Tessaku
Tessaku was the name of a short-lived magazine published at the Tule Lake concentration camp during World War II. It also means “barbed wire.” This series brings to light stories of the Japanese American internment, illuminating those that haven’t been told with intimate and honest conversation. Tessaku brings the consequences of racial hysteria to the foreground, as we enter into a cultural and political era where lessons of the past must be remembered.
Stories from this series
Setsuko Asano - Part 1
Nov. 13, 2020 • Emiko Tsuchida
“My family, my parents became pro-America immediately. Their whole psyche was completely turned around.” — Setsuko Asano Setsuko (Izumi) Asano was born on the auspicious day of March 3rd, 1932 or hinamatsuri, the annual celebration of Girls Day in Japan. Perhaps it was fitting that Setsuko’s birth would fall on such a day, as she was last born in a line up of five daughters in her family, with no sons. Sets was born to two Issei parents; her mother …
Jiro Oyama - Part 4
Sept. 27, 2020 • Emiko Tsuchida
Read Part 3 >> If we were going to go back to fill in some of the gaps, after the loyalty questionnaire, were you drafted or did you volunteer? I was drafted. After I got out of high school and camp, I went out to the University of Cincinnati. The American Friends Service Committee provided a scholarship I think it was about $200 dollars. I live with my elder sister, who was single in Cincinnati working as a housemaid. My …
Jiro Oyama - Part 3
Sept. 20, 2020 • Emiko Tsuchida
Read Part 2 >> How long were you in Santa Anita? I guess it was about eight months. And the thing is that to bring some solace to the crowd of people, they had a group of Hawaiian singers and dancers, and there would be a stage where they would have some sort of intimate entertainment. They tried to start some classes to try to maintain the education. But I don’t think that was successful at all. And then Santa …
Jiro Oyama - Part 2
Sept. 13, 2020 • Emiko Tsuchida
Read Part 1 >> This is actually good because it brings us to Pearl Harbor. So your father’s gone and it sounds like your sister's becoming the head of the household. So what do you remember about the day Pearl Harbor happened? It happened two years after my older sister got married. So we had my younger sister, my brother, and me. My second sister, Minnie, was managing the grocery store. And my brother is starting to go at that …
Jiro Oyama - Part 1
Sept. 6, 2020 • Emiko Tsuchida
“And as I was standing there, I was looking around to see, realizing that everyone was concerned about the attack and that they would be looking at me. I didn’t consider other Japanese, too. It was me that was to blame.” — Jiro Oyama Jiro Oyama’s long, fruitful life represents the essence of the achievement of the American dream. As the youngest son born to a hardworking family in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, his early years were …
Richard Yamashiro - Part 4
June 1, 2020 • Emiko Tsuchida
Read Part 3 >> How did you meet your wife? Well, I was in the army, so I went to a USO dance. That’s where I met her. So she’s Japanese American? Yeah. And that’s another story. I wanted to get married, but I was only 20 years old. And so I asked my parents if they would give me permission to get married. She said, no, I was too young. And so, me and my girlfriend hop on a …
