Toyoko Okumura Interview Segment 1

Father's family background (ddr-janm-13-6-1) - 00:02:55
Father's early life in the United States, mother's family background (ddr-janm-13-6-2) - 00:04:06
Recreational activities in Gardena, California (ddr-janm-13-6-3) - 00:01:35
Japanese community activities: obon, Japanese language school, Buddhist church (ddr-janm-13-6-4) - 00:03:05
Attending high school (ddr-janm-13-6-5) - 00:01:42
Typical days helping on the family farm (ddr-janm-13-6-6) - 00:03:26
Hearing about the bombing of Pearl Harbor: "It was really shocking" (ddr-janm-13-6-7) - 00:03:33
Brother's experiences with discrimination (ddr-janm-13-6-8) - 00:02:08
Having to leave pet dogs behind during mass removal (ddr-janm-13-6-9) - 00:02:19
Terrible conditions upon arrival at Santa Anita Assembly Center: "I thought we were coming to an end" (ddr-janm-13-6-10) - 00:05:45
The journey by train to Jerome, Arkansas (ddr-janm-13-6-11) - 00:02:46
Working in Jerome handling milk for infants in camp (ddr-janm-13-6-12) - 00:03:56
Father chooses to take family to Japan in response to the so-called "loyalty questionnaire" (ddr-janm-13-6-13) - 00:04:19
Father's internment in a Department of Justice camp (ddr-janm-13-6-14) - 00:03:35
Transferring to Tule Lake: participating in group exercises in the mornings (ddr-janm-13-6-15) - 00:04:24
Father's removal from Tule Lake to Santa Fe, New Mexico (ddr-janm-13-6-16) - 00:04:26
Reunion with father and brother on ship to Japan (ddr-janm-13-6-17) - 00:06:25
Having to break off engagement (ddr-janm-13-6-18) - 00:03:11
Recruited to work for the U.S. military upon arrival in Japan (ddr-janm-13-6-19) - 00:04:39
Working in Japan (ddr-janm-13-6-20) - 00:02:43
Remaining in Japan for forty-one years with mother and sister (ddr-janm-13-6-21) - 00:04:20
Returning to the United States (ddr-janm-13-6-22) - 00:01:33
Moving to Denver, Colorado (ddr-janm-13-6-23) - 00:04:28
Free to use This object is offered under a Creative Commons license. You are free to use it for any non-commercial purpose as long as you properly cite it, and if you share what you have created.

Learn more...

PARTNER

Japanese American National Museum
Visit partner

SEGMENT ID

ddr-janm-13-6-1 (Legacy UID: denshovh-otoyoko-01-0001)

SEGMENT DESCRIPTION

Father's family background

00:02:55 — Segment 1 of 23

Previous segment Next segment

DATE

July 6, 2008

LOCATION

PARENT COLLECTION

Japanese American National Museum Collection

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Japanese American National Museum Collection

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of the Japanese American National Museum

RIGHTS

PARTNER

Japanese American National Museum
Visit partner

INTERVIEW ID

ddr-janm-13-6

NARRATOR

Toyoko Okumura

INTERVIEW TITLE

Toyoko Okumura Interview

01:21:19 — 23 segments

DATE

July 6, 2008

LOCATION

Denver, Colorado

DESCRIPTION

Nisei female. Born October 14, 1916, in Gardena, California. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, removed to the Santa Anita Assembly Center, California, and the Jerome concentration camp, Arkansas. In response to the so-called "loyalty questionnaire," transferred to Tule Lake segregation center with family, and expatriated to Japan. Worked in Japan for the U.S. government and a Japanese company. Remained in Japan until the 1980s, and returned to the U.S., eventually settling in Denver, Colorado.

PRODUCTION

Tom Ikeda, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Japanese American National Museum Collection

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of the Japanese American National Museum

RIGHTS

API