Partial Transcript: When Lillian moves to Philadelphia, she works at an insurance company as a clerk. She says her co-workers are kind. Even to this day, Lillian still sends them a Christmas card. When John is in the service, she corresponds with him several times. The hardest part of living in Philadelphia is the weather. She shares a story about bed bugs. Lillian stays in Philadelphia for nine months before going to Cleveland. In 1945 Seattle reopens, and Lillian goes back home at the end of July.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: employment; Nisei; Seattle

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Partial Transcript: Lillian returns to Seattle, and her sister has a baby. She cleans the house and prepares for her parents' return. Lillian discusses hearing about a death threat to her family. She also mentions John and his family also receive threats.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; race discrimination; racism

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Partial Transcript: Lillian discusses John's family's homecoming from Minidoka. When they return home, there is nothing left, and they did not have money. The Matsudaira family receives assistance from Saint Vincent de Paul and other religious affiliations. John does not return home from the hospital until February 1947. John is wounded in October 1944, and Lillian is in Philadelphia. Lillian finds out about John's injuries through a friend from Minidoka.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Minidoka; post-war; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: When Lillian learns about John's injury in the war, she is affected by the news. At this time, their relationship is just friends. Lillian says Cardinal Spellman blessed the wounded soldiers. Cardinal Spellman also corresponds with John's parents to let them know he saw John. John is injured early in the European Theater. Lillian shares John is happy to be in Rome because he can visit St. Petersburg and touch Moses's toe. John and his brothers served in the Army. One brother is in the Military Intelligence Service (MIS).

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; dating; European Theater; friendship; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Rome; siblings; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: John is with the 442nd, and Michael is with the Military Intelligence Service (MIS). After the war, Michael goes to Japan for the occupation. John's other brother, Francis "Tepo," is drafted and goes to Japan. Both Michael and Tepo are in Japan at the same time and meeting their relatives. Michael and Tepo would buy food at the Post Exchange (PX) and give them to their relatives. Post-war food is scarce in Japan. Michael gets tuberculosis while in Japan and is sent back home to the United States.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; family; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Military Intelligence Service; military occupation; Nisei; occupation; siblings

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Partial Transcript: Lillian recalls when John is wounded. The Company is resting at Hill 140, and a burst comes over the mountain. John is the only soldier is injured by shrapnel. Munetatsu "Moon" Saito, George Iwamoto, Dick Naito, and another soldier help carry John to safety. John shares with Lillian that when he is wounded, he has his intestines in his hand. John goes through many surgeries for his injury and saves the shrapnel as a souvenir. John tries to drill a hole in the shrapnel to place it on a chain. However, he loses the shrapnel.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; European Theater; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Rome; shrapnel; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Lillian shares a time when John is in Rome. The Company is marching and comes across his friend, and his friend is killed in action (KIA). John does his basic training at Camp Shelby and gets along with everyone, the Mainland soldiers and Hawaiian soldiers. At Shelby, someone wants to fight with Oliver Hayashi. However, Oliver declines but eventually agrees. Oliver wins the match. Lillian says the guy who lost is a bully.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; basic training; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Killed in Action; Mainland soldiers; Nisei; Rome; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: In Mississippi, John would get furloughs he would go to the city. The city is too crowded most of the time. John and the Hawaiian guys would sit in the back at most establishments but are forced to move to the front. In Mississippi, it is either white or black. Japanese Americans are considered white. Lillian says the Asians are not treated as badly as the African Americans in the South.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: basic training; Camp Shelby; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; race discrimination; racism

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Lillian says John is proud to be in the 442nd. John is not a social person unless it is related to art. However, for the 442nd Company K, John would go to social gatherings. Otherwise, he is not a social person who likes to party. John and Lillian both go to the same Catholic Church (Queen of Martyrs Church), and that is when Lillian meets John again. Lillian recalls they would play bridge together. In camp, he volunteered for the Army when he is a Junior in High School. After Camp, John needed to complete his High School education. Lillian says he goes to art school for four years before getting his High School diploma at Broadway Edison.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: dating; education; higher education; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; social activities

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Partial Transcript: John has always been an artist, and he loves art. In Japan, he works on his artworks. Besides art, John appreciates and likes music. His favorite category of music is classical. John especially liked Mozart. John also liked Paul Horiuchi (painter) and Mark Toby. Lillian recalls John and their son, Paul, visiting Toby's home to see his artwork.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: friendship; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Sansei

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Partial Transcript: John is a member of the Seattle Art Museum, and he enjoys going to museums. John would also go to the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience. In John's earlier artwork, John would paint the scenery and war experience. In the 1970's John started painting abstracts.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Nisei veterans

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Partial Transcript: During wartime, John is closest to Munetatsu "Moon" Saito. Moon has ambitions to work for a newspaper as a distributor after the war. John admires his drive and accomplishments. In Seattle, John is close with Tuts Saito, his cousin, and the church community.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; employment; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei soldiers; post-war

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Lillian feels proud of her husband John for serving during World War Two. She says their contribution liberated the Japanese Americans and shows that the Japanese Americans are good as anyone else. The 442nd opened opportunities for other Asians to have a chance to have a better life.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Nisei veterans; World War Two

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Lillian says Americans did not learn from the past. History is repeating itself. The same situation is happening with Muslim Community. For the Nisei generation, Lillian and John's parents have taught them not to make waves, be good citizens, and do not embarrass the elders. Lillian wants to teach her children, the Sansei generation to do their best and not get into trouble with the law.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; family; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Sansei; Yonsei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Lillian and John's son Peter is interested in the family history. Their children have met their relatives on Lillian's side of the family. Lillian says her mother's brother served in Japan, and he would not talk about his war experience in Manchuria. Lillian lists out the names of their children: Paul, Peter, Gary, and Ann. Her grandchildren are Joseph, Michael, Kellie, Jaymi, Kimberly, Hana, and John Thomas. Fun fact, John Thomas was born on April 4, 2002.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Sansei

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Partial Transcript: Lillian says each generation is different. The Nisei responded to the Executive Order 9066 (EO9066) because of how they are brought up. The Sansei would react differently. Lillian discusses John. She says he is an artist, a good person, and quiet.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: child rearing; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Sansei

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Partial Transcript: Lillian says she can relate to Muslims during 9/11. The Japanese Americans experience the same thing.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Nisei; race discrimination; racism; Sansei; Yonsei

Subjects:

Partial Transcript: Lillian reflects on when her children were younger. After church on Sundays, they would go hiking in the mountains. The children would play and pick mushrooms. John would take the children fishing often because they live near the lake. Lillian shares a story at the lake and John getting seasick. John is not an eater. However, he likes to eat fish and McDonalds. In the last five years, Lillian and John would go walking every day at the mall and buy a Mcdonald's hamburger. Towards the end, Lillian can get John to eat seafood.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Nisei veterans; post-war; Sansei

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