The "Model Minority" Myth

Stanley N. Shikuma was exposed early on to activism and organized labor on his family's farm in Watsonville, California. Today, he is involved in numerous Japanese American community and activist groups.

Witnessing the Bombing of Pearl Harbor

As a child living near Honolulu, Hawaii, Grace Sugita Hawley saw the planes that attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Her father was arrested and the family followed him to an incarceration camp on the mainland.

Psychological Effects of Camp

Kenji Ima was four years old when he was incarcerated with his family at the Puyallup Assembly Center. In this clip, he talks about the recurring nightmares he had from childhood to young adulthood.

Densho continues to selectively record the oral histories of Japanese Americans and others who can speak about the World War II incarceration. The stories we collect represent a wide range of perspectives and experiences from a diverse geographic range. Since Densho does not have the resources to interview all candidates, we are currently only able to record the experiences of individuals whose stories are not well documented.

Nominate a Narrator

Know someone who may be a good candidate for Densho to interview? Fill out our short online interview nomination form and check out our criteria for selection.

Conduct Your Own Oral History

Resources and tips for recording your own oral history interview with someone you know.