Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1664/

Moving to Cincinnati after Topaz

High school in Topaz, all I know is I just wanted to get out. As soon as I graduated we relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio since some very good family friends had gone there. I don’t think there was any prejudice ‘cause they were very few Japanese there. Very few. All I know is when we rented an apartment from this person, this woman said she had never met a Japanese person before.


Cincinnati Ohio postwar Topaz United States Utah World War II World War II camps

Date: November 23, 2018

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Patricia Wakida

Contributed by: A Co-Production of the Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum and KCET

Interviewee Bio

Kay Sekimachi, born in 1926 in San Francisco, is an American fiber artist best known for her masterful, three-dimensional woven monofilament hangings as well as her intricate baskets and bowls. Born in San Francisco on September 30, 1926, Sekimachi was interned with her family at Tanforan Assembly Center in California and then the Topaz concentraton camp in Utah from 1942 to 1944. (June 2018)

Takayo Fischer
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Fischer,Takayo

Being Confused about Racial Identity in Postwar United States

(b. 1932) Nisei American stage, film, and TV actress

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Mitsuye Yamada
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Yamada,Mitsuye

Grateful for The Quakers’ help in camp and finding jobs outside of camp

(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist

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Mitsuru "Mits"  Kataoka
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Kataoka,Mitsuru "Mits"

Sister was born before family was taken to Heart Mountain

(1934–2018) Japanese American designer, educator, and pioneer of media technologies

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Mitsuru "Mits"  Kataoka
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Kataoka,Mitsuru "Mits"

Learned what it meant to be called “Jap” in Heart Mountain

(1934–2018) Japanese American designer, educator, and pioneer of media technologies

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Howard Kakita
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Kakita,Howard

Reuniting with parents in America

(b. 1938) Japanese American. Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor

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Howard Kakita
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Kakita,Howard

Adjustment to American life

(b. 1938) Japanese American. Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor

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Jimmy Naganuma
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Naganuma,Jimmy

First meal at Crystal City

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Jimmy Naganuma
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Naganuma,Jimmy

Enjoying undokai and sports in Crystal City

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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George Kazuharu Naganuma
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Naganuma,George Kazuharu

Thunder in Crystal City

(b. 1938) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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George Kazuharu Naganuma
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Naganuma,George Kazuharu

Kids activities in Crystal City

(b. 1938) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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George Kazuharu Naganuma
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Naganuma,George Kazuharu

Having a house at camp

(b. 1938) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Kazumu Naganuma
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Naganuma,Kazumu

Finding family’s barrack on map of Crystal City

(b. 1942) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Kazumu Naganuma
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Naganuma,Kazumu

His sister Kiyo was like a second mother to him

(b. 1942) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Masato Ninomiya
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Ninomiya,Masato

What made your parents decide to move to Brazil?

Professor of Law, University of Sao Paulo, Lawyer, Translator (b. 1948)

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