Interviews
Father's business partner operated their farming business during WWII
In 1940 when the war started of course we went to camp, but fortunately Tom Bunn continued to operate the business, and my father and Tom Bunn continued to correspond back and forth by telephone by telegram while we were in the Salinas Assembly Center. And I remember Tom Bunn coming to visit us in the Relocation Camp in Salinas, Rodeo Ground, and my father would get permission to go to the camp headquarters to meet with Tom Bunn. I went with him. Tom Bunn would bring me a stick of salami and my sister a doll. I don’t know how my father communicated with Tom Bunn while we were relocated to Arizona—Poston, Arizona—but somehow they did.
Date: March 22, 2018
Location: California, US
Interviewer: John Esaki
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Rounding up Issei and Nikkei
(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.
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.