Interviews
Hearing about Pearl Harbor
Actually, when I heard the news, at the Japanese school we had Alumni club, those that graduated from the Japanese school. And unfortunately, I happened to be president at the time. So we had some meeting to be held on that Sunday. I don’t know if it was preparing for a Christmas party because it was the 7th. Either it was a Christmas party or preparing for a New Year’s celebration.
So I went there alone, but when I got there, about four or five of us were there at the same time. And the teacher come out there and says, “No, go home.” Why? He said, “Didn’t you know that Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese?” We're wondering, "what is he talking about?" He said, “This may be the last time that you will come to the Japanese school, but don’t come to the Japanese school. Stay away from the Japanese school.”
And so that was it. That’s the last time, that’s what I remember that the war had started in 1941.
Date: February 6, 2015
Location: California, US
Interviewer: John Esaki
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Neighbor took care of hotel business during the World War II
(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer
Anti-Japanese sentiment at the time of World War II
(b. 1918) Issei businessman in Canada
Lack of political power led to camps
(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist
Choice to move east or go to Japan
(b.1920) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Established the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Toronto
Institutionalization as a bad aspect of camp
(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist
State Department records show concern for treatment of Japanese American internees
(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist
Remembering December 7, 1941
(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation
Meeting Japanese Americans from the mainland in MIS
(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation
Awareness of concentration camps as a Japanese American
(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation
Manhunt
(1919 - 2005) Challenged the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066.
The Final Verdict
(1919 - 2005) Challenged the constitutionality of Executive Order 9066.
Search of family home by the FBI following the bombing of Pearl Harbor
(1937 - 2021) Teacher
Discover Nikkei Updates
Be in our video celebrating Nikkei worldwide. Click to learn how to submit! Deadline extended to October 15!
November 12
5pm PDT | 7pm PET
Featured Nima:
Graciela Nakachi
Guest Host:
Enrique Higa
Presented in Spanish
Sign in with Google
Sign in with Facebook