HANASHI ORAL HISTORY PROGRAM OVERVIEW
View "Hanashi: Preserving A Legacy," an 8 minute overview of the
Hanashi Oral History Program
Started in 1998 by a volunteer group of 10 Sansei (third generation) and Yonsei (fourth generation), the Go For Broke National Education Center's Hanashi Oral History Program is a testament to the impact of the stories of the Japanese American veterans. Since its inception, Hanashi has grown to a base of approximately 80 volunteers of various ethnic backgrounds, all of whom have found a personal connection with the stories.
Hanashi's goal is to conduct as many interviews as it can to ensure the legacy is preserved. It's a race against time, however, as the veterans' average age is over 80 years old. By the end of 2009, the Hanashi oral history video archive will hold more than 1,000 life histories, 700 of which are accessible on this Web site.
Interviews are videotaped using professional camera and audio equipment. Each interview averages three hours, as the interviewer navigates the veterans' life from childhood and pre-WWII to after the war and resettlement.
Though many of the interviews are conducted at Go For Broke's Torrance office, volunteers also travel nationwide to interview veterans, concentrating on the West Coast, Hawaii, and East Coast. Hanashi volunteers range from experienced entertainment industry veterans to those with no knowledge of oral history or video production work. Go For Broke trains Hanashi volunteers on all facets of the program.
We must never forget.
For further information on the Hanashi Oral History Program, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions page.
