Interviews
Remembering December 7, 1941
I was living at that time at 944 Cook Street in Honolulu. As a freshman I had entered University of Hawai`i in September of 1941. I was studying on that day, I believe it was a Sunday, a holiday. I was at home studying and listening to the radio at the same time. And at about six, seven AM in the morning the radio announcer said, "There is a massive maneuver going on above Pearl Harbor," and he kept on describing what was happening. He said after awhile, he said, “No, this is not a maneuver." He said, "This is the real McCoy!” And he said, “Real McCoy! Real McCoy!” And then he said it is reported that they saw on the planes the rising sun red ball on the wings of the airplanes. So we knew of course that Japanese navy was attacking Pearl Harbor. Also, soon after, as a freshmen at the University of Hawai`i, I was required to take Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) course for one hour every morning seven o’ clock. The radio announced that all ROTC students should report to the armory nearby. And I reported to the army and we were sworn in to the Hawai`i Territorial Guard. They gave us uniforms. And what we did in the guard was to guard not military installations, but electric plants and water supplies, equipment sources, and places like that.
Date: May 29, 2006
Location: Hawai`i, US
Interviewer: Akemi Kikumura Yano
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Evacuated to the Jungle
(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.
Captured by Guerillas after bombing of Pearl Harbor
(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.
Grandfather picked up by US Army
(b. 1952) Former banking executive, born in Hawaii
Father's business partner operated their farming business during WWII
(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.
Father was convinced the constitution would protect him
(b. 1935) Sansei businessman.
The lack of discussion about family’s incarceration in Amache
Sansei judge for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California
Her brother’s reasons as a No-No Boy
(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist
Her grandfather was pressured to teach Japanese
Sansei judge on the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California
Neighbor took care of her mother after grandfather was taken by FBI
Sansei judge on the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California
Immediately after the bombing
(b. 1938) Japanese American. Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor
Other family members not as lucky
(b. 1938) Japanese American. Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor
His parents had little hope that he had survived the atomic bomb
(b. 1938) Japanese American. Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor
His views on nuclear weapons
(b. 1938) Japanese American. Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor
Loss When Leaving for Manzanar
Japanese American animator for Walt Disney and Hanna Barbera (1925-2007)
