The Emotional Toll of Being Incarcerated in Camp during World War II

Keeping Japanese Performance Arts Alive in the Camps Passing Time in the Camps with Baton Twirling Takayo Fischer’s Love of Acting Started with Shibai Facing Prejudice as a Japanese American Teenager in Chicago after the War Takayo Fischer on Her First Time Expressing Outward Affection to Her Parents Being Confused about Racial Identity in Postwar United States Shock of Her Granddaughter Not Knowing Her Japanese Heritage On the Difference between Being a Role and Playing a Role Working on the Set of Pirates of the Caribbean and Meeting Keith Richards The Emotional Toll of Being Incarcerated in Camp during World War II Representing her Family and the Japanese American Community in Acting Sister’s Trauma from being Incarcerated during World War II Her Approach to Preparing for Roles Getting the Role of Gwennie in The World of Suzie Wong

Transcripts available in the following languages:

When I think about the camp days, I – I’m always grateful to my parents for shielding me. For letting me be a child and run around and have a good time with young people, not to – I don’t forget the barbed wire. I remember the barbed wire. I remember trying to crawl back in the barbed wire. I remember the kind guard, you know, who helped me climb back into camp, telling me not to get caught by the mean guards with the guns pointing at me in camp. It’s – I don’t know how other young people feel about it, but I’m emotional. I don’t talk about it with – I don’t talk about it. My sisters and I never talked about it, we never – never discussed camp once we got out of camp. I never really talked about it with my children. I think I would have a difficult time.

Date: November 8, 2018
Location: California, US
Interviewer: June Berk
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

camps incarceration World War II