Interviews

1. Nickname

2. Kibei schoolchildren in Hiroshima, Japan

3. Feelings of loyalty to America while in Japan

4. Treatment of Kibei after return to United States

5. Keian employment agencies

6. Difficulties understanding different Japanese dialects

7. Mixed emotions after declaration of war on Japan

8. Finding work in the assembly center

9. Living conditions in the Santa Anita Assembly Center

10. Train ride to Jerome Relocation Center

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

12. Finding his relative among Japanese prisoners

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

Treatment of Kibei after return to United States

They were more or less curious because I know... ask me what it say in Japanese, something like that, ask a question, see, so very friendly. But the one not friendly probably stay away from me. But I didn't get any direct insult. I didn't experience, so I never thought of that. But some, well, I think other Kibeis experienced, too. They more or less looked down on it, see. It may have a more education but not in English, in Japanese, so this, as far as knowledge goes, maybe smarter, but then yet, still, Kibei is discriminated, I know.

discrimination generations interpersonal relations Japanese Americans Kibei Nisei

Date: December 17 & 18, 2003

Location: Washington, US

Interviewer: Alice Ito, Tom Ikeda

Contributed by: Denshō: The Japanese American Legacy Project.

Interviewee Bio

Hiroshi Roy Matsumoto was born on May 1, 1913 in Laguna, CA, a rural area on the outskirts of Los Angeles. His family was from the Hiroshima prefecture in Japan. As a young child, he went to Japan to live with his grandparents where he attended elementary and middle school.

Upon his return to the United States, he worked a variety of jobs, while also graduating from Long Beach Polytechnic High School. During World War II, he was sent to the Santa Anita Assembly Center. From there, he was sent to the Jerome Relocation Center in Arkansas where he stayed for six months before volunteering for the Military Intelligence Service.

Mr. Matsumoto was in the first MIS class at Camp Savage. For his heroism as a member of Merrill's Marauders, he was later awarded the Legion of Merit and inducted into the Ranger Hall of Fame. (December 18, 2003)