Partial Transcript: Hitoshi G. Sameshima is born April 13, 1921, in Pasadena, CA. His parents are from the southern part of Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. In 1898, Hitoshi's father immigrated to the United States. Later his mother comes in 1912 when she is 18 years old. In the United States, Hitoshi's father works in the lumber mills in the Northwest. Later he moves to San Francisco, CA, and then to Los Angeles, CA. In 1910, his father starts a laundry business in Pasadena. Hitoshi's mother helps with the laundry business and raises four children, two boys, and two girls. From oldest to youngest is Fumiko, Kenji Jack (1918), Hitoshi (himself), and Fujiko (1925). Hitoshi is close to his two sisters Fumiko and Fujiko.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; dating; employment; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei; siblings; wedding

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Partial Transcript: When Hitoshi is two years old, his father establishes his laundry business in Pasadena, CA. Hitoshi attends Pasadena Unified School District Schools until the evacuation orders. The Pasadena Unified School District is on a 6-4-4 system - six years for Grammar School, four for Junior High School, and Junior College. Hitoshi recalls attending a cosmopolitan school with Japanese, Germans, Filipino, African American, Greece, and Scotland students. The Hispanic children attend a Mission School. Later in 1932 or 1933, the Hispanic children join the Pasadena Unified School District. As a child, Hitoshi feels everyone is the same despite coming from different ancestry.

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Keywords: "Buddha heads"; Americans of Japanese Ancestry; children; education; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei; primary school

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Partial Transcript: Hitoshi's parents are Issei from Japan, and they teach him Shushin - Japanese morals and values. For example, children do not bring shame to the family, study hard, persevere, and Ganbare. Growing up, Hitoshi says he does not experience any discrimination or bias except for time at the community swimming pool. Hitoshi is not as quiet as he appears to be. He is an outspoken person. He shares a story about how he broke his nose.

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Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; discrimination; Issei parents; Japanese identity and values; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Hitoshi recalls his childhood personality. He says he is a bashful type. In third grade, he recalls the class takes a group photo, but he is sitting far away from the girl next to him. Hitoshi says he begins socializing with girls in high school. Growing up, Hitoshi participates in sports. He recalls competing in track for the city finals and receiving a certificate from Garfield Elementary. In high school, Hitoshi is on the track team. There is a photograph at a museum that shows three Nisei and a Caucasian. The three Nisei are Henry Kondo, Hitoshi Sameshima (himself), and Kanichi Nishi. Hitoshi recalls receiving intermediate medals for classification. Hitoshi's highest medal is Silver. Also, he graduates from the Rose Bowl three times for junior high school, high school, and college.

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Keywords: 442nd; childhood activities; high school; Japanese Americans; Nisei; photographs

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Partial Transcript: Hitoshi compares Pasadena from his childhood to the current day. Current day, Pasadena is busier and is more diversified. Pre-Pasadena, only a few Korean families, Hispanic families, and African American families live in the area. Hitoshi says earlier Pasadena, the city is quieter and people leave their house door open whereas now you lock your doors. Hitoshi's childhood friends are mainly Nisei. He also has a Chinese friend, Eddie Wong, and a Caucasian friend, Chester White. Hitoshi's Nisei friends are Joe Hayashi (Medal of Honor Recipient), Henry Kondo (E Company), and Bill Morita (I Company), to name a few.

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Keywords: 442nd; Americans of Japanese Ancestry; Japanese American soldiers; Killed in Action; living conditions; Medal of Honor; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Hitoshi says anyone born before 1925 would have dual citizenship in Japan and United States. He recalls Kousaku Kawata ( a year older than Hitoshi), his father passes away. The family moves back to Japan. When Hitoshi is in Japan during the occupation, he tries to locate his friend. He finds the Kousaku's sister and learns Kousaku is drafted into the Japanese Army. Kousaku is sent to Burma and is killed in action (KIA). Hitoshi names his other friends who died in World War Two, Henry Kondo (France) and Joe Hayashi (Italy). Tad Hamano and Hitoshi survive the war, but Tad has recently passed.

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Keywords: friendship; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei; occupation; siblings; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: At home, Hitoshi mainly speaks Japanese with his Issei parents. He says his parents stress the family obligations and Shushin. Besides attend primary school, Hitoshi attends Japanese Language School at night time, Monday and Thursday. At Japanese Language School, he focuses on reading, writing, and history. Hitoshi recalls his parents making him memorize the Emperor Meiji Imperial Rescript, Kyoiku Kansuru Chokugo. Every year on the Emperor's birthday, the Principal would read the Kyoiku Kansuru Chokugo. The Imperial Rescript emphasizes the importance of family, respect for the elders, loving with your siblings, and obeying the laws.

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Keywords: education; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; Japanese language school; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Hitoshi says he attends Japanese Language School and kendo with Joe Hayashi. At eleven years old, Hitoshi gets his first job delivering the newspaper. He distributes newspapers for three years on a six-mile route. When Hitoshi turns fifteen, Henry Kondo helps him get a job at a fruit stand. Hitoshi work from 7 am to 10 pm and earns two dollars.

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Keywords: education; employment; friendship; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: The earnings Hitoshi gets from his part-time jobs, he would give to his father. Hitoshi's father then would buy bonds to save for Hitoshi's college fund. Hitoshi says the money saved allows him to attend the University of Southern California (USC). Hitoshi's parents would express the importance of education because they did not have the opportunity. Hitoshi recalls his first job when he is nine years old selling magazines. He works for two weeks and earns seventeen cents. Hitoshi leaves the job because his mother finds out.

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Keywords: Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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