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Ruth Y. Okimoto: Snakes and Scorpions in Camp
Ruth Y. Okimoto was a child at the Poston (Colorado River) concentration camp, Arizona, during World War II. In this clip, she talks about encountering the local wildlife in camp….
April Fool’s 2013
Densho’s special April Fool’s Edition of the eNewsletter is now available!
New Encyclopedia Articles, November-December 2012
In the last two months of 2012 Densho published 42 new articles to our public encyclopedia about the Japanese American experience during World War II, including:
Gordon Yamada: Serving with the MIS
Gordon Yamada served with the Military Intelligence Service during and after World War II and in Japan during the U.S. occupation. In this clip, he talks about his early days…
Peggie Nishimura Bain: Shell Collecting in Camp
During World War II, Peggie Nishimura Bain and her children were incarcerated in the Tule Lake concentration camp, California. In this clip, she describes how she and others quickly discovered…
Senator Daniel Inouye: Leadership Tactics During Combat
Senator Daniel Inouye served as an officer with the 442ndRegimental Combat Team during World War II. In this clip, he talks about his techniques for reducing casualties among the soldiers…
New Articles in the Densho Encyclopedia
The Densho Encyclopedia continues to expand with more newly written articles about the Japanese American experience during World War II. In the last month, 36 articles were added to this…
Paul Nagano: Singing Hymns on the Way to Camp
Paul Nagano was ordained as a Baptist minister while incarcerated at the Poston concentration camp, ministering to fellow Japanese Americans and leading ecumenical worship services in camp. In this clip,…
Fred Shiosaki: Meeting a Member of the “Lost Battalion” After the War
Fred Shiosaki served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II, including one of the campaigns, the “Rescue of the Lost Battalion.” In this clip, he remembers how…
Kara Kondo: Singing Christmas Carols to a Camp Guard
Kara Kondo recalls Christmas in the Heart Mountain concentration camp and singing carols underneath a guard tower. Kara’s full interview is available in the Densho Digital Archive, and this clip…
Elsa Kudo: Mother’s Hardships on the Journey from Peru
Elsa Kudo was born in Canete, Peru, where her parents ran a successful store. During World War II, her father was arrested, deported to the U.S., and held at the…
First Peek at the Densho Encyclopedia: Editor’s Message
We are two months away from the launch of the Densho Encyclopedia and want your feedback. We made a beta version available for viewing and testing: encyclopedia.densho.org. Editor’s Message Brian…
Jim Hirabayashi (1926-2012)
Jim Hirabayashi, who passed away peacefully last week at age 85, lived a remarkable life filled with accomplishment and governed by principle, a word everyone who knew him seemed to…
Richard E. Yamashiro: Witnessing the “Manzanar Riot”
Richard Yamashiro was a teenager during World War II. While in the Manzanar concentration camp, he remembers the dissent surrounding supporters of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) who were…
Archie Miyatake: Father Avoids Photography Restriction in Camp
Toyo Miyatake, well-known Issei photographer, received permission to take photographs at the Manzanar concentration camp, California. However, because of War Relocation Authority rules, Toyo was allowed to set up the…
Terminology Redux
Since it had been a while, the Densho staff took some time to review our terminology policy and the “A Note on Terminology” statement on our website. Issues on terminology…
A Disappointing Comparison during the 70th Anniversary of EO9066
From Densho’s Executive Director, Tom Ikeda: In 2008 I voted for President Obama hoping for comparisons with Franklin D Roosevelt, a Democratic President who entered office amid a financial crisis…
Jim Matsuoka: An Unpleasant School Assembly in Camp
Jim Matsuoka was grade school age when he and his family were sent to the Manzanar incarceration camp, California. In this clip, he remembers feeling upset by a speech made…
Terrorism, 1945 Style
One of the articles I’ve been working on for the Densho Encyclopedia on and off is a piece on the terroristic incidents that greeted the first Nisei to return to…
Gordon Hirabayashi: Receiving Support from Mother for Wartime Stand
During World War II, Gordon Hirabayashi defied the curfew and removal orders being enforced against Japanese on the West Coast. He turned himself in to the FBI, was found guilty,…
Rae Takekawa: FBI Raid and Mother’s Outrage
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Rae Takekawa remembers waking up to the commotion of an FBI raid of family home. Rae Takekawa’s interview was conducted in 1998 and is…
Sen. Daniel Inouye: Injured in Battle
Senator Daniel Inouye, longtime Senator from Hawaii, served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team during World War II. In this clip, he describes a battle in which he lost his…
Densho Encyclopedia Sample Article: Children’s Village
The Densho Encyclopedia is a free and publicly accessible website project launching in the fall of 2012 that will provide concise, accurate, and balanced information on many aspects of the…
Atsumi Ozawa: A Japanese Peruvian’s Story
During World War II, Atsumi Ozawa, a Japanese Peruvian, was removed with her family from her hometown of Huancayo, Peru, and taken to the Crystal City internment camp, Texas. Her…