Kenji Suematsu Interview Segment 16

Parents' family backgrounds (ddr-densho-1003-11-1) - 00:04:40
Description of siblings (ddr-densho-1003-11-2) - 00:07:44
Mother has a nervous breakdown and father is picked up by the FBI after the bombing of Pearl Harbor (ddr-densho-1003-11-3) - 00:03:07
Memories of the Shonien orphanage (ddr-densho-1003-11-4) - 00:12:25
Being removed to Manzanar Children's Village (ddr-densho-1003-11-5) - 00:04:52
A child's memories of Manzanar Children's Village (ddr-densho-1003-11-6) - 00:05:25
Recreational activities in camp (ddr-densho-1003-11-7) - 00:05:39
Going to visit father in camp (ddr-densho-1003-11-8) - 00:08:52
Reuniting with parents in camp (ddr-densho-1003-11-9) - 00:05:24
Coping with mother's mental illness (ddr-densho-1003-11-10) - 00:05:38
Everyday life in camp as a child (ddr-densho-1003-11-11) - 00:06:52
Returning to California (ddr-densho-1003-11-12) - 00:02:22
Living in a hotel after the war (ddr-densho-1003-11-13) - 00:05:27
Parents' work to reestablish lives after the war (ddr-densho-1003-11-14) - 00:06:48
Growing up with an independent personality (ddr-densho-1003-11-15) - 00:04:48
Moving into home on the outskirts of Little Tokyo (ddr-densho-1003-11-16) - 00:05:34
Enlisting in the military (ddr-densho-1003-11-17) - 00:06:03
Being trained to maintain photography equipment (ddr-densho-1003-11-18) - 00:09:03
Parents' postwar experiences (ddr-densho-1003-11-19) - 00:07:30
Experiencing discrimination after the war (ddr-densho-1003-11-20) - 00:08:42
Working for a company that manufactured photography equipment (ddr-densho-1003-11-21) - 00:08:50
Developing camera lenses (ddr-densho-1003-11-22) - 00:09:17
Effects of wartime experiences on family (ddr-densho-1003-11-23) - 00:08:34
Looking back on the camp experience (ddr-densho-1003-11-24) - 00:05:34
Raising a family (ddr-densho-1003-11-25) - 00:03:56
Reflections (ddr-densho-1003-11-26) - 00:12:08
Overview of career (ddr-densho-1003-11-27) - 00:15:50
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ddr-densho-1003-11-16 (Legacy UID: denshovh-skenji-01-0016)

Moving into home on the outskirts of Little Tokyo

This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.

00:05:34 — Segment 16 of 27

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April 19, 2012

Friends of Manzanar Collection

Friends of Manzanar Collection

Courtesy of Friends of Manzanar

ddr-densho-1003-11

Kenji Suematsu

Kenji Suematsu Interview

03:11:04 — 27 segments

April 19, 2012

Los Angeles, California

Nisei male. Born April 29, 1934, in Brawley, California. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Father was arrested by the FBI and mother had a nervous breakdown. Kenji and his sister were sent to stay at the Shonien orphanage in Los Angeles. During mass removal, taken to Manzanar with other orphans and placed in the Manzanar Children's Village. While in camp, reunited with parents. After leaving Manzanar, returned to California. Established a career developing photography lenses and equipment.

(This material is based upon work assisted by a grant from the Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Any opinions, finding, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior.)

Sharon Yamato, interviewer; Tani Ikeda, videographer

Friends of Manzanar Collection

Courtesy of Friends of Manzanar

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