Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1566/

Captured by Guerillas after bombing of Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor – that time was December 8, 1941, and I was about three, I think three and a half? And then, I remember we were captured by the guerilla – about three days after Pearl Harbor. Well, we didn’t know about what happened, but we – guerillas captured us, and then placed in captive watch, and I had scariest memory of – you know, the guerilla guard man, he flashed a bayonet that was attached to the gun, and I was so scared. I remember that. And the war became – I said – we were rescued ten days later, and then the – we had a peaceful time, but the war became more serious, and American airplanes started to bomb Davao, and so we had to evacuate.


Pearl Harbor attack, Hawaii, 1941 Philippines World War II

Date: July 12, 2017

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Mitsue Watanabe, Yoko Nishimura, Leighton Okada

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

Interviewee Bio

Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura was born in Davao, Mindanao, Philippines on March 25, 1938 as the first daughter of Katsujiro and Ura “Mie” Ashizawa. She was 7 years old in 1945 when her family had to leave the Philippines after Japan’s defeat in World War II. Her family lived in Shizuoka for the next 10 years. ​Later the family received r​​esidency status in the United States ​and arrived in Los Angeles ​in March 1956. Sawako went to Alhambra High School and later studied at Pasadena City College. She eventually found a generous mentor who helped support her through her education at San Jose State University and became a​​n occupational therapist. Currently she is volunteering at the Sakura Garden (Formerly Keiro Retirement Home). (March 2018)

Yuri Kochiyama
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Kochiyama,Yuri

Conditions of assembly centers

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

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Yuri Kochiyama
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Kochiyama,Yuri

Visit to assembly centers by E. Stanley Jones

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

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Yuri Kochiyama
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Kochiyama,Yuri

Postcards to Nisei soldiers

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

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Yuri Kochiyama
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Kochiyama,Yuri

Hiding what happened in camp

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

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Yuri Kochiyama
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Kochiyama,Yuri

Arrest of father

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

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Yuri Kochiyama
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Kochiyama,Yuri

Camp as a positive thing

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

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Yuri Kochiyama
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Kochiyama,Yuri

Mr. Finch, godfather of the 442nd

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

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Yuri Kochiyama
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Kochiyama,Yuri

Rounding up Issei and Nikkei

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

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Wakako Nakamura Yamauchi
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Yamauchi,Wakako Nakamura

Her experience as a Japanese-American schoolchild in Oceanside, California, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor

(1924-2018) Artist and playwright.

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Roy H. Matsumoto
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Matsumoto,Roy H.

Mixed emotions after declaration of war on Japan

(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.

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Roy H. Matsumoto
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Matsumoto,Roy H.

Finding work in the assembly center

(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.

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Roy H. Matsumoto
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Matsumoto,Roy H.

Train ride to Jerome Relocation Center

(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.

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Roy H. Matsumoto
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Matsumoto,Roy H.

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.

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Roy H. Matsumoto
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Matsumoto,Roy H.

Finding his relative among Japanese prisoners

(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.

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Peggie Nishimura Bain
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Bain,Peggie Nishimura

Evacuation

(b.1909) Nisei from Washington. Incarcerated at Tule Lake and Minidoka during WWII. Resettled in Chicago after WWII

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