Partial Transcript: After President Roosevelt signs Executive Order 9066, the Japanese Americans start to relocate but later are prohibited. Yoshiro discusses the security risk.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; discrimination; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; relocation centers; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: The FBI does not visit the Tokiwa family after Pearl Harbor. However, the FBI visits Yoshiro's father's friends. The Japanese Americans who are taken away by the FBI are placed in a detention center. Yoshiro recalls being prohibited to travel more than five miles away from home. This affects Yoshiro's elderly uncle who lives twelves miles away (the Tokiwa farm). He writes to Yoshiro's parents to let them know he plans to go to Colorado.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: community leaders; family; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Pearl Harbor; travel; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: After Pearl Harbor, Yoshiro recalls not being able to speak Japanese within the community, "do not start problems." Yoshiro says the children would speak English outside and Japanese at home to their parents. Yoshiro says two people are sympathetic to the evacuation situation. The Swiss Italian farmer helps Yoshiro's family as they get ready for camp and store their belongings. Another person is a man who buys a refrigerator at the asking price.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Executive Order 9066; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: When Yoshiro is drafted, Yoshiro's father feels it is an imposition to keep asking the Swiss Italian farmer to store their belongings. They decide to have the government store their items. Yoshiro says the government contact storage places at the time. In the early part of 1941, Yoshiro recalls seeing off the 194th Unit at the train station in Salinas.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Executive Order 9066; farm; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In the early part of 1941, Yoshiro's parents take the children to send off the 194th Unit at the train station in Salinas. Yoshiro's parents say these are American soldiers who are going overseas. This is a well-known tradition in Japan to send off soldiers from your community. When Pearl Harbor is attacked, Yoshiro is a junior in high school. He does not have thoughts of a military career. Immediately after Pearl Harbor, the Japanese Americans are classified as enemy aliens (4C).

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; children; enemy alien; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; Nisei; Pearl Harbor

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro recalls going to camp by train. The windows are blackout and there are armed soldiers. After passing the Mojave Desert, the soldiers did not care if the passengers open the window shades to look outside. The Japanese Americans going to camp are instructed they can bring what they can carry. Yoshiro's siblings are still young and cannot carry much. Therefore, Yoshiro's mother packs as much as she can including pots and pans. The Tokiwa family has two pets, Spot (a dog) and Neko (a cat), and they are left with the Swiss Italian farmer.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; blackouts in war; discrimination; Executive Order 9066; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; travel; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: After camp, Yoshiro's family did not go back to Salinas. When Yoshiro returns from service, he and his father visit the Swiss Italian farmer in Salinas. Yoshiro discusses what he brings to camp. He says at a young age, he did not have many possessions. However, he did bring books with him. The Tokiwa family is at the Salinas Assembly Center for two months before going to Arizona. At the Assembly Center, the family is given a number. The number is also used at Poston, Arizona. The number is on their belongings for identification.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Assembly Centers; Executive Order 9066; interment camp; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; Poston; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro and his family are Salinas Assembly Center from May 1, 1942, to July 3, 1942. Yoshiro discusses the living conditions. After the assembly center, Yoshiro and his family go to Poston Camp number two. Poston has three camps and is the largest of the ten internment camps. Poston Camp one houses 10,000 Japanese Americans. Poston Camps two and three each house 5,000 Japanese Americans. Another camp that has more than one camp, is Gila River. Gila River has Camps one and two. At Poston Camp two there are 29 blocks. In each block, there are 16 barracks. One kitchen, men and women bathroom, laundry room, and a recreation hall. Each barrack holds four families. Eight people share one room. For single people or couples, the barrack is cut half the size of what a family lives in.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; barracks; discrimination; Executive Order 9066; family; Gila River; interment camp; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; racism; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro explains the governing system at Poston Camp number two. At each block, there is a block manager "blockhead" and all the block managers are assigned to the block council. The block council members are representatives of Japanese Americans to the Relocation War Authority Administration. Yoshiro's family is assigned to block number 209 and barrack number 8B (barrack 8, unit B).

