leaving camp to top sugar beets in Montana (ddr-densho-1000-154-13) - 00:08:10
Being away from camp during the "Manzanar riot," hearing about it from others (ddr-densho-1000-154-14) - 00:03:53
Father's work in Manzanar designing and landscaping the hospital garden (ddr-densho-1000-154-15) - 00:06:46
Family's experiences in Manzanar concentration camp, California (ddr-densho-1000-154-16) - 00:05:22
Experiences on a second sugar beet topping job in Idaho (ddr-densho-1000-154-17) - 00:06:11
The so-called "loyalty questionnaire": mother wants Arthur to answer "no-no" to questions 27 and 28, has his answers changed by the reviewing officer (ddr-densho-1000-154-18) - 00:04:06
Making the decision to move to Japan per mother's wishes (ddr-densho-1000-154-19) - 00:07:05
Being transferred to Tule Lake concentration camp, California (ddr-densho-1000-154-20) - 00:04:41
Involvement in the Hokoku Seinendan, a militaristic, pro-Japanese group in Tule Lake (ddr-densho-1000-154-21) - 00:08:04
(ddr-densho-1000-154-22) - 00:05:43
Procedures involved in renouncing U.S. citizenship and preparing for expatriation to Japan: changing family name (ddr-densho-1000-154-23) - 00:08:36
Given very little notice of impending transfer to Bismarck, North Dakota, a Department of Justice camp (ddr-densho-1000-154-24) - 00:03:31
Transferred with brother to Bismarck, North Dakota, a Department of Justice camp (ddr-densho-1000-154-25) - 00:05:46
Conditions in Bismarck internment camp: meeting people from other countries, swimming in a heated pool (ddr-densho-1000-154-26) - 00:06:28
Undergoing an interview prior to expatriation: questioned regarding possibly joining the Japanese Imperial Army (ddr-densho-1000-154-27) - 00:05:05
Passing the time in Bismarck internment camp: playing baseball, studying Japanese language (ddr-densho-1000-154-28) - 00:04:19
Hearing news of the end of the war; father did not believe that Japan had surrendered (ddr-densho-1000-154-29) - 00:07:00
A difficult journey by boat to Japan (ddr-densho-1000-154-30) - 00:07:18
(ddr-densho-1000-154-31) - 00:03:03
Disembarking in Japan: staying behind at the port to help unload baggage (ddr-densho-1000-154-32) - 00:07:09
Traveling by train to family home in Fukuoka in early 1946, witnessing firsthand the devastating effects of the war (ddr-densho-1000-154-33) - 00:07:28
First impressions of father's childhood home in Fukuoka, Japan (ddr-densho-1000-154-34) - 00:07:09
Landing a job at a U.S. military hospital in Fukuoka, Japan (ddr-densho-1000-154-35) - 00:07:58
(ddr-densho-1000-154-36) - 00:06:18
Seizing an opportunity to have U.S. citizenship reinstated and returning to the United States (ddr-densho-1000-154-37) - 00:04:28
Memories of time spent in Japan: encountering the black market system (ddr-densho-1000-154-38) - 00:06:53
Returning to Los Angeles, California, from Japan in 1953, finding a job a day after arriving (ddr-densho-1000-154-39) - 00:03:36
Raising three children, including an adopted daughter (ddr-densho-1000-154-40) - 00:05:56
Experiences speaking about World War II experiences to schoolchildren (ddr-densho-1000-154-41) - 00:05:28
Feelings upon receiving redress: "the apology is just a piece of paper" (ddr-densho-1000-154-42) - 00:04:06
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Densho
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SEGMENT ID

ddr-densho-1000-154-20 (Legacy UID: denshovh-oarthur-01-0020)

SEGMENT DESCRIPTION

Being transferred to Tule Lake concentration camp, California

00:04:41 — Segment 20 of 42

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DATE

March 10, 2004

LOCATION

PARENT COLLECTION

Densho Visual History Collection

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Densho

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Densho
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INTERVIEW ID

ddr-densho-1000-154

NARRATOR

Arthur Ogami

INTERVIEW TITLE

Arthur Ogami Interview

03:57:38 — 42 segments

DATE

March 10, 2004

LOCATION

Seattle, Washington

DESCRIPTION

Nisei male. Born April 10, 1922, in Whittier, California. Spent childhood in California, before being removed to Manzanar concentration camp in 1942. Left Manzanar several times to work as a beet topper for local farmers. Decided to expatriate to Japan because of mother's wishes, and was transferred to Tule Lake concentration camp. In 1945, was moved with brother to Bismarck, North Dakota, a Department of Justice camp, before renouncing U.S. citizenship and traveling with family to Japan. Lived and worked in Japan until the 1950s, when he was able have his U.S. citizenship reinstated and return to the U.S. Raised family in Los Angeles, California.

PRODUCTION

Alice Ito, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

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CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

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API