Partial Transcript: Tony goes to Manchuria and returns on a Japanese merchant ship, Unzenmaru. The return of the repatriates from Manchuria is coordinated by the Japanese Government, and the American troops are there to observe mission is properly carried out. Tony says the repatriates are older men, women, and children who are malnourished. However, they are happy to be going to Japan. Tony says they look surprised to see Tony in an American uniform and glad he can speak Japanese.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese American soldiers; linguistics; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: On the voyage with the repatriates, Tony does not have contact with them. The journey is three days long, and the repatriates are in cattle class with accommodations. Tony departs from Kyushu, Japan to Manchuria, and arrives back to Kyushu. Kyoto is the only city that is not bombed during World War Two. Tony visits to see what Japan would look like pre-war. Kyoto is not bombed because there are no war industries there and not a military center. The American Government is advised not to bomb Kyoto and Nara.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: atomic bomb; Japanese American soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; travel; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Tony goes to shrines in Kyoto that are accessible. In May 19436, one of the other interpreters visits his family in Hiroshima, and Tony goes too. Tony describes the devastation of the atomic bomb. The hills are blackened, and all the buildings are destroyed. Tony says it is a sight you can never forget. Despite the destruction of Hiroshima, the locals are trying to survive. In contrast, Tokyo has a few standing buildings.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Allied Translator and Interpreter Section; atomic bomb; Japanese American soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; occupation

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Partial Transcript: Tony describes the effects of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, Japan. The effects of the one atomic bomb can be felt far away from the epicenter. Tony recalls the handrails and the concrete on the bridges have been blown off by the heat and the blast. He does not see any injured people because they are not there at that time. Tony's friend's family is not injured by the bomb. There is no hostility because he is family, and they brought food.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: atomic bomb; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; occupation; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Tony says no bomb can be compared to the atomic bomb's devastation. Tony discusses his thoughts on the bombing of Hiroshima. When the second bomb is dropped in Nagasaki, Japan, he does not think it is necessary. Tony recalls passing through Nagasaki and says the damage is limited due to the hills. After the war, Tony has visited Japan many times. From 1951 to 1966, Tony works in Japan.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: post-war; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Tony discusses his first experience communal bathing is at a hot spring in Atami, Japan. He recalls in the United States communal bathing at the YMCA. Besides the hot springs in Atami, there are Geishas. Tony says the American Aide provides flour, rice, and other necessities to the locals. Once a week, Tony remembers receiving a ration of cigarettes and selling them or candy bars. Tony shares a rumor about selling coats and blankets in the Black Market.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; occupation; social activities

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Partial Transcript: Tony discusses Pan Pan girls and a prophylactic station near the Army PX. The prophylactic station is managed by American Medical Personnel, and later the houses of prostitution are illegal. There is a language between Pan Pan and the soldiers called Panglish. Another social activity is dancing. At the dance hall, you pay the girls for dances (similar to a dime dance).

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: occupation; social activities

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Partial Transcript: Tony becomes close with two local families in Japan. One family is friends of his sister-in-law. Tony's sister-in-law asks Tony to visit them in Tokyo to see how they are doing. The family is originally from Seattle. Tony's sister-in-law's classmate also lives in Japan, and she asks him to visit them as well. One of Tony's friends marries one of their relatives. Another friend from Japan comes to the United States and becomes a banker.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; friendship; Japanese American soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; occupation

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Partial Transcript: Tony is only 19 or 20 years old and does not think of marriage at that time. Tony's friend eventually marries one of the relatives of the family. During the occupation, the people who can survive are those with money. They can afford to live in areas that are safe from bombing and buy black market items. In addition, Tony mentions he does not interpret for any government officials or ministers or other important people during occupation.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: dating; family; friendship; Japanese American soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; occupation

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Partial Transcript: Tony is discharged from the Army in December 1946. He attends the University of Washington and studies political science. While in school, Tony joins the reserves to make extra money, and the Korean War starts. Many soldiers in Tony's reserve unit are called to active duty. When Tony is in the reserves, he is classified as a subject not to be recalled because of his time during the occupation. Therefore he is not called to active duty for the Korean War. Tony graduates college in June 1951 and is hired to be an Air Force interrogator in Tokyo, Japan. He does interrogation in the Esquire Building in Kojimachi.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: higher education; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; occupation

