A typical day while in high school: waking up at 3 o'clock in the morning to start work, attending school, then studying in the evening
Although Mr. Matsumoto does not identify himself as a Kibei (American-born person of Japanese ancestry sent to Japan for formal education and socialization when young and later returned to the U.S.), …
Family background: father was a stowaway at age nineteen on a ship from Japan to the U.S.
This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in …
Discussion of decision in camp to renounce U.S. citizenship, family's near-deportation to Japan
This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in this collection are typically …
Memories of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and attending school the next day: being identified with Japan
This interview was conducted by sisters Emiko and Chizuko Omori for their 1999 documentary, Rabbit in the Moon, about the Japanese American resisters of conscience in the World War II incarceration camps. As a result, the interviews in …
Nisei male. Born October 3, 1918, in Sacramento, California. During World War II, was drafted out of the Poston concentration camp, Arizona. Served with the Military Intelligence service as a translator and interpreter in India, Burma and Japan.
Kibei male, born October 12, 1923, in Seattle, Washington. Raised primarily in San Francisco, California, spending four years in Hiratsuka, Japan. Was incarcerated with his family at Topaz concentration camp, Utah. Refused to sign the so-called "loyalty questionnaire," and as a consequence was moved to Tule Lake Segregation Center, California. In Tule, he renounced his U.S. …
Kibei male. Born August 1, 1915, in Portland, Oregon. Sent with siblings to be educated in Japan when ten years old. Returned to the United States in 1935. During World War II, was incarcerated at the Portland Assembly Center, Oregon, and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Active in Seattle's postwar Japanese American community as a member and …
Nisei male. Born August 10, 1925, in Chicago, Illinois. Grew up primarily in Los Angeles, California, where parents ran a restaurant. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, removed to the Santa Anita Assembly Center, California, where he participating in running an organized gambling operation. Moved briefly to Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming, before being sent to …
Nisei male. Born April 14, 1924, in San Francisco, California. Went to Japan with family at a very young age before returning to San Francisco. During World War II, removed to the Santa Anita Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. Answered "no-no" on the so-called "loyalty questionnaire" and transferred to Tule Lake concentration …
Nisei male. Born May 9, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. Grew up in Los Angeles and was in high school when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. During the war, removed to the Manzanar concentration camp, California. Left camp to attend Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, then was inducted into the army. Joined …
Kibei Nisei couple. Kikuno was born in the United States, then moved to Japan with her family after her father passed away. In the lead up to World War II, her uncle sent Kikuno and her brother back to the United States, where they were raised in foster care in northern California. During World War II, …
Kibei Nisei couple. Kikuno was born in the United States, then moved to Japan with her family after her father passed away. In the lead up to World War II, her uncle sent Kikuno and her brother back to the United States, where they were raised in foster care in northern California. During World War II, …
Nisei male. Born August 25, 1924, in Alameda, California. Grew up in Alameda, where father ran a food wholesaling business. Was in high school when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. Left Topaz on student leave to attend the University of …
Nisei male. Born February 21, 1918, in Selma, California. Drafted prior to World War II. During the war, served in the Military Intelligence Service with the Mars Task Force in Burma, and as an interpreter for General MacArthur in Japan.
Shin-Issei female. Born July 21, 1936, in Sasebo, Japan. Was a child in Okayama during World War II. After the war, immigrated to the United States and lived and worked in various places including Honoulu, Hawaii, and Portland, Oregon.
Nisei male. Born July 31, 1923, in Bainbridge Island, Washington. Age 18 when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, was removed with family to Manzanar concentration camp, California. Later transferred to the Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Became an auto mechanic after World War II.
Caption on reverse: "JAPAN MUSICAL STARS MEET GOVERNOR: Pictured here is the group of Japanese musicians, led by famed composer and guitarist Masao Koga, who were received by Governor Ingram M. Stainback in Iolani Palace yesterday afternoon. The governor has just been presented with a doll. Left to right: Itsuo Tokunaga, one of the promoters of …
Article: "Mrs. Shimizu Here For Three-Week Visit. Mrs. Ikuko Shimizu, wife of Yasuzo Shimizu of the Obirin Gakuen near Tokyo, arrived here this morning aboard the APL liner President Cleveland after a year's tour of the mainland United States. She will remain here for about three weeks, and is scheduled to sail for Japan on the …
Caption on reverse [translation]: "Bids for possession of Sanrakuan over 210,000 yen. (Osaka) February 17, 1940. Collectors from all over Japan paid attention to 213 artworks, including seven important state artworks from Magosaburo Ohara's Sanrakuan collection. This auction started at 6 p.m. on the 16th, and [?] Yamanaka is [?]. The action was held as the …
Caption on reverse [translation]: "(Tokyo) November 3, 1935. A hanging decoration of Emperor Meiji's poem was made by three persons. Sasaburo Hayakawa lives in [?] city, and Kato [?] and [??] live in Tokyo city. They successfully made the hanging decoration. Emperor Meiji's poem was used by Chosei Ogasawara and Togo, an army general (Togo and …
Photocopy of a declassified data card with biographical information on Keisaburo Koyama. The card is labeled "1a" and has a white check mark along the bottom center. Information on the card was acquired from two Japanese newspapers: The Great Northern Daily News and The North American Times. Translations of both articles was provided by Confidential Informant …
Selected article titles: "Eight Nisei Evacuees Enlisted in U.S. Army at Height of Disturbance at Poston Center" (p. 1), "107 Evacuees, First Contingent From Hawaii, Relocated at Jerome Center in Arkansas" (p. 1), "JACL Reiterates December 7 Denunciation of Military Japan" (p. 1), "Delay in Prosecuting Cases Against Nisei Civil Service Workers Told Assemblyman" (p. 2), …
Selected article titles: "Nisei Battalion Fighting on Anzio Beachhead" (p. 1), "Army Says Nisei Will Not Be Used in Combat Against Japan" (p. 1), "Young Japanese Alien Gets American Citizenship Through Service in United States Army" (p. 1), "Student Relocation Program Successful, Reports Hibbard" (p. 2), "WRA Reopens Isolation Camp in Arizona. Leupp Will House Troublemakers …
Selected article titles: "Fifty-Nine Members of Nisei Unit Awarded Purple Heart For Wounds in Italy Campaign" (p. 1), "Japanese Canadians Refuse To Accept Japan Foodstuffs In Protest Against Fascism" (p. 1), "Gen. Emmons Warns Against Retaliation" (p. 1), "Railroad Offers Settlement To Evacuees in Accident Suit" (p. 1), "Hawaii's Japanese Americans Major Factor in Rebuilding Territory's …
Selected article titles: "442nd Not Slated for Occupation of Japan" (p. 1), "Japanese American Troops Chosen to Lead V-J Parade" (p. 1), "War Dept. Has 'No Information' On Redeployment of Nisei Unit; Radio Report Proved Erroneous" (p. 1), "Fire Siren Used To Tell Victory at WRA Center" (p. 1), "WRA Director Believes War Record of Nisei …