Interviews
His family Traveled to Japan in 1940
My father received words—through letter—that his father was gravely ill, and that he was not expected to live much longer. And that he desperately wanted to see his children as well as the only grandkids they had, that was my brother and myself. My father packed us all up very early in 1940, probably around January. So, my brother Kenny, myself, my father and my mother, who at that time was eight months pregnant. That's a pretty difficult situation to be traveling in those days, at that late stage in pregnancy. We have a photo of us on the ship. Although she was hiding her bump, tummy, she was definitely pregnant and she was determined not to have the baby until she arrived in Japan and reached the destination where she was born, in Furue. On February 20 of 1940, my younger brother, Albert Kenji, was born. That takes us in[to] February. Then we stayed in Japan until June of that year. There were parties and lots of reunion[s].
Miraculously my father—my grandfather I meant—his health greatly improved during this period. Basically he was suffering from probably what they classify nowadays as depression. He took to drinking too much sake probably. His health was declining, but when we got there he started to behave himself and his health improved, until he found out that we were all returning to United States. That was in June. By that time the money has run out. My parents still had [a] home in Los Angeles, which they had to take care of. When my grandfather's health started declining, they decided to take care of their business in [the] United States and then return to Japan to take care of my grandfather. Well, to show good faith that they were planning to return, they left my older brother Kenny and myself in their care. That was June of 1940. However, the war started and my parents and the whole family were interned in Poston, Arizona along with all the other Japanese American in the neighborhood. And they were there for the duration of the war.
Date: September 3, 2019
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Masako Miki
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
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.
Celebrating traditional Japanese New Years with family
(b.1951) Co-founder and managing director of San Jose Taiko.
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.
Living in Japan during the war, preparing for U.S. bombings
(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.
Neighbor took care of hotel business during the World War II
(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer