Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1760/

Memories of the ship heading to the U.S.

I remember, not boarding the ship, but I remember being in the ship and the room that we were in. I remember there were seven of us in one room, I remember that. And we were all seasick, it was terrible, I'm sure. And I remember roaming around the ship and kind of was able to peek outside, and I can see the soldier standing guard with the rifle or whatever he had on his shoulder.


Japanese Peruvians Peru ships World War II

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

George Kazuharu Naganuma was born in Lima, Peru to his Issei parents in 1938. 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. George joined the Boy Scouts in San Francisco and was able to visit Japan with his troop. He joined the U.S. Army and worked as a clerical typist. (June 2020)

Howard Kakita
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Kakita,Howard

His parents had little hope that he had survived the atomic bomb

(b. 1938) Japanese American. Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor

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Howard Kakita
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Kakita,Howard

His views on nuclear weapons

(b. 1938) Japanese American. Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor

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Iwao Takamoto
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Takamoto,Iwao

Loss When Leaving for Manzanar

Japanese American animator for Walt Disney and Hanna Barbera (1925-2007)

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Jimmy Naganuma
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Naganuma,Jimmy

Forcibly deported to the U.S. from Peru

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Monica Teisher
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Teisher,Monica

Stories of Grandfather at a concentration camp in Fusagasuga

(b.1974) Japanese Colombian who currently resides in the United States

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Monica Teisher
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Teisher,Monica

Her grandfather in a concentration camp in Fusagasuga (Spanish)

(b.1974) Japanese Colombian who currently resides in the United States

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Jimmy Naganuma
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Naganuma,Jimmy

Memories of childhood in Peru

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Jimmy Naganuma
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Naganuma,Jimmy

Family welcomed at Crystal City

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Jimmy Naganuma
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Naganuma,Jimmy

First meal at Crystal City

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Kazumu Naganuma
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Naganuma,Kazumu

His sister Kiyo was like a second mother to him

(b. 1942) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Kazumu Naganuma
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Naganuma,Kazumu

His sister secured reparations for the family

(b. 1942) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Kazumu Naganuma
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Naganuma,Kazumu

Checking in with Immigration once a month

(b. 1942) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Mia Yamamoto
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Yamamoto,Mia

Impact of her father

(b. 1943) Japanese American transgender attorney

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