Oral History Videos

Joseph Ichiuji
Interview Length: 1:53

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT:
If you are trying to compare today, looking at, not at the time, but later on.  You compare American camps with the German camps. The scope and the reason and the purpose were vastly different.  You know, the American camp was for the duration of the war.  Whereas the German camp was for extermination of Jewish race.  So I mention many times that but the reason is the same.  Because in each case, an ethnic group was singled out for mass incarceration, isn't that right?  We were singled out for mass incarceration despite the fact that we were at war with Japan, Germany and Italy.  We were the only ones singled out for that.  So it was based on racial prejudice.  That's what it was.  And that's why you know, when I give a talk, I make sure that people understand what we had gone through in the United States and because you know, discrimination still exists in this country, we have to tell the story so it won't happen again.  That's it.  But one thing I have to say is that I am proud to be of my heritage and my country.  Because this country recognized the mistake they made and they vowed to never let it happen again.  That makes a good country.