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Partial Transcript: In December 1951, Tony finishes training for the reserves in Washington, and he goes to Japan. Japan has changed drastically change from 1946 to 1951. Almost all the damages from the bombing are repaired. Some of the materials used to rebuild the building are wood and concrete. The occupation is still in effect in 1951. The interrogators can interrogate with the assistance of the Japanese Government. In addition, interrogators can order interrogations. With the Korean War happening, the American Army needs the assistance of Japan. Tony says Japan is a tremendous help with the Korean War. Japan originally built the Korean railroad system and is familiar with Korean transportation. Japan supplies the American Air Forces with the plans of the bridges for strategic bombing. They also assisted in mine-clearing operations.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: interrogate; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: During the Korean War, there was no manufacturing in Korea except for repairing bridges and roads. In Japan, there is a large operation for manufacturing trucks, tanks, and aircraft. Japan is anti-communist. Japan realizes the American Forces are still occupying their country to keep the Russians out. The Russians are occupying North Korea. In Japan, Tony's job is to interrogate Japanese soldier prisoners from Syberia. The American Air Forces know very little about Siberia, and the Japanese in Siberia has been working in Russian and Syrian factories, lodging, and mining. The Japanese prisoners have all of the strategic intel. The American Air Force is in dire need of this information because of the Cold War.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: interrogate; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: There are Japanese internees in Siberia because of World War Two. After the war, almost all the Japanese troops remain in Manchuria and were then taken to Siberian prison camps. In 1949, the Japanese internees in Siberia are sent to Japan. The Russians are in dire need of manpower. Therefore, in Siberia, the Japanese internees are forced to work. When Tony interrogates the Japanese internees, he is only interested in possible targets such as locations and layouts. Besides talking, many of the Japanese internees would draw layouts and plans. After Tony receives then intel from the Japanese internees, he writes an intelligence report. Tony writes thousands of intelligence reports from his interrogations. There are separate teams for the Army and the Air Force. The Army also does interrogations, but they are more interested in ground operations. The Air Force is only interested in air operations.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: interrogate; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Prisoners of War

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Partial Transcript: The Japanese internees are screened before interrogations. However, sometimes the Army and Air Force would interrogate the same person. Tony gets Japanese internees who are more knowledgeable about air targets. The Army gets Japanese informants knowledgeable about ground operations. The Japanese Government Demobilization Bureau contacts the Japanese internees and asks them to come to be interviewed. Tony says the internees are willing to talk. The Japanese internees are provided transportation from their homes to the interrogations in Tokyo. The Japanese Government Demobilization Bureau gives them housing and a sum of money. The American Air Forces also give the internees money. There are about ten teams of eight of ten people each, approximately 60 interrogators. Tony is part of the Department of Air Force Civilians, and the program is called The Ringer Program, 6004th Air Intelligence Service Squadron.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: interrogate; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: When Tony returns to Japan after the occupation, there is a tremendous change. The changes continue until the Tokyo Olympics. Tony revisits Hiroshima, and there is a lot of reconstructions. The Japanese people are resilient due to pride.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Tony is in Japan from 1951 to 1956. Tony interrogates until the Peace Treaty is signed. Afterward, he works on special projects such as invasion and escapes studies for aircrews as a Department of Air Force (DAF). Tony leaves Japan in 1954. He goes to Seattle for one year and returns to Japan as an Air Force Civilian. Tony works in intelligence and then becomes a Military geographer working for the Army Map Service (Army Civilian). In 1966 the Army Map Service is disbanded, and he transferred to Hawaii. Tony goes back to the DAF as an intelligence researcher. Later the organization moves to Washington DC, and Tony decides to stay in Hawaii. He becomes a historian at Headquarters Pacific Air Forces and documents current Air Force History at that time.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans

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