Partial Transcript: During the occupation, the subways are not operating. The main transportation is by trains or trolleys. Tony sees a lot of homeless people in the black market areas. There are also orphans, but it is not common. Tony remembers seeing the Japanese twins for the first time in his life. Tony recalls walking downtown and seeing the Japanese policeman abusing a pedestrian. He expresses authority for the policeman to calm down.

Segment Synopsis:

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

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Partial Transcript: When Tony goes back to Japan after the occupation, the locals have changed. The people have money, there is no food shortage, no one is starving, and every one is employed. Tony is surprised by how industrious the Japanese people are. Moreover, the crime level is low, and there is no juvenile delinquency. Tony feels the occupation went very well. He gives the rating ten out of ten. There are thousands of linguists during the occupation, and he feels his contribution is minimal. Tony says the people who work in other fields contributed more such as Civil Censorship or Military Government, or Transportation. Those fields work with various ministries. Tony says the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) put in a lot of contributions.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Tony recalls his friend, Stan Kizawa, is in the Civil Censorship. His specialty is censoring movies and theater productions. Stan is cited as instrumental for saving the Kabuki Theater. Military Government, individuals working with the police department, and people working with demobilization also contribute a lot to the occupation. Tony's role is mainly intelligence collections. Tony says the linguists work at the very basic level in prefectural Government offices or lower. Moreover, some linguists work in high positions with ministries. Tony explains the linguists are spread out through the different prefectures is to assist the Japanese Government and Police to keep the Communists under control.

Segment Synopsis:

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

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Partial Transcript: Linguists are working in different prefectures is to assist the Japanese Government and police. Tony says it is difficult to rate the effectiveness of their work. The Japanese American linguists have more of an advantage for the locals to trust them over a white person who can speak Japanese. The locals want to make friends right away. Tony says that is what the Army did not learn. There is a need to have ethnic people who look similar and speak the native language to gain trust and confidence.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hakujin; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Besides looking like the locals and speaking the native language, the Nisei linguists have the same food nutrition, culture, and religion. Tony grows up eating the same diet, and his parents are Buddhist and Shinto. Moreover, sharing the same culture is important. Tony recalls his military experience at Fort Knox. He is the only Asian in his training battalion, and the rest are white (besides one Hispanic and a Native American). In Louisville, there is segregation. Tony remembers the separate drinking fountains and the different seating areas on the bus.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "colored"; Buddhism; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: At Fort Knox, Tony has to explain to his fellow recruits about Japanese culture. Tony is the first Japanese American they met. Most of the guys are from the East Coast or Midwest farming areas. Tony says he makes friends fast. The GIs in the occupation are longtime veterans, and Tony does not need to explain to them about Japanese culture. The veteran GIs are accustomed to the Nisei. At the occupation structure level, Tony is at the national level because he is working on strategic intelligence. At the time of occupation, Tony does not know what the priorities of occupation were. He only knows what he learns at the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) training. However, Tony understands the goal is to have a peaceful and friendly Japan. When the war ends, Tony is aware the American Government is suspicious of the Russians.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Japanese American soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; occupation

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Partial Transcript: Tony says General MacArthur is the best person to be the Supreme Commander and is well received by the Japanese locals. General MacArthur preserves the Emperor System, and he is firm on democratization. Democracy is established in Japan after the Meiji Restoration in 1868 (approximately) until the Military System takes over in the 1930s. Therefore the Japanese locals are accustomed to democracy.

Segment Synopsis:

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

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Partial Transcript: The formal training ended when the war ends. After that, the training becomes informal. There are discussion groups in the barracks. The linguist would share information amongst each other. The Kibei trained in Japan shared their experiences. In addition, some of the Nisei who were in Japan before the war share fun places to visit or to avoid. Tony says they were anxious for the occupation in Japan. They have been waiting three to four months before deployment.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Kibei; Nisei; Nisei soldiers

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Partial Transcript: Tony does not hear about the options given the new recruitment when the war ends. The recruitments can either go to occupation or be released from service. Tony says there is no one from his company that is released from service. During the informal training, there is only the EM.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: basic training; Japanese American soldiers; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; occupation

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Partial Transcript: Tony is a historian at the Headquarters Activities at the Pacific Air Forces and later a historian at Synbac Headquarters Commander and Chief Pacific Command (controls all forces in the Pacific). When Tony retires, he is the Chief Historian of the Pacific Command. Among the linguists, Tony admires the Combat Linguists. He says the Combat Linguists contribute greatly to the war efforts and work in the occupation. Tony says he downplays his part in the occupation. However, after the interview, he realizes everyone's contribution is valuable, even his own. Everyone's efforts made the occupation successful.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaii; Japanese American soldiers; linguistics; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei soldiers; occupation; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Tony says Americans have to learn all religions are equal and similar. The war is not against religion but the extremists. From the standpoint of the MIS experience in Japan, the Nisei understands the religion of Japan. Tony does not think there is enough understanding at the troop level that understands the religion and culture of middle eastern countries.

Segment Synopsis:

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

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Partial Transcript: Tony admires the empathy the Japanese American interpreters, translators, and interrogators have during the occupation. The Japanese American interpreters, translators, and interrogators are not there to occupy Japan forcefully but peacefully. Tony shows a photo of him and the Captain Scientist "Chief" he accompanies in Japan for their missions.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Allied Translator and Interpreter Section; Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Japanese American soldiers; linguistics; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Nisei veterans; occupation; photographs

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