Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1571/

Life in the Philippines

The community of nearly 2,000 people – by the – the Pacific War started, I think many return to Japan, but still, quite a few numbers were there. And there were baseball group, judo group, small group, kendo, odori, and there were festivals – obon festivals, and parade. There’s a – a movie theater, a – a lot shops, a lot was going on.

Civilians were welcomed, but when the war became very difficult, I think that there were a lot of incidences that were negative, being, you know, like natives were attacked as well as civilian Japanese who were attacked and forced to do something they didn’t want to do, like giving up the food, and they – at the end, they did not have a good feeling toward – but during the time we left, I think the relationship was good.


communities 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)

Ariyoshi,George

Ethnic diversity

(b.1926) Democratic politician and three-term Governor of Hawai'i

Ariyoshi,George

Prom during the war

(b.1926) Democratic politician and three-term Governor of Hawai'i

Ariyoshi,Jean Hayashi

Day Pearl Harbor was bombed

Former First Lady of Hawai'i

Funai,Kazuo

Japan vs. the United States (Japanese)

(1900-2005) Issei businessman

Hirabayashi,James

Christian gatherings in homes

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

Hirabayashi,James

Life in camp as teenager

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

Katayama,Robert

Being ordered to keep a diary that was later confiscated, ostensibly by the FBI

Hawaiian Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.

Kawakami,Barbara

Bombing of Pearl Harbor

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

Kawakami,Barbara

Helping soldiers

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

Kodani,Mas

Fun at concentration camp

Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.

Kochiyama,Yuri

Father as prisoner of war in hospital

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

Kochiyama,Yuri

Patriotism versus loyalty

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

Kochiyama,Yuri

Postcards to Nisei soldiers

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

Kochiyama,Yuri

Hiding what happened in camp

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

Kochiyama,Yuri

Camp as a positive thing

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.