Densho - Archive

Archive Spotlights

The following spotlights come from Densho's archive of personal histories, photographs, and documents. After viewing these highlights we invite you to explore the Archive in more depth.

Instructions: Scroll through the list of spotlights by using the scrollbar below. Then click on one of the spotlights to view the video segment or photograph.

Ruth Y. Okimoto

Ruth Y. Okimoto talks about adopting a scorpion as a "pet" in camp.

Gordon Yamada talks about being asked to dress like a Japanese soldier in order to train fellow non-Japanese American servicemen.

Peggie Nishimura Bain

Peggie Nishimura Bain talks about the popular and competitive pastime of shell collecting in Tule Lake.

Senator Daniel Inouye discusses his leadership tactics as an officer to reduce casualties.

Reverend Paul Nagano remembers Japanese Americans singing Christian hymns on the train ride to camp.

Fred Shiosaki recalls meeting one of the Texan soldiers of the "Lost Battalion."

Kara Kondo remembers Christmas in Heart Mountain.

Bob Fuchigami talks about being tempted to sneak out of the Merced Assembly Center, California.

Elsa Kudo, a Japanese Peruvian, describes the difficulties faced by her mother during the boat ride to Callao, Peru, on the way to Crystal City, Texas.

Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga

Aiko Herzig-Yoshinaga talks about the difficulties of being a young mother in camp.

James Hirabayashi

James Hirabayashi remembers thinking about his Japanese American identity while in Guam.

Richard E. Yamashiro

Richard Yamashiro remembers observing the unrest in camp that led to the "Manzanar Riot."

Archie Miyatake

Archie Miyatake tells the story of how his father, Toyo Miyatake, became Manzanar's official photographer.

Jim Matsuoka remembers feeling upset by a speech made by a school principal in camp.

Gordon Hirabayashi

While in prison, Gordon Hirabayashi receives a letter from his mother.

Rae Takekawa remembers waking up to the commotion of an FBI raid of family home.

Senator Daniel Inouye describes the battle in which he lost his arm.

Atsumi Ozawa remembers the difficult train and boat trip from Peru to the Crystal City internment camp, Texas.

Joe Yasutake talks about the loss of civil liberties in the political climate following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Jack Dairiki was living in Hiroshima when the U.S. dropped the atomic bomb.

Sansei PJ Hirabayashi talks about coming to the realization at an early age that she looked different from her peers.

Jim M. Tanimoto

Jim M. Tanimoto talks about an incident with U.S. Army soldiers while being held at a former CCC camp in Tulelake, California.

Toshi Nagamori Ito

Toshi Nagamori Ito talks about a prewar shelter for "picture brides" from Japan.

Rose Ito Tsunekawa

Rose Ito Tsunekawa talks about the Christmas gifts she received from U.S. military personnel, her coworkers in Japan during the U.S. occupation.

Hiroshi Terry Terakawa

Hiroshi Terry Terakawa talks about living in Salt Lake City, Utah, during the war, and the protection he received from the local Mormon police force.

Aiko Tengan Tokunaga

Aiko Tengan Tokunaga talks about makeshift music and dance performances in war-devastated Okinawa.

Gladys Koshio Konishi

Gladys Koshio Konishi talks about celebrating New Year's Day with her family as a young girl.

Charles Z. Smith

Justice Charles Z. Smith discusses how he felt when Pearl Harbor was bombed.

Masamizu Kitajima

Masamizu Kitajima is forced to grow up quickly after the detainment of his father.

Frank H. Hirata

Fred H. Hirata recalls meeting U.S. soldiers.

Fred Hoshiyama understood what truly mattered in the incarceration camps.

Shig Yabu had a pet magpie named Maggie in camp.

Tanomoshi savings association meeting, Tacoma, Washington, c. 1912.

Lillian Nakano educated the Nisei about the need to pursue redress.

Louie Watanabe describes race relations in his hometown of Walnut Grove, California.

Setsu Tsuboi Tanemura

As a young girl, Setsuko Tanemura lived with a Swedish family after her mother died.

Cedrick Shimo was demoted from the Military Intelligence Service after refusing to deploy until his civil rights are restored.

Social activist Yuri Kochiyama recalls meeting Malcolm X.

Chiyoko Yano tells how neighbors helped her family during the forced removal.

Yoshimi Matsuura

Yoshimi Matsuura recalls a blatant act of racism.

Nobuko Miyake-Stoner

Nobuko Miyake-Stoner, a Methodist minister, reflects on the meaning of her life.

Ehren Watada describes feeling betrayed by his government.

Kazuko Uno Bill

Dr. Kazuko Uno Bill remembers advice from her high school Latin teacher.

George "Joe" Sakato describes the battle for which he won the Medal of Honor.

Summer Carnival

Summer festival at Amache (Granada) incarceration camp.

Helen Harano Christ

Helen Harano Christ recalls her loss of freedom.

Helen Amerman Manning

Helen Amerman Manning speaks of teaching the Nisei "love of country."

Roy Ebihara recalls escaping a vigilante mob.

Aya Uenishi Medrud

Aya Uenishi Medrud recalls visiting wounded Japanese American soldiers.

Eugene Tatsuru Kimura

Eugene Tatsuru Kimura's family received permission to leave Puyallup "assembly center" for Sheridan, Wyoming.

Alley Watada recalls German prisoners of war working on his family�s farm.

Bob Sakata tells how his father's words of wisdom gave him strength.

Grace Sugita Hawley

Grace Sugita Hawley saw planes that attacked Pearl Harbor.

Norman Mineta recalls advocating for redress legislation.