Interviews
Discrimination faced in San Francisco (Japanese)
(Japanese) Upon arriving in San Francisco, we would go look for an apartment. But they wouldn’t rent us right away. They rejected us. I thought to myself then that they wouldn’t like to rent to black or Japanese people. When they saw us, they looked troubled and said no. When we talked on the phone, they would say O.K. So my husband and I would show up along with our two kids. When we got there, they would tell us different stories and reject us.
Luckily, my husband had a younger sister. So my sister-in-law and her husband had an apartment where we could live. Then after a while we moved into our own apartment.
Date: February 6, 2015
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Izumi Tanaka
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Under suspicion after Pearl Harbor
(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i
Change in attitudes after World War II
(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i
Thoughts on the post-9/11 atmosphere in the U.S.
(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.
Grandfather's arrival in the U.S., experiencing discrimination
(b. 1939) Japanese American painter, printmaker & professor
Dealing with racism within army unit in Korea
(b. 1939) Japanese American painter, printmaker & professor
Collection of artifacts depicting racial stereotypes influences art
(b. 1939) Japanese American painter, printmaker & professor
Encountering racial discrimination at a public swimming pool
(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.
Making the decision to resist the draft
(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.
Anti-Japanese sentiment at the time of World War II
(b. 1918) Issei businessman in Canada
Undergraduate studies interrupted following Pearl Harbor
(b. 1921) Nisei businessman. Established "Made in Oregon" retail stores
Difficulty getting work during World War II
(b. 1921) Nisei businessman. Established "Made in Oregon" retail stores
His experiences in Chicago after WWII
(b.1929) Pioneer medical researcher in tissue transfer and organ transplantation.
Discharged from the U.S. Army after Pearl Harbor
(b. 1918) Founder Azumano Travel