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His father didn't spend too much time with the family

He didn't spent too much time with the family. He was really, pretty 100%, into his work that he loved so much. But once in a while, he'll take us to snow or something. Boy, it's a big treat for us because we hardly ever get to go anywhere. Even then, he would have his camera with him. Once we'd get there he'd park the car, and you look around for him - he's gone. Never see him until about four or five o'clock when the sun starts going down and it's time to go home - it's getting cold. Then you wonder where father is...far way beyond, he's walking back towards the car. Soon as he gets to the car he says, "Okay lets go home." And all that time he's roaming around taking photographs of scenery.


families photographers photographs photography Toyo Miyatake

Date: March 22, 2001

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Robert Nakamura, Karen Ishizuka

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Archie Miyatake, the son of famed photographer Toyo Miyatake, was born in Los Angeles in 1924. In 1942 he was incarcerated in the Manzanar concentration camp where he and his family were confined for the duration of World War II—and where he graduated from high school. A photographer himself, Archie continued to run the Toyo Miyatake Studio in Little Tokyo after his father’s death in 1979, eventually moving the business to its current location in San Gabriel, California. He passed away on December 20, 2016, at age 92. (December 2016)

George Ariyoshi
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George Ariyoshi

Spending time with children

(b.1926) Democratic politician and three-term Governor of Hawai'i

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Jean Hayashi Ariyoshi
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Jean Hayashi Ariyoshi

Getting married

Former First Lady of Hawai'i

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Jean Hayashi Ariyoshi
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Jean Hayashi Ariyoshi

Possibility of being adopted by aunt

Former First Lady of Hawai'i

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Kazuo Funai
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Kazuo Funai

First work in America (Japanese)

(1900-2005) Issei businessman

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James Hirabayashi
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James Hirabayashi

Little interaction with parents

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

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James Hirabayashi
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James Hirabayashi

Gordon's parents' experience in prison

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

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Barbara Kawakami
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Barbara Kawakami

Going back to Hawaii

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

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Barbara Kawakami
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Barbara Kawakami

Clothes of plantation workers

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

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Barbara Kawakami
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Barbara Kawakami

Surviving after father's death

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

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Barbara Kawakami
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Barbara Kawakami

Washing for Filipino bachelors

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

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Barbara Kawakami
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Barbara Kawakami

Brother leaves for war, survival

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

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Barbara Kawakami
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Barbara Kawakami

Doing chores

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

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Robert (Bob) Kiyoshi Okasaki
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Robert (Bob) Kiyoshi Okasaki

Wife's family in Japan

(b.1942) Japanese American ceramist, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years.

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Jane Aiko Yamano
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Jane Aiko Yamano

New Year's food

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

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Wayne Shigeto Yokoyama
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Wayne Shigeto Yokoyama

Food growing up

(b.1948) Nikkei from Southern California living in Japan.

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