Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1678/

Sister’s Trauma from being Incarcerated during World War II

I – I was as a child, much more accepting of everything. I have a sister, Akiko, who went off to become a cadet nurse, and she – she blocked out camp altogether. When I began to get more curious about some things, and I asked her about the camp, she said, “I wasn’t in camp.” And it – you know, I didn’t push her and say, “Yes you were in camp, I was there with you,” I just kind of let it go because I think it was the training of not talking back to your older sisters. So I just kind of said, “Well I remember when you went to cadet nursing school,” which means she had to go from somewhere, she didn’t go from – you know, to let her know I knew that she was in camp. But it’s not like I argued with her.


imprisonment incarceration sisters World War II World War II camps

Date: November 8, 2018

Location: California, US

Interviewer: June Berk

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Takayo Fischer, born in November 1932, is a Nisei American stage, film, and TV actress. During World War II, as a young child, she and her family were forcibly evacuated from the West Coast and spent time in the Fresno Assembly Center before being relocated to Jerome and Rohwer concentration camps. Fischer later lived in Chicago, Illinois, where, as a young adult, she won the crown of “Miss Nisei Queen.” She has appeared in dozens of major Hollywood films, including Moneyball (2011), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007), The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), and Memoirs of a Geisha (2005). She also appeared in the stage production of The World of Suzie Wong in New York in 1958 and many productions with East West Players in Los Angeles. (June 2018)

Kochiyama,Yuri

Rounding up Issei and Nikkei

(1922–2014) Political and civil rights activist.

Miyatake,Archie

His father describes the importance of photographing camp life

(1924-2016) Photographer and businessman.

Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki

Impact of Pearl Harbor on her family

(b. 1934) Writer

Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki

Initial impact on life at camp

(b. 1934) Writer

Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki

The birth of a novel through a conversation with her nephew

(b. 1934) Writer

Abe,George

Realizing Importance of Birthplace

(b. 1944) taiko and flute performer

Matsumoto,Roy H.

Mixed emotions after declaration of war on Japan

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

Abe,George

Honing Artistic Talent at Camp

(b. 1944) taiko and flute performer

Matsumoto,Roy H.

Train ride to Jerome Relocation Center

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

Matsumoto,Roy H.

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

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

Houston,Jeanne Wakatsuki

Not a "camp story" but a human story

(b. 1934) Writer

Bain,Peggie Nishimura

Response to loyalty questionnaire

(b.1909) Nisei from Washington. Incarcerated at Tule Lake and Minidoka during WWII. Resettled in Chicago after WWII

Nakamura,Grace Aiko

Larry designing chairs in the camp

Sister of automotive designer Larry Shinoda

Bain,Peggie Nishimura

Move from Tule Lake to Minidoka

(b.1909) Nisei from Washington. Incarcerated at Tule Lake and Minidoka during WWII. Resettled in Chicago after WWII

Kosaki,Richard

Under suspicion after Pearl Harbor

(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i