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Contact: Diane Tanaka
310-328-0907
VETERANS, VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR GO FOR BROKE'S HANASHI ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS
(TORRANCE, CALIF., April 19, 2006) – The Go For Broke Educational Foundation's preservation initiative, the Hanashi Oral History Program, ensures the "hanashi" or "story" of the Japanese American World War II veterans is not forgotten. Since 1998, Hanashi has been traveling throughout the United States to interview veterans and record their life histories with professional-quality video equipment.
With nearly 670 interviews currently in its archive, Hanashi's goals are to collect another 100-plus by year's end. To help reach its aggressive goal, Hanashi is looking for veterans who would like to be interviewed in the following areas: Sacramento, Calif. (May 5-7); New Jersey area (May 19-22); Chicago and Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn. (June 22-28); and San Francisco (July 7-9). Additionally, interviews are held at Go For Broke's Torrance, Calif. headquarters throughout the year.
"The Go For Broke Educational Foundation's goal is to conduct as many interviews as possible to ensure the legacy is preserved," said Tim Yuge, Hanashi Oral History Program Manager. "This is an ambitious goal and it is becoming more difficult to find veterans to interview. With the average age well into their 80s, it's a race against time. But the Hanashi program and its volunteers are up for the challenge."
Frank Shimada of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team reiterated the importance of the program in his oral history, "I know some guys didn't want to talk to other people about it, but I tell them, 'When you die what you know goes with you and it's gone forever. At least if you tell somebody, it will be here for the next generation.'"
Hanashi is seeking all Japanese American World War II veterans to interview and emphasizes that all men and women who served played a role during the war and are essential to the complete story. Women are also encouraged to be interviewed, as their role in the Women's Army Corps (WACs) during WWII is important. Interviews are not strictly focused on the war itself; they cover all aspect of the veteran's life ranging from childhood to post-war and resettlement. "It's not just about their heroic or not so heroic actions," said Yuge, "There life stories are important for the history of the family. It's something that their [veterans'] children and grandchildren are eager to learn."
Moreover, the program is in need of volunteers to help and be a part of the Hanashi crew, consisting of videographers, interviewers, and an audio technicians/cataloguers. A training program is offered to all volunteers as no experience is necessary to participate. Travel accommodations to out-of-town sites are provided by the program, all that is asked is an interest in hearing interesting stories and getting involved in preserving the legacy of the Japanese American WWII veteran story.
The Hanashi archive is searchable and viewable on Go For Broke's website, www.GoForBroke.org. Currently, 275 are accessible and eventually all interviews will be online. In addition, the interviews are used in lesson plans and curriculum development including Go For Broke's "A Tradition of Honor" documentary, teacher training, and utilized in other interactive programming and web-based content.
To provide a name of veterans to be interviewed or to volunteer, contact Tim Yuge at 310-222-5705 or email hanashi@goforbroke.org. The Go For Broke Educational Foundation institutes educational programs focused on the heroism and history of the Japanese American soldiers of World War II, as well as the forced evacuation and incarceration of Japanese Americans and civil liberties issues raised by those events. Currently the Educational Foundation's programs include An American Story Teacher Training Program, Hanashi Oral History Program, www.GoForBroke.org educational website, Resource Center (Torrance), and Go For Broke Monument Visitor's Center (Little Tokyo).
In 1989 Japanese American World War II veterans established the 100th/442nd/MIS WWII Memorial Foundation to build the Go For Broke Monument, which today is an eternal tribute to the heroics of the segregated Japanese American units: 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, MIS (Military Intelligence Service) and the many other men and women who served overseas during World War II. The Monument is located in the Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles at Temple and Alameda Streets.
