Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/342/

Getting citizenship back

Well, If you married an alien, you lost your citizenship, because all aliens -- especially the Japanese, the Isseis -- they were not allowed to become citizens, therefore they couldn't allow, they couldn't own anything, either. So all the farmers had their children's name on farms or whatever they had, why, they had to put it in their children's name. And we had quite a bit of trouble, because after my sister passed away, then it was put in my brother's name.

He [my husband] was born in Japan, and came to this country as a youngster. So I had to go and apply, I wanted to get my citizenship back, so immediately I went to class; 'course, you had to learn a little bit of history about the United States, then I had to go to court and answer some questions, and I was real happy when I got my citizenship back, and they gave me a little American flag. Of course, we got ribbed a lot about our citizenship when we went to camp, though. But I was real happy to get my citizenship back.


citizenship discrimination governments interpersonal relations politics

Date: September 15-17, 2004

Location: Washington, US

Interviewer: Alice Ito

Contributed by: Denshō: The Japanese American Legacy Project.

Interviewee Bio

Peggie Nishimura Bain was born on March 31, 1909 in Vashon, Washington. Her family was originally from Kumamoto, Japan. She was the second of six children. Married at seventeen, she had two children - a son and a daughter.

At the time of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, she was helping her parents with the three farm properties they owned under her brother's name. She was sent to the Pinedale Assembly Center, before going to Tule Lake, and then eventually Minidoka.

After leaving Minidoka, she relocated with her daughter to Chicago, where she lived for many years working as a full-time colorist in a photography studio, a skill she learned while in camp. She eventually returned to Washington to be near her parents. (September 17, 2004)

 

Young O. Kim
en
ja
es
pt
Kim,Young O.

Do it for all Asians

(1919 - 2006) World War II and Korean War veteran

en
ja
es
pt
Sakaye Shigekawa
en
ja
es
pt
Shigekawa, Sakaye

Traumatic experiences before camp

(1913-2013) Doctor specializing in obstetrics in Southern California

en
ja
es
pt
Sakaye Shigekawa
en
ja
es
pt
Shigekawa, Sakaye

“Everybody went in like sheep”

(1913-2013) Doctor specializing in obstetrics in Southern California

en
ja
es
pt
Hiroshi Sakane
en
ja
es
pt
Sakane,Hiroshi

The Nikkei community that didn't support Former President Fujimori's election (Japanese)

(b. 1948) Executive Director of Amano Museum

en
ja
es
pt
Hiroshi Sakane
en
ja
es
pt
Sakane,Hiroshi

The differences in attitude of pre-war and post war in terms of the President Fujimori presidency (Japanese)

(b. 1948) Executive Director of Amano Museum

en
ja
es
pt
Frances Midori Tashiro Kaji
en
ja
es
pt
Kaji,Frances Midori Tashiro

Discrimination for Nisei doctors

(1928–2016) Daughter of an Issei doctor 

en
ja
es
pt
Norman Yoshio Mineta
en
ja
es
pt
Mineta,Norman Yoshio

Beginnings of CWRIC

(b. 1931) U.S. Former Secretary of Transportation

en
ja
es
pt
Norman Yoshio Mineta
en
ja
es
pt
Mineta,Norman Yoshio

Bill 442

(b. 1931) U.S. Former Secretary of Transportation

en
ja
es
pt
Norman Yoshio Mineta
en
ja
es
pt
Mineta,Norman Yoshio

The last hurdle – President Reagan

(b. 1931) U.S. Former Secretary of Transportation

en
ja
es
pt
Sumiko Kozawa
en
ja
es
pt
Kozawa,Sumiko

Experiencing prejudice after the war

(1916-2016) Florist

en
ja
es
pt
Evelyn Yoshimura
en
ja
es
pt
Yoshimura,Evelyn

Commonalities

Community Activist

en
ja
es
pt
Evelyn Yoshimura
en
ja
es
pt
Yoshimura,Evelyn

Understanding Gidra's Context

Community Activist

en
ja
es
pt
Evelyn Yoshimura
en
ja
es
pt
Yoshimura,Evelyn

Gidra's Content

Community Activist

en
ja
es
pt
Rose Ochi
en
ja
es
pt
Ochi,Rose

Rising Up To A Challenge

(1938-2020) Japanese American attorney and civil rights activist

en
ja
es
pt
Rose Ochi
en
ja
es
pt
Ochi,Rose

Congressional Hearings

(1938-2020) Japanese American attorney and civil rights activist

en
ja
es
pt