0:00 - Discusses origin; and father I

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Partial Transcript: Shigeru Iba is born April 1,1917, in Los Angeles, CA. His parents are Sumiye Misumi and Kensuke "Ken" Iba. Shigeru's father immigrates to the United States and works as a gardener and farmer. In 1915, Shigeru's father returns to Japan to get married. Shigeru's older brother is born November 9, 1915.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei

Subjects:

3:30 - Discusses father II; and siblings

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Partial Transcript: When Shigeru's father comes back from Japan, he goes to Los Angeles and works as a farmer. Later he starts a nursery business. There are three sons in the family. From oldest to youngest are Harry, Shigeru (himself), and his younger brother.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: employment; farming; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei

Subjects:

6:30 - Recalls childhood I

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Partial Transcript: Shigeru describes his childhood living in Los Angeles, CA. In 1922, Shigeru's father purchases a home, and the family moves to 36th Place. He attends 36th Street Grammar School. The demographic at the school is Caucasians and African Americans.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; Japanese Americans; Nisei; primary school

Subjects:

9:58 - Recalls childhood II

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Partial Transcript: Shigeru's father buys a home in 1922 and opens his nursery on 36th Place. Shigeru recalls playing in the backyard with his toy cars. Later, Shigeru meets other Japanese American children in the neighborhood and becomes friends with them. He recalls helping his father with the nursery business.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; employment; friendship; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei

Subjects:

12:20 - Discusses school years

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Partial Transcript: Besides attending primary school, Shigeru attends Japanese Language School at Senshin and Centenary Methodist Church. He recalls he has to go to Japanese Language School because his parents are Issei. Shigeru's parents did not know English. Therefore, Shigeru and his brothers learn Japanese to communicate with their parents. For high school, Shigeru attends Manual Arts High School.

Segment Synopsis:

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

Subjects:

15:46 - Recalls judo; and Japan I

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Partial Transcript: Shigeru recalls a judo class starting in the neighborhood, and he joins the class. In 1926, Shigeru travels to Japan with his siblings and mother to see relatives. Shigeru's parents are from Wakayama-ken, Japan. Shigeru's father's family are farmers, and his mother's family owns a lumber yard.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; farming; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei; siblings; travel

Subjects:

18:58 - Recalls Japan II

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Partial Transcript: In 1926, Shigeru is nine years old when he travels to Japan with his mother and siblings for summer vacation (three to four months). They travel by boat. He recalls the difference in clothing. Shigeru and his brothers could not converse with the locals in Japan because they are not fluent in Japanese.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: cultural heritage; family; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; travel

Subjects:

23:11 - Recalls Japan III

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Partial Transcript: The trip to Japan takes two weeks to arrive in Japan and two weeks to return to the United States. Shigeru recalls the tides are rough, but he did not get seasick.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; Japanese Americans; Nisei; travel

Subjects:

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