Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1658/

Thriving art culture at camp

My younger sister and I took advantage of the free time we had there. Chiura Obata organized an art school. And so she, my younger sister, and I went out and painted every day and we would go to the art school and watch Professor Obata demonstrate. I also got acquainted with Mine Okubo and I hung around her a lot. She was a strong willed woman. She walked around Tanforan and also Topaz with a clipboard and she drew every minute. Everybody was painting in all media, but I love water colors, and so that was my - kind of my chosen medium.


artists arts art schools Chiura Obata Miné Okubo schools 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)

Kosaki,Richard
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Kosaki,Richard

Teaching at the military language school during World War II

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

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Kosaki,Richard
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Kosaki,Richard

Working at a first aid station on Oahu after December 7

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

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Kosaki,Richard
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Kosaki,Richard

442 soldiers visiting U.S. concentration camps

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

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Kutsukake,Rose
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Kutsukake,Rose

Experiences during World War II

(1918-2004) Interned in Slocan during World War II. Active member of the Japanese Canadian community.

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Sasaki,Fred
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Sasaki,Fred

The impact of Pearl Harbor on his family

(b. 1918) Issei businessman in Canada

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Naito,Sam
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Naito,Sam

Undergraduate studies interrupted following Pearl Harbor

(b. 1921) Nisei businessman. Established "Made in Oregon" retail stores

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Naito,Sam
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Naito,Sam

Difficulty getting work during World War II

(b. 1921) Nisei businessman. Established "Made in Oregon" retail stores

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Kadoguchi,Shizuko
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Kadoguchi,Shizuko

Social activities in Tashme

(b.1920) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Established the Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Toronto

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Terasaki,Paul
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Terasaki,Paul

Difference between experiences of youth and older people in WWII camps

(b.1929) Pioneer medical researcher in tissue transfer and organ transplantation.

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Kato,Alfredo
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Kato,Alfredo

Escaping to a small village in the mountains during the World War II (Spanish)

(b. 1937) Professional journalist

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Kasamatsu,Emi
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Kasamatsu,Emi

Treatment of Japanese Paraguayans during World War II (Spanish)

Nisei Paraguayan, Researcher

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Nakamura,Eric
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Nakamura,Eric

Father in camp but learning from history books

Giant Robot co-founder and publisher

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Shinoda,Mike
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Shinoda,Mike

Role as an artist

(b. 1977) Musician, Producer, Artist

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Herzig,Aiko Yoshinaga
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Herzig,Aiko Yoshinaga

World War II hysteria against Japanese in New York City

(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist

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Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki
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Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki

The only Japanese family in Ocean Park

(b. 1934) Writer

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