Descubra a los Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/es/interviews/clips/1518/

Visiting Hiroshima

I went to Hiroshima and I told my folks that I was going to go there before I came home. And so they sent me the address of my mother and father’s relatives. And I got to Hiroshima and before you come into Hiroshima, it’s just flat. I went there and I got off the train. And it was, there was no station. Nothing there. Just a place to stop. That was it. This was the Hiroshima station.

And when I was there, the Australian, the Australian forces had jurisdiction over Hiroshima. And he says, “Yes you can get out, walk around if you like.” He says, “We’re not going to come after you if it’s dark, so you’re out there alone.” So as soon as I get off, there was freshly built store out of wood, freshly built out of timber. Who would you think, I went over there to talk. Said, “Hello.” And the girl answered me in perfect English. She said, “Yes, I was in Tule Lake. I came back in Japan.” She said, “What is it you wanted to do?” I said, “I want to find my folks’ relatives.” She says, “The best thing you can do is, go around this here structure over here and there’s a police officer there.” So in a little - like a telephone - booth was a police officer. As soon as I showed him the address, he said, “There’s no such place out here any more.” And that was it, so I left.

Here’s the real start about the story is. Oh, it was within a month. The reception at our office building says, “Jimmy, there’s someone here looking for you.” “Alright. Bring them in the office.” Here comes this gentleman walking in. In everyday clothes. And he says, “I’m Tokutaro Fukuhara.” Oh my gosh. This is the man I was looking for! In Hiroshima. 


Fecha: February 6, 2015

Zona: California, US

Entrevista: John Esaki

País: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Entrevista

Jimmy Ko Fukuhara nació el 21 de septiembre de 1921 en Los Ángeles, California, hijo de los inmigrantes japoneses Ume e Ichisuke Fukuhara. En 1927, el padre se mudó con la familia a Santa Mónica, California y se inició en el negocio de los viveros. Luego de graduarse de la Secundaria Santa Mónica, Jimmy trabajó en el vivero, hasta 1942, cuando su familia y él fueron enviados al Campo de Concentración de Manzanar.

Jimmy pudo dejar el campo antes,  y se mudó a Pensilvania con su hermano menor George. En el trascurso de sesenta días, Jimmy fue reclutado por el ejército, y se hizo voluntario para servir en la Escuela de Inteligencia Militar. Tras recibir un entrenamiento básico, Jimmy fue enviado a Tokio, Japón. Allí trabajó para el Departamento de Trabajo en el cuartel general del General MacArthur. Antes de dejar el Japón visitó Hiroshima, con la esperanza de conectarse con los parientes de sus padres. Tras ser licenciado, Jimmy regresó a Santa Mónica y al negocio de viveros de la familia. Jimmy continuó su trabajo en el vivero con sus cuatro hermanos hasta que se jubiló en 1986. (Mayo de 2016)

Ito,Willie

Parents

(n. 1934) Galardonado artista de animación de Disney que fue encarcelado en Topaz durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial

Uchimura,Sawako Ashizawa

Family was shipped back to Japan after the war

(n.1938) Repatriada filipina de nacimiento que luego emigró a los Estados Unidos