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Executive Order 9066; interment camp; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro and his family arrive at Poston on July 4, 1942. Poston, Arizona, is a very hot area compare to Salinas, CA. Yoshiro describes the living conditions at Poston. There are two inches of soil inside the barracks because the day before there is a dust storm. For bedding, there is a cotton bag that you fill with straw to make your mattress. All the meals are served in a central kitchen. Yoshiro explains that those who arrive at Poston earlier are assigned to service work. Those who come later are recruited to help the kitchen. Yoshiro discusses job opportunities within camp. You can work and earn money or you can refuse to do work.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; employment; Executive Order 9066; Issei; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; Poston; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: In Poston, Yoshiro works as a night watchman guarding construction supplies. He says this is an easy job because he is still in high school. He works from 6:00 pm to 6:00 am. The construction supplies are for building a school.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; barracks; high school; Issei; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; Poston; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro graduates from high school in the camp. The high school is called Poston Two High School. The whole camp has a reunion but not the school itself. Yoshiro recalls going to a camp reunion in 1985 or 1986. After high school, he is recruited into the Agriculture Department to be a driver. Yoshiro says the people in the camp are trying to be self-sufficient by growing crops and cotton.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: education; Executive Order 9066; high school; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Poston

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Partial Transcript: Yoshiro's whole family is Poston and lives in the same barrack. Within six months a loyalty questionnaire is given out to all adults, sixteen and up including Issei (non-citizens). Yoshiro discusses the issue with the Issei answering the questionnaire. He shares how his Issei father and mother answer the questions. As for Yoshiro, he answers yes-yes. When you turn in your questionnaire, you are asked if you are willing to volunteer for duty. Yoshiro says his two cousins reply yes, but he answered differently.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Executive Order 9066; family; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; loyalty; Nisei; Poston; siblings; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: The questionnaire is given to all the Japanese Americans in camp in February 1943. Yoshiro says there is no time to think about the questions. The questionnaire is both English and Japanese language. He explains why someone individuals answer no or leave the questions blank. Yoshiro recalls his friends who answer no-no. Enough people in Yoshiro's block answer no-no and are segregated to Tule Lake. The purpose of the segregation is to deport these individuals back to Japan after the war.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Executive Order 9066; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Poston; Tule Lake; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Before the war ends, some Japanese people are shipped back to Japan on a Swiss ship. After the war ends, the American Civil Liberties files a lawsuit to block the Japanese people from being deported back to Japan. The Court determines that the Japanese people cannot be deported without a hearing from immigration. This ceases further deportation. Yoshiro recalls being drafted and reporting for induction. In June 1944, Yoshiro is bused to Fort Douglas Utah.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; family; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Killed in Action; loyalty questions; Nisei; post-war; Poston; siblings; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro says his induction is the standard military induction. He is assigned to the 171st Infantry Battalion Separate at Camp Shelby. Yoshiro says the infantry is composed of the men who were from the 442nd, but are left behind to be a training group for replacements. This unit is redefined from 171st Infantry Battalion to 171st Infantry Battalion Separate. Yoshiro is given a serial number and he still recalls his number even to this day. The serial number is used for identification within the Army. From Fort Douglas Utah, Yoshiro travels by train to Camp Shelby Mississippi for basic training.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 171st Infantry Battalion; 442nd; basic training; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro is at Camp Shelby from July 1944 to September 1944 and is assigned to the 171st Infantry Battalion Separate. The 442nd losses a lot of men during the Lost Battalion, and the soldiers who have at least nine weeks of basic training are shipped out as replacements. They also take all the cadre who is doing all the training to go overseas. At this point, Yoshiro is transferred from Infantry Unit to the Service Company and becomes part of the cadre. Yoshiro explains why the 171st Infantry Battalion Separate is not connected to any division. At the beginning of basic training he is trained to be part of the infantry but later is trained to be a truck driver. Yoshiro learns how to drive all the military vehicles.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 171st; 171st Infantry Battalion; 442nd; basic training; European Theater; Japanese American soldiers; Killed in Action; Lost Battalion; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro goes to town every weekend after basic training. He recalls segregation in Hattiesburg. There are separated areas for "whites and colored." Yoshiro says the Japanese Americans are considered "white" in the South. In the military, the African American units are segregated from the other units. Yoshiro shares a story about going to a restaurant and the Navy.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 171st; 442nd; discrimination; discrimination in the military; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; racism

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Yoshiro's uniform is the standard basic Army uniform. On his uniform, he has the 171st Infantry Battalion patch. Yoshiro says the Unit is all Japanese American, but the Officers are Caucasians. The Sergeant who dispatches the vehicles for training is Japanese American. Yoshiro learns how to operate vehicles at basic training. When Yoshiro is deployed overseas, he travels on the USS Washington. Yoshiro's rank is private then private first class. His last rank is Technician 5th Grade (Corporal level). Yoshiro is discharged from the Army in January 1947, from Camp Beale, CA.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 171st; basic training; Camp Shelby; Commander; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two

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