Interviews
Miscommunications
I asked if she would meet me in Kamakura again, to see the Daibutsu I guess, that's how it happened. And so I...the next couple—it was a week later anyway—we were to meet again in Kamakura. I came all the way from Kamakura and I went to the meeting place and no Hamako—she didn't show up. So I got real mad to be stand—stood off by a Japanese girl and so it happened that she couldn't help it, she wrote a letter to me and...at this building where I was located in Japan, I mean in Tokyo...oh gosh I wish I could remember it. But anyway, the letter was intercepted by the army and the letter said, something...I couldn't make it this week that we had the date and...but I didn't know because the army would not allow any correspondence between officers and enemy people—which the Japanese were at that time—considered.
And so, let's see I don't know how she came and apologized, she showed me the letter that was sent back to her—the army intercepted it and sent back to her—so she showed me the letter and so I couldn't get mad then so from then on we dated.
Date: January 26, 2012
Location: California, US
Interviewer: John Esaki, Yoko Nishimura
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
The birth of a novel through a conversation with her nephew
(b. 1934) Writer
Mixed emotions after declaration of war on Japan
(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.
Train ride to Jerome Relocation Center
(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.
Atmosphere in his Merrill’s Marauders unit when surrounded by Japanese soldiers
(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.
Under suspicion after Pearl Harbor
(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i
Family's deportation from Peru to U.S. after the bombing of Pearl Harbor
(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.
Conditions aboard U.S. transport ship while being deported from Peru
(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.
Ransacking of family home by FBI following the bombing of Pearl Harbor
(b. 1927) Japanese American Nisei. Family voluntarily returned to Japan during WWII.
Witnessing father's arrest through a child's eyes
(b. 1927) Japanese American Nisei. Family voluntarily returned to Japan during WWII.
Participating in military drills in school in Japan during the war
(b. 1927) Japanese American Nisei. Family voluntarily returned to Japan during WWII.
Hearing anti-American war propaganda from a teacher
(b. 1927) Japanese American Nisei. Family voluntarily returned to Japan during WWII.
The hardships of life in Japan during World War II
(b. 1927) Japanese American Nisei. Family voluntarily returned to Japan during WWII.