Interviews
Apprehension about leaving camp
Because I was reluctant to leave, they were trying to push me out, because they said, Well, your two children are out. You've got to leave camp. And I said, "Well, I can't leave my mother and dad here by themselves." And they said, "Well, don't worry, because Hank was gonna come and get them," so I finally... I had quite a debate with my daughter, because I didn't want to go Chicago, but she did. I wanted to come back to Seattle. No, she wanted to go to a big city. She was just bent on going -- we got in a terrible argument.
So I had to go before a counselor, which was very unpleasant for me, because they were all trying to get me out. So there was just no way that I was gonna win. But I didn't want go because I was afraid, for one thing. You know, you don't have any money and you don't have no experience, you're working in a strange city. In the first place, I didn't like cities. But they finally forced me out and I had to go.
Date: September 15-17, 2004
Location: Washington, US
Interviewer: Alice Ito
Contributed by: Denshō: The Japanese American Legacy Project.
Explore More Videos
Finding work in the assembly center
(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.
442 soldiers visiting U.S. concentration camps
(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i
Making the decision to resist the draft
(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.
Social activities in Tashme
(b.1920) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Established the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Toronto
Difference between experiences of youth and older people in WWII camps
(b.1929) Pioneer medical researcher in tissue transfer and organ transplantation.
Closing the Japanese school and deportation (Spanish)
(b. 1932-2016) Peruvian painter
Death of sister in October 1942
(1915 - 2011) Nisei florist who resettled in New York City after WW II. Active in Japanese American civil rights movement
Father in camp but learning from history books
Giant Robot co-founder and publisher
Mixed blood people at camp from a child's point of view
(b. 1934) Writer
Documenting family history for future generations
(b. 1934) Writer
Different learning style in Japan and the United States
(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer
An emotional response from mother upon talking about incarceration experience
(b. 1946) Lawyer