I didn't think anything of it (Pearl Harbor) myself at the time. It didn't, it didn't mean... immediately, it did not register in me that there was that big a change. I mean, we had been at war already, it was, maybe the war had extended but it didn't, I knew that it would mean it was... my brother -- not my brother, but my uncle in Japan was a soldier. He was an officer in the Japanese Imperial Army at that time, and I knew about him being there, so I knew that that would mean he was going to be fighting against the Allies, which included Canada and now the United States was joining the Allies. It wasn't like it was, like immediately I knew all what it meant. I didn't know all, in all the little bits and pieces of what was happening. I didn't even know what effect it would have on me at that time.

Canada World War II

Date: July 25 & 26, 2006

Location: Washington, US

Interviewer: Tom Ikeda

Contributed by: Denshō: The Japanese American Legacy Project.

Interviewee Bio

Henry Shimizu was born in Prince Rupert, B.C. in 1928 and was interned in New Denver during the war. After leaving the internment camp, he moved to Edmonton where he still resides. As a medical graduate, Dr. Henry Shimizu specialized in plastic surgery and has been active in the medical community by serving in numerous leadership positions. From 1989 to 2002, he served as chairperson of JCRF. He is an artist and has painted a number of scenes from his internment days. His works were exhibited in several communities. For his outstanding contribution to the community, he has received several awards including the NAJC National Award 1999, the University of Alberta Distinguished Alumni Award 2004 and the Order of Canada 2004. (July 26, 2006)