Partial Transcript: Don Miyada is in the 100th Battalion, A Company. He is born on May 21, 1925, in Oceanside, California. The Miyada family lives in Oceanside for four years before moving to Laguna Beach. Miyada recalls Oceanside being rural and crickets.

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Keywords: 100th; Americans of Japanese Ancestry

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Partial Transcript: Don's father's name is Raiju Miyada. His father immigrates to San Francisco in 1904 from Japan. He works in various areas such as Buffalo, New York, Chicago in a gift shop (with his brother), and a nursery on Wilshire Boulevard. In 1920, Raiju Miyada relocates to Oceanside, California. In Japan, Don's father comes from a Navy family background. Don's father is 5'2in height, 125 pounds. He describes his father's personality as a serious but honest man.

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Keywords: employment; family; Issei; Issei parents

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Partial Transcript: Don's father is loyal, and they are a close family. Don's family is not well off financially. If there are outings, Don recalls them with friends or sometimes with his mother. His parents are always working to provide for the family.

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Keywords: childhood activities; family; Issei; Issei parents

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Partial Transcript: Don Miyada's mother's name is Masu Miyada. She is the fifth child out of eight siblings. She is born in born in Hiroshima, Japan, in a village called Yokomachi. Masu's family background in agriculture. In Oceanside, Don's family started farming with his Aunt (Masu's sister). Don's parents met in Japan and got married. Don's father emigrates to the United States first, and his mother arrives in Seattle in the 1920s.

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Keywords: family; farming; Issei parents

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Partial Transcript: Don's mother is 5'1 in height. She is friendly and outgoing. She loves to sing, and his parents listen to Japanese music regularly.

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Keywords: Issei; Issei parents; music

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Partial Transcript: Growing up, Don recalls his parents are Buddhist and hard workers. His mother works all day and prepares their meals. In the Miyada family, there are four children - three boys and a girl (in order of oldest to youngest: George, Toshiharu, Charles, Mitsuteru, Don, and Ruth).

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Keywords: Buddhism; Issei; Issei parents; siblings

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Partial Transcript: Between his siblings, Don is closer to his sister Ruth. In their youth, they shared similar thoughts and ideas. However, as they grow older, they have different ways of thinking. Later in life, Ruth works as a stewardess at British Airway; George is the smart one; Charles is outgoing and stylish. Charles is also part of the Men Athletic club at Santa Ana College in 1940.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; childhood activities; employment; family; Nisei; sports

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Partial Transcript: Charles participates in football and track. Don plays sports such as Newport Harbor Weight Class Team, Kendo, and football. At the age of 7 or 8, Don practices Kendo until his Sophomore year in High School.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Nisei; sports; youth organizations

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Partial Transcript: Don discusses the values his parents instilled in him growing up, such as honesty, loyalty to family, and being outgoing. Don also talks briefly about Corona Del Mar - a new area in development.

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Keywords: family; Issei parents; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Don describes his childhood home. Three bedrooms and an outhouse. There is no electricity and plumbing in the kitchen only. There is also an ofuro for bathing.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; family; Issei; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Don recalls his favorite meals his mother cooks. He likes scrambled eggs and potato and chicken stew. The most memorable holiday that the Miyada celebrates is Christmas. At Christmas time, his Dad would roast lamb for the special occasion.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; family; Issei parents; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: New Year is an important holiday celebrated by the Miyada family. The family makes grape wine but not sake. Traditional Japanese made on New Year are Kazunoko, Oden, lobster, and other entrees.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Issei; Japanese identity and values; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Don joys watching movies in his childhood in Laguna Beach and Santa Ana. He lists some of the few movies he watches. The movie rate at the time is 50 cents.

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Keywords: childhood activities; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Someone influential to Don growing up is Eunice Gardner. Ms. Gardner arranges special programs for music, courts to learn about the judicial system, and sports. The demographic of the neighborhood Don grows up in is Japanese farmers. In Newport Beach, the demographic is primary Caucasians.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; childhood activities; farm; farming; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Don discusses the photo of his classroom at San Joaquin #2. In his class, there are five students: three Japanese Americans, two Hispanics, and one Caucasian. Don is friends with everyone. George Matoba and Paul Furukawa.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Japanese Americans; Nisei; primary school

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Partial Transcript: Don discuss going to Japanese School. Depending on the teacher, different Japanese lessons are teach to the students. After San Joaquin #2, Don goes to Newport Harbor High School.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; high school; Japanese language school; Nisei; primary school

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Partial Transcript: Don discusses local schools around his area - Newport Grammar School and Laguna Grammar School. All the children from the Japanese farming community go to San Joaquin #2. Living in a rural area, Don says the closest neighbor would be either half a mile to 600 yards depending on the direction.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei; primary school

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Partial Transcript: Don plays football in high school, and his position is guard tackle-end. His school's football rivals are Anaheim High School. In High School, his favorite subjects are science, chemistry, and physics. Don likes problem-solving. He recalls his teachers Mr. Whiteneck, Mr. Gear, and Mr. Ray. In his senior year, Don recalls evacuation from California.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Executive Order 9066; prejudices; racism; sports

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Partial Transcript: On the Miyada family farm, there are mules and chicken. For transportation, they have a truck. Normally Sunday is a day of rest but due to the farming business, Saturday is their day of rest. Sunday is a day for working. Don reflects on his activities on December 7 of the Pearl Harbor attack. Prior to the attack, he does not remember hearing anything about issues in Japan but he does remember hearing about the European War.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; farm; farming; Nisei; Pearl Harbor; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Don talks about his duties on the farm. The farm had some fences such as barb wire and wood fences. Don describes what barb wire is.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; childhood activities; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Don remembers hearing about the attack on the radio. The first person he told the news about the bombing is his Uncle. Prior to the attack, Don did not hear much about Pearl Harbor. Don's parents and Uncle speak among themselves in Japanese later that day. Don does not speak Japanese, therefore he does not know what is being discussed.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei; siblings; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Don describes his concerns about the events of Pearl Harbor and how it possibly impact Japanese Americans. On the following day, December 8, Don goes to school. Don did not feel any ill feelings express to him after the attack.

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Keywords: Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Don says after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the farming business goes on as usual growing peas and tomatoes. However, authorities requests contrabands such as flashlights, radios, and guns are turned in. At that time, Don owns two guns - a 22 and a 410. Don used guns for shooting rabbits, squirrels, and birds. The interview stops at 58 minutes and 37 seconds.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: farming; Japanese Americans; World War Two

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