James Omura Interview I Segment 9

Believing the Nisei should have protested mass removal (ddr-densho-122-4-1) - 00:03:38
Testifying before the Tolan Committee (ddr-densho-122-4-2) - 00:04:56
Childhood in Seattle, Washington: losing mother at an early age, playing sports (ddr-densho-122-4-3) - 00:06:01
Introduction to journalism, and starting up a Nisei magazine, Current Life (ddr-densho-122-4-4) - 00:04:47
Editing Current Life, hiring Nisei fiction writers (ddr-densho-122-4-5) - 00:04:19
As editor of the Rocky Shimpo, writing editorials supporting the Heart Mountain resisters (ddr-densho-122-4-6) - 00:07:55
Writing about Heart Mountain's Fair Play Committee (ddr-densho-122-4-7) - 00:06:01
Thoughts on the JACL's role during mass removal (ddr-densho-122-4-8) - 00:07:02
The Japanese American Citizens League before World War II, meeting Mike Masaoka (ddr-densho-122-4-9) - 00:05:31
Delivering newspapers on December 7, 1941 (ddr-densho-122-4-10) - 00:02:30
Founding the Bay Region Council for Unity (ddr-densho-122-4-11) - 00:04:41
Being forced out of the Bay Region Council for Unity (ddr-densho-122-4-12) - 00:06:56
Thoughts on whether JACL members informed on community members during mass removal (ddr-densho-122-4-13) - 00:03:08
Indicted by the FBI for counseling draft evasion (ddr-densho-122-4-14) - 00:06:27
Being blocked from attending a meeting of the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee leaders (ddr-densho-122-4-15) - 00:03:00
Thoughts on decision to take a stand: "I still believe in what I did" (ddr-densho-122-4-16) - 00:01:46
Accused of being a spy by the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee leaders (ddr-densho-122-4-17) - 00:07:19
Standing trial for counseling draft evasion (ddr-densho-122-4-18) - 00:08:19
Accusations of disloyalty by the Japanese American Citizens League (ddr-densho-122-4-19) - 00:06:25
Refused work postwar because of wartime stand (ddr-densho-122-4-20) - 00:05:05
Thoughts on the JACL's passage of a resolution to acknowledge the loyalty of the wartime draft resisters (ddr-densho-122-4-21) - 00:05:38
(ddr-densho-122-4-22) - 00:05:32
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PARTNER

Densho
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SEGMENT ID

ddr-densho-122-4-9 (Legacy UID: denshovh-ojimmie-02-0009)

SEGMENT DESCRIPTION

The Japanese American Citizens League before World War II, meeting Mike Masaoka

This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily focusing on issues surrounding the resistance movement itself.

00:05:31 — Segment 9 of 22

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DATE

December 9, 1990

LOCATION

PARENT COLLECTION

Frank Abe Collection

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Frank Abe Collection

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Frank Abe

RIGHTS

PARTNER

Densho
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INTERVIEW ID

ddr-densho-122-4

NARRATOR

James Omura

INTERVIEW TITLE

James Omura Interview I

01:56:56 — 22 segments

DATE

December 9, 1990

LOCATION

Seattle, Washington

DESCRIPTION

Nisei male. Born November 27, 1912, on Bainbridge Island, Washington. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, moved to Denver and took a job as English Editor of a Japanese American vernacular newspaper, the Rocky Shimpo. As editor, wrote about and supported the Fair Play Committee in Heart Mountain concentration camp. Was charged and tried for conspiracy to counsel draft evasion, and was acquitted on the grounds of the First Amendment and freedom of the press. Mr. Omura was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian American Journalists Association.

(This interview was conducted by filmmaker Frank Abe for his 2000 documentary, Conscience and the Constitution, about the World War II resisters of conscience at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically not life histories, instead primarily focusing on issues surrounding the resistance movement itself.)

PRODUCTION

Frank Abe, interviewer

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Frank Abe Collection

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Frank Abe

RIGHTS

API