Partial Transcript: Clarence Yayoi Tamayori is a Nisei veteran of K Company, 3rd Battalion 442nd, born June 18, 1921, in Lahaina, Maui County, Hawaii. His father, Matsuki Tamayori, is from Okinawa, Japan, and is a photographer. During the Great Depression, the Tamayori family moves to Hana, Maui. The interview is also with Robert Tokuo Nagata, a Nisei veteran of M Company 442nd, born March 23, 1922, in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; Hawaii; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei; Nisei veterans

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Partial Transcript: Clarence discusses his father's physical characteristics and personality. He is petite and strict. Clarence's mother, Mitsuwa Shimabukuro is a quiet person and petite in size. His mother works with Clarence's father in the photography business and on the pineapple plantation. Clarence's parents are hard-working to provide for the family.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: employment; family; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei; plantation

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Partial Transcript: Robert discusses his father Furuhei Nagata. He is from Kumamoto, Japan, and comes to Honolulu, Hawaii to possibly avoid military service. Robert is self-taught and finds a job as a houseboy at Waterhouse. He eventually becomes a chauffeur. Robert's mother is Kume Miyamoto, and she is from Kumamoto, Japan. His parents married in Hawaii.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaii; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Robert discusses his father's physical traits and personality. His father is of average height with a pleasant personality. Robert's father is a salesman of Japanese imports. Robert's mother is Kiyume Miyamoto. In the Nagata family, there are eight children and Robert's father is the disciplinarian.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; family; Hawaii; Issei; Japanese identity and values

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Partial Transcript: Robert recalls his childhood and Japanese School (until third grade). Growing up, Robert's mother helps him deal with his acne problem. He says this is a special memory for him because she is there to help him. Also, he fondly remembers fishing with his father.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: child rearing; family; fishing; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese language school; Nisei; primary school

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Partial Transcript: Clarence grows up with twelve other siblings. Clarence's father is strict, and he does not spend much time with his father. Clarence's childhood activities consist of playing barefoot football, basketball, and fishing at the river. Clarence describes how he makes a fishing pole.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: child rearing; childhood activities; family; fishing; Hawaii; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; siblings; sports

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Partial Transcript: Clarence recalls moving around in Hawaii growing up. The Tamayori family settles down in Haiku, Maui County, Hawaii, and resides in a plantation home. There is an outhouse, electricity, and kerosene stove. Clarence lists his siblings from oldest to youngest - Benko Tamayose, Hiroshi, Mitsue, Shigenobu, Clarence (himself), Alfred, Lucille, Patrick, Thomas, Elsie, Sylvia, Nanci, and George.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; Hawaii; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; plantation

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Partial Transcript: Clarence is closest to his older brother Hiroshi. As an adult, Clarence and Hiroshi live together. Prior, Clarence lives alone and sometimes with relatives. Clarence describes the working condition on the plantation during his high school years. He did not want to continue working on the plantation and moved.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaii; Japanese Americans; Nisei; siblings

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Partial Transcript: Robert lists his siblings from oldest to youngest - Donald Yukio, Robert (himself), James Tsuruoo, Frank Masao, Doris Chiyoko, William Matsuo, and Albert Takeo, Paul Sumio, and Jack Hachiro. Finances are limited in the Nagata family. Robert says as kids they made their toys to play with. His childhood activities include marbles, baseball, football, tennis, and fishing.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; family; fishing; Japanese Americans; Nisei; sports

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Partial Transcript: Robert continues to discuss his childhood activities like finishing and catching crabs. Robert describes how he makes his nets to catch crabs. Another hobby is airplane models. Robert would do errands to make extra money to buy models.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: fishing; Hawaii; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Robert recalls his childhood home is located near a school and a few Chinese markets. The Nagata family home is a rental unit with a kitchen, two bedrooms, and one bathroom. The Nagata family saves enough money and buys a house in a better district on a hill. He shares a story about going to the market and learning a new word.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaii; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: In fourth grade, Robert's family moves to a new home. At home, his mother cooks rice, fish and makes pickled vegetables. Robert's favorite dishes are potato and salad.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: family; Hawaii; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei; siblings

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Partial Transcript: Robert's father is atheist and did not believe in religion. Robert recalls his grandmother having a Butsudan in the house and discusses his father's sentiments. At the Nagata family home, they celebrate New Year. His mother would prepare mochi, sushi, and mochi soup.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: child rearing; family; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values

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Partial Transcript: At the Tamayori home, Clarence's mother would cook rice, noodles, meat, and vegetables. On New Year, there is chicken soup, sushi, and mochi. Clarence recalls Christmas time at school. He says he would get candy. Clarence says his parents are Buddhist but do not practice the religion.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Buddhism; family; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Clarence's favorite subjects in school are math and spelling. Besides attending primary school, Clarence also goes to a Japanese school. At home, his parents would speak to him in Japanese, and Clarence would reply in English.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: education; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese language school; Nisei; primary school; siblings

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Partial Transcript: During Clarence's school years, he plays sports in a foot league outside of school. During Physical Education class, he recalls playing different types of sports such as volleyball and football. Clarence attends Torrington High School for a year before attending Leilehua High School in Oahu, Hawaii. In the summertime, Clarence works on a pineapple plantation. Clarence reflects on the toughest part during his school years is finding lunch money. Sometimes he would only have rice to eat. The happiest part of school is playing sports after school.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaii; high school; Japanese Americans; Nisei; plantation; sports

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Partial Transcript: Clarence does not share the same interest in photography as his father. However, he recalls taking his father's developing canisters and removing the rust.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaii; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: During Robert's school years at Torrington High School, he participates in track and football. In his neighborhood, they have their sports organization for baseball. Robert would play with different sections of the city. For elementary school, Robert attends Lanakila Elementary School, and for middle school, he attends Kalahua Middle School.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Hawaii; high school; Japanese Americans; Nisei; sports

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Partial Transcript: Growing up, Robert recalls having an influential friend, Taiji Leung. Taiji can drive and takes Robert around the island. Taiji also teaches Robert boxing. Robert discusses his parents owning a car. Robert's father is a salesman, but when the war happens, his father changes companies.

Segment Synopsis:

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

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Partial Transcript: Clarence, says his family did not own a car. He has no influence friends growing up. Clarence says everyone has their issues to deal with.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: friendship; Hawaii; Japanese American soldiers; Nisei; plantation

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