Discover Nikkei

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Joined Japanese Imperial Army during the WWII (Spanish)

(Spanish) The majority of high school or college students had the tendency to want to be naval pilots. I was one of those students. We enlisted but it wasn’t easy. Despite the people, the Argentines, or those who did not know really what it was like [back then], who say that “it was easy for them to enter [the navy].” No! It was difficult, the exam was tough. There was a friend of mine who did not get in [the navy]; twice he took the exam and could not pass. The third time he cut his finger and placed his name, “why can’t I die?” He cut his finger so he could not enter [the navy]. Thus it was difficult. Another who wanted to die [because] he also could not [join the navy]. Do you see? In seven or eight months, practically, I was ready to go to the front. At that time everything was accelerated. But it seemed an illusion for a sixteen-year old boy to have this [self-confidence in terms of] capacity [to serve]. Today, even with all the advanced science, one cannot imagine how we were back then.


armed forces Imperial Japanese Navy military U.S. Navy World War II

Date: September 18, 2006

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Interviewer: Takeshi Nishimura, Ricardo Hokama

Contributed by: Centro Nikkei Argentino

Interviewee Bio

Luis Yamada is a Nisei born in Buenos Aires in 1929. His parents were immigrants who came from the Fukui province. As a little boy he traveled to Japan where he lived during World War II; afterwards he returned to Argentina. He was able to see Japan before, during, and after the war. Today he is the director of the Instituto Argentino de Paisajismo (Argentine Institute of Landscape Painting), one of the most prestigious institutes of its kind in Argentina. (September 18, 2006)

Akutsu,Gene

Reaction of Japanese American community toward draft resistance stance

(b. 1925) Draft resister

Akutsu,Gene

The role of the media in influencing people's opinions

(b. 1925) Draft resister

Akutsu,Gene

Living conditions in prison while serving time for resisting the draft

(b. 1925) Draft resister

Akutsu,Gene

Talking to children about decision to resist the draft during World War II

(b. 1925) Draft resister

Akutsu,Gene

Deciding whether to answer "yes-yes" on the loyalty questionnaire in order to leave camp

(b. 1925) Draft resister

Akutsu,Gene

Reflecting on Japanese Americans' response to incarceration

(b. 1925) Draft resister

Yamada,George

Japanese American railroad workers are fired following the bombing of Pearl Harbor

(b. 1923) Chick sexer

Yamada,George

A racist encounter at a movie theater following the bombing of Pearl Harbor

(b. 1923) Chick sexer

Yamada,George

Encountering a train full of Japanese Americans being transported to a concentration camp

(b. 1923) Chick sexer

Watanabe,Margarida Tomi

Relief fund to support Japanese communities (Japanese)

(1900–1996) The mother of Nikkei Brazilian immigration

Watanabe,Margarida Tomi

Role of Assistancia Social dom Jose Gaspar (Japanese)

(1900–1996) The mother of Nikkei Brazilian immigration

Watanabe,Margarida Tomi

Interrogation by police (Japanese)

(1900–1996) The mother of Nikkei Brazilian immigration

Shimizu,Henry

No immediate impact after Pearl Harbor

(b. 1928) Doctor. Former Chair of the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation.

Shimizu,Henry

Treatment of Japanese fishermen in Canada during World War II

(b. 1928) Doctor. Former Chair of the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation.

Shimizu,Henry

Government's permission to publish Japanese newspaper in Canada during World War II

(b. 1928) Doctor. Former Chair of the Japanese Canadian Redress Foundation.