In 1940, I think, when they took census, there were twenty-six thousand Japanese and Japanese Peruvians in Peru and ninety percent were in Lima and Callao. But as far as housing and things, we were scattered all over the place, so there were no, no Japantown. Well, they had picnics like Fukuoka-kens (prefecture) and Kumamoto-kens, Okinawa-kens. They had their own, and we all had our own picnics. And like, like once a year in the school, they had the undokai (sporting event), which was a big thing. They'd divide the kids into red and white groups and you do different things like running and jumping all day, and you have a contest between red and white.
Nisei male. Born June 6, 1930 in Callao, Peru. Grew up in Peru, raised by both parents and grandparents. During World War II, taken with parents to the United States on a U.S. troop transport ship. Lived in the Crystal City internment camp, Texas, until family moved to work at Seabrook, New Jersey, a produce work company camp. Drafted into the army in the 1950s, even though considered an illegal alien, and served in Germany. Raised a family in Chicago, Illinois, and San Jose, California after military discharge. In recent years, attended several pilgrimages to Tule Lake incarceration camp, California, as well as reunions of Japanese Peruvians. Involved in the Campaign for Justice, an effort to obtain redress for Japanese Latin Americans. He passed away on July 31, 2018 at age 88. (July 2018)