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Grandfather loved to tell her stories of her great-grandfather Arakaki

So he told me my grandma Arakaki’s side, that’s the grandpa that was college educated, from mainland, at that time, so that’s like in the tens and twenties, nineteen ten, nineteen twenties, and I don’t know if it’s Waseda or Todai, but it was a pretty prominent, big university – still is and because he’s well-educated he of course had different political views than the Japanese government at the time. And so for those reasons he left Japan and went to Peru. And so that’s just a really interesting story and because he was so well-loved by the Peruvian community, and well-loved and well-respected the communities who protected him from getting kidnapped by the Peruvian government to go to…I believe he was supposed to go to Crystal City, as a professor, as an educator in the community and they hid him very well so that he didn’t get taken and he would do some secret night teachings, like Japanese language or even just history and things like that. So I think because that story’s so interesting, my grandpa would always tell me about that. 


communities Crystal City internment camp Department of Justice camps families grandfathers grandparents Japanese Peruvians migration Okinawans parents Peru Texas United States universities World War II World War II camps

Date: August 30, 2018

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Sharon Yamato

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

Interviewee Bio

Grew up in Gardena, California. Her parents moved to the United States from Lima, Peru where they grew up in the Japanese and Okinawan Peruvian community. Because of this diverse background, she was exposed to a mixing of different cultural traditions. She is involved with the Okinawa Association of America and has visited Okinawa and Peru.

She received her teaching credentials but with an opportunity at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI), she turned to non-profit work and is a volunteer at GVJCI and the Okinawa Association of America. (August 2018)

Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

Initial impact on life at camp

(1934 -2024) Writer

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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

The birth of a novel through a conversation with her nephew

(1934 -2024) Writer

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Roy H. Matsumoto
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Roy H. Matsumoto

Mixed emotions after declaration of war on Japan

(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.

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Roy H. Matsumoto
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Roy H. Matsumoto

Train ride to Jerome Relocation Center

(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.

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Roy H. Matsumoto
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Roy H. Matsumoto

Atmosphere in his Merrill’s Marauders unit when surrounded by Japanese soldiers

(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.

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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston
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Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston

Not a "camp story" but a human story

(1934 -2024) Writer

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Takeo Uesugi
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Takeo Uesugi

The first garden he visited in the US

(1940-2016) Issei Landscape Architect

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Etsuo Hongo
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Etsuo Hongo

The reason he came to the United States (Japanese)

(1949 - 2019) Taiko player. Founded five taiko groups in Southern California

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Richard Kosaki
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Richard Kosaki

Under suspicion after Pearl Harbor

(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i

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Art Shibayama
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Art Shibayama

Activities growing up in Peru

(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.

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Mónica Kogiso
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Mónica Kogiso

History of her family's immigration (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

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Art Shibayama
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Art Shibayama

Family's deportation from Peru to U.S. after the bombing of Pearl Harbor

(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.

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Art Shibayama
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Art Shibayama

Conditions aboard U.S. transport ship while being deported from Peru

(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.

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Art Shibayama
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Art Shibayama

Denied redress as a Japanese Peruvian

(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.

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Peter Mizuki
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Peter Mizuki

Not wanting to stand out as a foreigner

Sansei Japanese American living in Japan and Kendo practioner

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