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RP: This is an oral history for the Manzanar National Historic Site. This morning we're talking with Tosh Izumi.

TI: Yes.

RP: And the interview is taking place at the West Los Angeles Japanese United Methodist Church at 1913 Purdue Street in West Los Angeles. The date of our interview is March 2, 2010. Our interviewer is Richard Potashin, our videographer is Kirk Peterson. And we'll be talking with Mr. Izumi about his experiences growing up on Terminal Island as well as his removal from Terminal Island and eventual relocation to the Tulare Assembly Center and the Gila River War Relocation Center.

TI: Yes.

RP: Our interview will be archived in the park's library. And, Tosh, do I have your permission to go ahead and record our interview?

TI: Oh, yes.

RP: And may...

TI: It won't be in detail I don't think because I've forgotten so much.

RP: Okay. May I refer to you as Tosh?

TI: Oh, yes.

RP: Okay. Thank you very much.

TI: That's they I'm known, as Tosh.

RP: Tosh, where were you born and what year?

TI: I was born in Villa Park in Orange County in the year 1918, May the 7th.

RP: And what was your given name at birth?

TI: That was my, that's the only name I've gone under, Toshiro.

RP: Toshiro?

TI: Yes.

RP: Okay. And I'd like to get to know your father a little more. Can you tell us where he came from in Japan?

TI: Yes. He was born in a small town in Wakayama prefecture, a small town called Koza, K-O-Z-A, which is a fishing village. And his family was engaged in, not in fishing itself, but in buying the fishes and sending it out to the different cities in Japan.

RP: Like a middle man.

TI: Yes.

RP: And your father's name?

TI: My father's name was Kuichi, spelling K-U-I-C-H-I. That's a family trend. The family is known as Izuku, Izumiku. Ku is nine and I was there after the war and I inquired at people in asking them where is the Izumikue mon? No one knew. But I said then also known as Izuku. Then they'd point out the house where my father used to live.

RP: Your father attended not a regular grammar school but kind of a special school called Terakoya?

TI: Yes, Terakoya. That's a school run by the Buddhist temple and I guess they learned just about same thing you would learn in a regular school except that at that time there were very few schools. And so if you want any education you went to the Buddhist temple and got your lessons there. It was, I believe, mostly writing and reading in Japanese language.

RP: Your father, did he come from a large or a small family?

TI: Well, it was a medium sized family I guess. And they all took after the family and they were involved in the fishing industry.

RP: Okay. Later your father was drafted into the Japanese army?

TI: Yes. Uh-huh. This was prior to the Russo-Japanese War. And I don't know how well he was, but he became a sergeant. And he was given one of the highest medal that's given to a Japanese soldier.

RP: Do you know the name of the medal?

TI: Yes, they call it Kinshi Kunsho.

RP: And what was it, what did it...

TI: Of course, it has different degree, you know, Kinshi Kunsho first, second, third, and so forth. You could save the country and yet being just a plain soldier. I think he got the, if I'm not mistaken, the eighth grade Kinshi Kunsho. If a general had served and done the same thing he would have been given the highest which would be the first degree.

RP: And then later on, you know, when he settled in the United States, his involvement in that war would be very significant to his life.

TI: Yes. He belonged to a group of former Japanese veterans. And being a... well, quite high as a sergeant, he was better known as -- sergeant is gunso -- and they never used his name. He was always referred as gunso, sergeant.

RP: So he worked for this firm dealing with fish in Japan?

TI: In Japan yes. That firm is still in place, yes.

RP: And what, you said that you visited your father's hometown or village, Koza...

TI: Koza, yes. I was there a year before the war broke out so it was 1940. And this was with a group of... I referred to you the other day as involving kendo. And the group of us were taken to Japan and we were involved not, not in any matches but we practiced different schools, different village kendo group in Japan and in Korea and we went to Manchuria too.

<End Segment 1> - Copyright © 2010 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.