Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/789/

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)

Frank Emi
en
ja
es
pt
Emi,Frank

Speaking out in camp

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

en
ja
es
pt
Frank Emi
en
ja
es
pt
Emi,Frank

Wanting to take a stand

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

en
ja
es
pt
Frank Emi
en
ja
es
pt
Emi,Frank

Ostracized by the camp newspapers

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

en
ja
es
pt
Frank Emi
en
ja
es
pt
Emi,Frank

On trial for draft evasion

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

en
ja
es
pt
Frank Emi
en
ja
es
pt
Emi,Frank

Draft resisters sent to jail

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

en
ja
es
pt
Frank Emi
en
ja
es
pt
Emi,Frank

Fair Play Committee charged with conspiracy

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

en
ja
es
pt
Frank Emi
en
ja
es
pt
Emi,Frank

Meeting other Americans in jail

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

en
ja
es
pt
Frank Emi
en
ja
es
pt
Emi,Frank

Would do the same again

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

en
ja
es
pt
Frank Emi
en
ja
es
pt
Emi,Frank

Arrested in camp for trying to leave

(1916-2010) draft resister, helped form the Heart Mountain Fair Play Committee

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

Basic Training

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

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

A visit to Jerome after OCS

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

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

Resisting transfer from Jerome

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

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

Appearance vs. Combat Effectiveness

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

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

They had to succeed

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

en
ja
es
pt
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