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)

Cedrick Shimo
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Shimo,Cedrick

Strictly American, but sympathize with Japan

(1919-2020) Member of the 1800th Engineering Battalion. Promoted Japan-U.S. trade while working for Honda's export division.

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Terry Janzen
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Janzen,Terry

Father's Service in WWII

(b. 1930) Half Japanese and grew up in both Japan and the United States.

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Terry Janzen
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Janzen,Terry

Moving to Upland Post-Camp

(b. 1930) Half Japanese and grew up in both Japan and the United States.

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Ben Sakoguchi
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Sakoguchi,Ben

Differences between Parents

(b. 1938) Japanese American painter & printmaker

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Ben Sakoguchi
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Sakoguchi,Ben

“I did what I wanted to do”

(b. 1938) Japanese American painter & printmaker

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Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura
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Uchimura,Sawako Ashizawa

Kindergarten in Davao, Philippines

(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.

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Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura
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Uchimura,Sawako Ashizawa

Family was shipped back to Japan after the war

(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.

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Herb Ohta
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Ohta,Herb

Living in Hawaii after Pearl Harbor

(b. 1934) Ukulele player from Hawaii

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Harry Schneider
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Schneider,Harry

Coming to California

(1916 - 2013) Member of the U.S. Military Intelligence Service

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Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura
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Uchimura,Sawako Ashizawa

Life in the Philippines

(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.

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Harry Schneider
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Schneider,Harry

Learning Japanese with the MIS

(1916 - 2013) Member of the U.S. Military Intelligence Service

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Iwao Takamoto
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Takamoto,Iwao

Camouflage Net Weaving in Manzanar

Japanese American animator for Walt Disney and Hanna Barbera (1925-2007)

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Harry Schneider
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Schneider,Harry

Miscommunications

(1916 - 2013) Member of the U.S. Military Intelligence Service

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Harry Schneider
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Schneider,Harry

Writing Letters

(1916 - 2013) Member of the U.S. Military Intelligence Service

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Iwao Takamoto
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Takamoto,Iwao

Developing Art Skills in Camp

Japanese American animator for Walt Disney and Hanna Barbera (1925-2007)

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