Partial Transcript: Ken discusses his first time meeting Woody climbing rope. Ken later learns that his father knows Woody's grandfather and uncles. Ken says Woody's main love is model airplanes. Ken and Woody are similar in personality and become close friends. Although Ken, has chores on the farm, Woody would sometimes wait for Ken to finish so they can hang out. Some common interests that Ken and Woody have are to go to the junkyard and get bottles to throw in the river or shoot bottles with the rifle.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; friendship; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; rifle; social activities

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Partial Transcript: Ken discusses his friendship with Woody "Woodrow Wilson." When the Tamura family sells the farm and leaves Okmulgee, OK, Ken remembers that Woody is very sad. However, the Tamura family returns to Okmulgee later in 1940. The Tamura family owns two farms. One of the farms, Ken's father purchase from the Government that belongs to Creek Nation. Ken reflects on the demographic of Okmulgee. There is a Chinese American family, a Japanese American family, an Italian family, and a few Jewish families.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: farming; friendship; Nisei; rural communities

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Partial Transcript: At sixteen years old, Ken and his family leave Okmulgee. The journey is about a week-long going to the West Coast. Ken recalls taking a boat to Hawaii and getting seasick. In Japantown, Ken sees many Japanese people and wanting to say hi to everyone. Ken says in Oklahoma, there are not many Japanese Americans.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaii; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Mainland; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Ken recalls staying at his grandmother's home near Mount Fuji. He describes his new living environment. While living in Japan, Ken's aunt teaches him and his siblings Japanese. Ken says he would learn 20 kanji a day.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Issei parents; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Ken discusses living and Japan and adjusting to the culture. He shares stories about his experiences in Japan and recalls going to his great grandfather's funeral.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; education; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Ken discusses the war between Japan and China from 1937-1939. Food especially rice is rationed. Life is difficult. Ken recalls schools are segregated between boys and girls. Ken attends Waseda University in Tokyo (a school for foreigners) while his sisters attend a different school. Ken's younger brother attends a Japanese grammar school.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: education; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: The Tamura family returns to the United States when Ken is about eighteen years old. Ken describes the living conditions and readjusting to living back in the States in the city. Ken says the lifestyle between Okmulgee and California is different. Living in Los Angeles, CA, Ken learns about discrimination. He explains the time when he wants to go swimming but is not allowed to. Ken decides after graduating high school, he will return to the Midwest.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: discrimination; education; high school; Japanese Americans; Mainland; Nisei; prejudices

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Partial Transcript: During the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Ken is in High School. There is hysteria and people not wanting Japanese Americans around. Ken recalls evacuation and the preparation his family makes for camp. After leaving Okmulgee, Ken says everything has been a new experience. Ken is angry about the evacuation orders. All the years in school you learn about the Constitution, liberty, and freedom but it means nothing when peoples' livelihood is affected. Ken says the United States is his country and home.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; discrimination; Executive Order 9066; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Pearl Harbor; prejudices; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Ken recalls taking what you can carry and going to Pomona. At camp, Ken describes the living conditions at camp life. As for jobs, Ken decides to be a timekeeper at the mess hall. The job pays eight dollars a month. The food served at the mess hall includes apple butter and pigs feet.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; barracks; discrimination; Heart Mountain; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Mainland; Nisei; Pomona; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Ken's family is at Pomona detention center from May to August before going to Heart Mountain, Wyoming. Ken recalls the windows being blackout during the train ride to Wyoming. Also, flashlights, radios, and guns being confiscated. At Heart Mountain the weather is hot and there is a communal mess hall. Ken did not like the communal mess hall because it breaks up the family unit. Ken also mentions there is a divide between the city and country guys in camp.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; barracks; blackouts in war; discrimination; Executive Order 9066; family; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; living conditions; Nisei; Pomona; travel; World War Two

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