Drafted for Vietnam War

Understanding Sansei taiko (Japanese) Soukou Bayashi: Dedicated to the Issei (Japanese) Handmade taiko (Japanese) Taiko philosophy (Japanese) Coming to America Differences between American-born Japanese and Japanese from Japan Lack of taiko at Cherry Blossom Festival Reasons for starting taiko in America Meeting Kinnara Taiko Drafted for Vietnam War Happi coats in taiko Tire Dojo Traditional taiko style Dedicated to the frontier spirits Japanese musical education Differences between American and Japanese taiko Dream of "taiko" in the English dictionary

Transcripts available in the following languages:

I was drafted for Vietnam War. That was a shock—after marry. So I swear, in case something happen, I said, “Yes, yes, yes…” I said anyway, “Yes, yes, yes…” I got draft[ed]. So, but I have no reason to go to Vietnam to kill the Vietnamese, right? So I tried to escape from the duty. But good thing, I’m fortunate. I had a tumor in my body. So the doctor write [that] I don’t have to go to war. So I was safe. If I go to war, I don’t think I was able to come back to this country. No, I don’t understand English. I’m not Vietnamese. I’m not American. So, that was quite [an] experience. And Mr. Akiyama, the lion dancer, he was also drafted Vietnam War. So that was hard time. I was just into [the] United States.

Date: January 27, 2005
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Art Hansen, Sojin Kim
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum.

draft vietnam war