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219 items
Japanese American next to barracks (ddr-densho-151-352)
img Japanese American next to barracks (ddr-densho-151-352)
Original caption: San Bruno, California. Many evacuees suffer from lack of their accustomed activity. The attitude of the man shown in this photograph is typical of the residents in assembly centers, and because there is not much to do and not enough work available, they mill around, they visit, they stroll and they linger to while …
Preschool class (ddr-densho-151-331)
img Preschool class (ddr-densho-151-331)
Original caption: San Bruno, California. Pre-school evacuee children leaving the building for recess at this assembly center. There are about 25 children enrolled with six volunteer student teachers being trained by a Mills College graduate, all of Japanese ancestry.
Japanese Americans carving wood (ddr-densho-151-338)
img Japanese Americans carving wood (ddr-densho-151-338)
Original caption: San Bruno, California. Father and son while away the hours carving small wooden animals for the children in front of their home in the barracks. They have been living at the Assembly center for approximately two weeks.
Japanese Americans working in garden (ddr-densho-151-340)
img Japanese Americans working in garden (ddr-densho-151-340)
Original caption: San Bruno, California. Mrs. Fujita and her neighbor inspecting the tiny vegetable garden she has planted in front of their barracks.
Japanese Americans in doorway of barracks (ddr-densho-151-335)
img Japanese Americans in doorway of barracks (ddr-densho-151-335)
Original caption: San Bruno, California. A mother and daughter, Issei and Nissei, who have been living in this Assembly center for one month, are seen at the door of their home in the barracks.
Art class (ddr-densho-151-355)
img Art class (ddr-densho-151-355)
Original caption: San Bruno, California. In the art school at this assembly center. These evacuee children are remaining after hours to continue their creative work.

Narrator Shirley Nagatomi Okabe

Nisei female. Born February 7, 1937, in San Francisco, California. Grew up in San Francisco, where father was a prominent Buddhist minister. During World War II, removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Manzanar concentration camp, California. After leaving camp, returned to California. Father was instrumental in the planning and building of the cemetery …

Narrator Bob Y. Sakata

Nisei male. Born April 15, 1926 in Alameda, California. Spent childhood in Alameda where family operated 10-acre farm. Removed to Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and Topaz concentration camp, Utah. Resettled in Brighton, Colorado, and resumed farming. Along with wife and son, owns and operates Sakata Farms, currently one of the top produce growers in the country.

Narrator Toru Saito

Sansei male. Born December 11, 1937, in San Francisco, California. Nearly age four when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Removed with family to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. In this interview, Mr. Saito discusses many of the harmful psychological effects of the World War II experience on himself and other Japanese …

Narrator Kazuko Iwahashi

Nisei female. Born December 16, 1929, in Berkeley, California. Grew up in Berkeley where parents operated a nursery business. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, was removed with family to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. After leaving camp, returned to Berkeley, working as a schoolgirl for a white woman while …

Narrator Bob Utsumi

Nisei male. Born November 12, 1928, in Oakland, California. Grew up in Oakland before being removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah, during World War II. Returned to Oakland with family and attended the University of California at Berkeley before enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. Established career in the …

Narrator Kinge Okauchi

Nisei male. Born May 20, 1924, in Sacramento, California. Grew up in Sacramento and Menlo Park, California. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and Topaz concentration camp, Utah. While in Topaz, worked for the recreation department organizing a summer camp for kids. Attended Stanford University after leaving camp, and …

Narrator Kiyo Yoshimura

Nisei female. Born July 31, 1924, in Berkeley, California. Grew up in Richmond, California, where father worked for the Santa Fe railroad company. During World War II, removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. Left camp for Chicago, Illinois. Remained in Chicago, becoming a social worker, and getting involved with …

Narrator Helen Takeshita

Sansei female. Born February 27, 1935, in San Francisco, California. Grew up in San Francisco's Japantown. During World War II, removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. After leaving camp, family lived for a short time in Oregon before returning to California and finding temporary housing in Hunters Point. Eventually …

Narrator Alice Setsuko Sekino Hirai

Nisei/Sansei female. Born November 8, 1939, in San Francisco, California. Removed to Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and Topaz concentration camp, Utah. Family resettled in Salt Lake City, Utah. Moved to San Francisco after one year and back to Salt Lake City in 1950. Attended University of Utah and studied nursing. Speaks to school groups about family's …

Narrator Helen Harano Christ

Sansei female. Born August 26, 1933, in Berkeley, California. Removed to Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and Topaz concentration camp, Utah. Family resettled in North Platte, Nebraska, where father operated a flower shop. Received undergraduate degree in education and sociology from Hastings College in Nebraska. Attended McCormick Seminary in Illinois. Married husband Frank Christ in 1959. Worked …

Narrator Willie K. Ito

Sansei male. Born July 17, 1934, in San Francisco, California. Grew up in San Francisco, where he developed an early interest in Disney and the art of cartooning. During World War II, removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. After leaving camp, returned to San Francisco. Established a long career …

Narrator Yoshio Matsumoto

Nisei male. Born July 12, 1921, in San Diego, California. Grew up in San Diego, and was attending the University of California at Berkeley on December 7, 1941. Removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California. Was selected to leave camp to attend Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Drafted into the military, completed Officer Candidate School, …

Narrator Ben Takeshita

Nisei male. Born August 2, 1930, in San Mateo, California. During World War II, removed with family to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. Due to parents' answers on the so-called "loyalty questionnaire," transferred to Tule Lake when it was designated a segregation center. After leaving camp, returned to San Mateo, …

Narrator Chiyoko Yano

Nisei female. Born February 27, 1918, in Oakland, California. Grew up in Oakland before being removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. In Topaz, worked for the War Relocation Authority in the Central Statistics Division. Husband served in the OSS, the Office of Strategic Services. Lived in Japan during the …

Narrator Yae Wada

Nisei female. Born November 3, 1919, in Berkeley, California. Grew up in Berkeley, where father ran a laundry business. Graduated from school and opened a beauty shop in 1940. During World War II, removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. Had two children in camp and suffered numerous medical complications. …

Narrator Kay Yatabe

Sansei female. Born April 16, 1948 in Berkeley, California. During World War II, parents were incarcerated at the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. After the war, the family returned to the Bay Area, and Kay grew up in El Cerrito, California, where parents ran a shoe repair shop. Attended UC Berkeley …

Narrator Harry Kawahara

Nisei male. Born September 14, 1931, in San Leandro, California. Grew up in San Leandro, where father ran a farm. During World War II, removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz concentration camp, Utah. After leaving camp, moved with family to Salt Lake City for a year before returning to San Leandro. After …

Narrator Ken Yoshida

Nisei male. Born July 31, 1923, in Tacoma, Washington. Lived in Tacoma for a few years before moving with family to Redwood City, California, where family ran a flower nursery. During World War II, removed to the Tanforan Assembly Center, California, and the Topaz (Central Utah) concentration camp, Utah. While in Topaz, refused to obey the …
Mitsue Matsui Interview (ddr-densho-1008-3)
vh Mitsue Matsui Interview (ddr-densho-1008-3)
Nisei female. Born November 3, 1918, in San Francisco, California. As a young woman, entire family visited Japan for ten months, where she acquired the skill of Japanese typing at the Kumahira Typist Yoseisho in Hiroshima. Returned to the U.S. with most of her family (eldest brother remained in Japan) and was working at the Japanese …
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