Densho Digital Archive
Densho Visual History Collection
Title: James Yamazaki Interview
Narrator: James Yamazaki
Interviewer: Tom Ikeda
Location: Van Nuys, California
Date: February 4, 2005
Densho ID: denshovh-yjames-01-0042

<Begin Segment 42>

TI: So I'm going to switch from that sobering note to... for your work, I'm curious, the Japanese government acknowledged you with the Order of the Sacred Treasure gold rays with the neck ribbon. And how did that feel for you to be acknowledged by the Japanese government for the work that you did?

JY: Well, I felt that usually before the war, I don't think we were really... they had some question about our connection to Japan, and we really didn't have, in our own, we didn't feel much for Japan in that we didn't know their culture, though politically we certainly had feelings. But here, I think we expressed a feeling which I felt was for all people, but they felt that I had a, my studies expressed a feeling for the outcome of the experience, horrible experience of the people in the two cities underwent.

TI: What kind of acknowledgement have you received from, on this side, the U.S. side, for your work?

JY: Oh, from the universities, they acknowledged that for the, I guess that's what it was for, alumni association awards.

TI: So the universities had recognized it. How about the U.S. government? Was there anything from them in terms of acknowledging the work you've done in support area?

JY: No, I don't think so. Oh, there are a lot of other people, too, involved, hundreds. That's not anything I'm looking for or anything. [Laughs]

TI: Yeah, I wouldn't hold my breath either. [Laughs] Yeah, we're just rounding up five hours right now, so I just wanted to thank you for spending the day with he. This has been a delightful interview, and the last two days have been wonderful getting to know you and Aki. Thank you so much for opening your house up to us. I wanted to also thank the cameraperson, Carl, who arranged for this wonderful interview, and look forward to working with you more. So thank you.

JY: Thank you.

<End Segment 42> - Copyright © 2005 Densho. All Rights Reserved.