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Father’s Optimism

One of the things about my dad, being Nisei, he was very optimistic. You know, the rumor around Japantown was, oh, sell everything. Get what you can, we’ll never come back. All these stories about Nazi Germany and what was going on in Europe. One of the rumors that we would hear was, what’s going to happen. If Japan won the war, or if US wins the war, what’s going to happen? Either way, we’re all just going to be lined up and executed, so we’ll never comeback.

But my dad, he always thought that, yeah we’ll be back. In fact, he was so optimistic that one of his best friends was a Chinese family. And so he offered Chuck, to live in our home, which he had just purchased in 1939. And so Chuck and his family, and had a daughter about my age at that time. They came and lived in the house. And so after the war, when we came back to San Francisco, we had a home to come back to.


forced removal generations Nisei World War II

Date: August 26, 2015

Location: California, US

Interviewer: John Esaki

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Willie Ito was born July 17, 1934 in San Francisco, California to nisei parents. Seeing Snow White and the Seven Dwarves at the age of five inspired a lifelong love of animation. After his family's incarceration in Topaz, Utah during World War II, Willie returned to California to pursue an art career, attending the Walt Disney favorite Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles (which later became CalArts). Under the mentorship of legendary animator Iwao Takamoto, Willie's passion blossomed into a long career in the animation world through golden ages at Disney, Warner Brothers, and Hanna-Barbera. His credits span from The Lady and the Tramp and What's Opera Doc? to The Flinstones and the Yogi Bear Show. 

Willie continues drawing to this day, including illustration work on multiple children's books about the Japanese American World War II experience. You can also find him signing sketches and greeting fans at San Diego Comic-con. (September 2016)

Henry Shimizu
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Henry Shimizu

Government urged Japanese Canadians to go to Japan

(b. 1928) Doctor. Former Chair of the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation.

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Venancio Shinki
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Venancio Shinki

Help from fellow Japanese (Spanish)

(b. 1932-2016) Peruvian painter

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Venancio Shinki
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Venancio Shinki

Closing the Japanese school and deportation (Spanish)

(b. 1932-2016) Peruvian painter

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George Abe
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George Abe

Realizing Importance of Birthplace

(b. 1944) taiko and flute performer

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Bill Hosokawa
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Bill Hosokawa

A Reporter’s Responsibility

(1915 - 2007) Journalist

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Chiye Tomihiro
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Chiye Tomihiro

Too Ashamed to Tell

Chaired the Chicago JACL's Redress Committee.

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George Yoshida
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George Yoshida

We’re Still Japanese

(b. 1922) Musician

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Clifford Uyeda
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Clifford Uyeda

Attempts to sign up for military service

(1917 - 2004) Political activist

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Daniel K. Inouye
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Daniel K. Inouye

Recalling Pearl Harbor

(1924-2012) Senator of Hawaii

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Daniel K. Inouye
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Daniel K. Inouye

The FBI and the radio

(1924-2012) Senator of Hawaii

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Daniel K. Inouye
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Daniel K. Inouye

Father’s words

(1924-2012) Senator of Hawaii

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Frank Emi
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Frank Emi

Loyalty questionnaire

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

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Frank Emi
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Frank Emi

Fair Play Committee

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

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Frank Emi
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Frank Emi

Speaking out in camp

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

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Frank Emi
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Frank Emi

Wanting to take a stand

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

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