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Facing Prejudice as a Japanese American Teenager in Chicago after the War

In Chicago, there was a lot of – still a lot of prejudice. I remember being asked to a senior prom by a Caucasian boy, but then he had to un-invite me at the last minute because they were having a party at their home, and his mother wouldn’t have me in the home, being Japanese. You know, it’s funny, I don’t – I remember accepting it, “That’s okay, that’s okay,” because I was used to a lot of prejudice in a way. And I remember just walking down the street sometimes, someone would just push me over, and so I think – you know, I was glad that he asked me, but I also accepted when he had to un-ask me.


Chicago Illinois postwar prejudices United States World War II

Date: November 8, 2018

Location: California, US

Interviewer: June Berk

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Takayo Fischer, born in November 1932, is a Nisei American stage, film, and TV actress. During World War II, as a young child, she and her family were forcibly evacuated from the West Coast and spent time in the Fresno Assembly Center before being relocated to Jerome and Rohwer concentration camps. Fischer later lived in Chicago, Illinois, where, as a young adult, she won the crown of “Miss Nisei Queen.” She has appeared in dozens of major Hollywood films, including Moneyball (2011), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), and Memoirs of a Geisha (2005). She also appeared in the stage production of The World of Suzie Wong in New York in 1958 and many productions with East West Players in Los Angeles. (June 2018)

Jane Aiko Yamano
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Yamano,Jane Aiko

Lack of language skills

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

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Paul Terasaki
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Terasaki,Paul

His experiences in Chicago after WWII

(b.1929) Pioneer medical researcher in tissue transfer and organ transplantation.

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Enson Inoue
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Inoue,Enson

Disadvantages of looking Japanese

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

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Kip Fulbeck
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Fulbeck,Kip

Discomfort at being labeled by others

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Sakaye Shigekawa
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Shigekawa, Sakaye

Differences in discrimination

(1913-2013) Doctor specializing in obstetrics in Southern California

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Terry Janzen
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Janzen,Terry

Tomboy

(b. 1930) Half Japanese and grew up in both Japan and the United States.

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Terry Janzen
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Janzen,Terry

Postwar school-life

(b. 1930) Half Japanese and grew up in both Japan and the United States.

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Jean Hamako Schneider
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Schneider,Jean Hamako

Meeting Harry for the first time (Japanese)

(b. 1925) War bride

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Jean Hamako Schneider
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Schneider,Jean Hamako

On international marriages (Japanese)

(b. 1925) War bride

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Susumu “Sus” Ito
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Ito,Susumu “Sus”

Feeling prejudice while looking for jobs

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Susumu “Sus” Ito
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Ito,Susumu “Sus”

Coming home to his mother after the war

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Jimmy Ko Fukuhara
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Fukuhara,Jimmy Ko

After being discharged and returning to the nursery business

(b. 1921) Nisei veteran who served in the occupation of Japan

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Tom Yuki
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Yuki,Tom

Japanese were not welcomed back to Salinas

(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.

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Tom Yuki
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Yuki,Tom

Felt no hostility in Los Gatos, California after the war

(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.

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Tom Yuki
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Yuki,Tom

Able to settle easily in Los Gatos with foresight and luck

(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.

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