Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1756/

Enjoying undokai and sports in Crystal City

While we were there, there were all kinds of events. One that I really enjoyed was, in Japanese, they call it undokai, where all the classes, all the students participate. Third grade would compete with another third grade, with another class, and so on. And running, especially, and if you win, they would give you a pamphlet, they would give you a paper, they would give you a pencil, eraser, that was our prize. But that was very enjoyable, just competing with another.


childhood Crystal City internment camp Department of Justice camps Japanese Peruvians sports Texas undokai United States World War II World War II camps

Date: September 20, 2019

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Tom Ikeda and Yoko Nishimura

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum and Denshō: The Japanese American Legacy Project.

Interviewee Bio

Jimmy Naganuma was born in Callao, Peru to his Issei parents in 1936. He was eight years old when his family were forced to board a ship, to be incarcerated at Crystal City, Texas, during World War II. They remained there even after the war had ended, without a place to go. They were able to leave via a sponsorship by a reverend in San Francisco, California, where they were able to find jobs and housing.  (June 2020)

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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Inoue,Enson
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Inoue,Enson

The reason for coming to Japan

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

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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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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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Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki
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Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki

Mixed blood people at camp from a child's point of view

(b. 1934) Writer

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Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki
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Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki

Embarrassed to talk about camp

(b. 1934) Writer

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Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki
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Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki

Documenting family history for future generations

(b. 1934) Writer

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Kansuma,Fujima
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Kansuma,Fujima

Different learning style in Japan and the United States

(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer

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Herzig,Aiko Yoshinaga
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Herzig,Aiko Yoshinaga

Family separated in the camps

(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist

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Sogi,Francis Y.
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Sogi,Francis Y.

Being an American soldier and an "enemy alien"

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

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Nakagawa,Mako
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Nakagawa,Mako

Living conditions at Crystal City, Texas

(1937 - 2021) Teacher

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