Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1566/

Captured by Guerillas after bombing of Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor – that time was December 8, 1941, and I was about three, I think three and a half? And then, I remember we were captured by the guerilla – about three days after Pearl Harbor. Well, we didn’t know about what happened, but we – guerillas captured us, and then placed in captive watch, and I had scariest memory of – you know, the guerilla guard man, he flashed a bayonet that was attached to the gun, and I was so scared. I remember that. And the war became – I said – we were rescued ten days later, and then the – we had a peaceful time, but the war became more serious, and American airplanes started to bomb Davao, and so we had to evacuate.


Pearl Harbor attack, Hawaii, 1941 Philippines World War II

Date: July 12, 2017

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Mitsue Watanabe, Yoko Nishimura, Leighton Okada

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

Interviewee Bio

Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura was born in Davao, Mindanao, Philippines on March 25, 1938 as the first daughter of Katsujiro and Ura “Mie” Ashizawa. She was 7 years old in 1945 when her family had to leave the Philippines after Japan’s defeat in World War II. Her family lived in Shizuoka for the next 10 years. ​Later the family received r​​esidency status in the United States ​and arrived in Los Angeles ​in March 1956. Sawako went to Alhambra High School and later studied at Pasadena City College. She eventually found a generous mentor who helped support her through her education at San Jose State University and became a​​n occupational therapist. Currently she is volunteering at the Sakura Garden (Formerly Keiro Retirement Home). (March 2018)

Howard Kakita
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Kakita,Howard

His parents had little hope that he had survived the atomic bomb

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Howard Kakita
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Kakita,Howard

His views on nuclear weapons

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Iwao Takamoto
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Takamoto,Iwao

Loss When Leaving for Manzanar

Japanese American animator for Walt Disney and Hanna Barbera (1925-2007)

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Jimmy Naganuma
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Naganuma,Jimmy

Forcibly deported to the U.S. from Peru

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Monica Teisher
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Teisher,Monica

Stories of Grandfather at a concentration camp in Fusagasuga

(b.1974) Japanese Colombian who currently resides in the United States

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Monica Teisher
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Teisher,Monica

Her grandfather in a concentration camp in Fusagasuga (Spanish)

(b.1974) Japanese Colombian who currently resides in the United States

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Haruo Kasahara
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Kasahara,Haruo

How we were treated on plantation after the attack on Pearl Harbor (Japanese)

(b.1900) Issei plantation worker in Hawai'i.

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Jimmy Naganuma
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Naganuma,Jimmy

Family welcomed at Crystal City

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Jimmy Naganuma
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Naganuma,Jimmy

First meal at Crystal City

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Kazumu Naganuma
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Naganuma,Kazumu

His sister Kiyo was like a second mother to him

(b. 1942) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

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Mia Yamamoto
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Yamamoto,Mia

Impact of her father

(b. 1943) Japanese American transgender attorney

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