0:00 - Discusses origin
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Partial Transcript: Seichi Sakaida serves with the 442nd K Company. He is born July 9, 1922, in Ookala, HI. At a young age, his family moves to Molokai and he grows up on the plantations. Seichi's father is Bunichi Sakaida is from Yamaguchi ken prefecture in Japan. His father is works as laborer on the plantation.
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Keywords: Hawaii; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei
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3:04 - Discusses parents
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Partial Transcript: Seichi describes his parents' personality and his physical characteristics. Both of his parents are from Yamaguchi ken prefecture in Japan. Seichi says his father is a good man and he provides for his family. There are four sons and a daughter. When Seichi's father immigrates to Hawaii, his parents come with him. Seichi's grandfather passes away and his grandmother goes back to Japan. Seichi's mother comes to Hawaii as a picture bride.
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Keywords: family; Hawaii; Issei; Issei parents; Nisei; picture brides
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5:30 - Discusses meals; and Molokai
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Partial Transcript: Seichi discusses the meals eaten at home. His mother cooks rice, okayu, tsukemono, fish, and meat. When his family moves to Molokai, Seichi's father works on the cattle ranch and then to the plantation. Seichi says his wife did not want to move to Molokai. Molokai is associated with being a Leper Colony.
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Keywords: employment; Hawaii; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; Nisei; plantation
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8:16 - Recalls childhood home
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Partial Transcript: Seichi describes his childhood home. He says the plantation home is well maintained. In 1934, Molokai starts to have electricity. For plumbing, four different families share a restroom (outhouse and plumbing). For bathing, there is a community bath.
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Keywords: Buddhism; Hawaii; Issei parents; living conditions; Nisei
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11:45 - Discusses furniture
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14:16 - Discusses New Year
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Partial Transcript: On the plantation, Seichi remembers celebrating New Year. His family celebrates New Year because they follow Japanese traditions. The Sakaida family is strictly Buddhist and does not celebrate Christmas. On New Year, there is a variety of food (sushi, namasu, chicken, and soda) and fire crackers. Seichi's favorite part of New Year is the social gathering and eating.
Segment Synopsis:
Keywords: Buddhism; childhood activities; Hawaii; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; Nisei; plantation; social activities
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17:23 - Discusses neighborhood
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Partial Transcript: Seichi describes the demographic of his neighborhood. He grows up in Molokai on a plantation. The plantation is owned by California Packing Corporation and later Del Monte Corporation. The plantation is sectioned by ethnicity. There are Japanese Americans (approximately 200) and Filipinos (approximately 150). There are very few Koreans. The Caucasians live in a segregated area and have better homes.
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Keywords: Hawaii; Issei; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; plantation
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19:52 - Discusses school years
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Partial Transcript: Seichi recalls his school years. The public school is a mile away from Seichi's home. He attends Molokai Elementary School, Molokai Intermediate School, and Molokai High School. Seichi plays baseball, basketball, and barefoot football during his school years. Molokai has a plantation league that Seichi participates in. They travel all over the island except for Kauai.
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Keywords: education; Hawaii; Japanese Americans; Nisei; plantation; sports; youth organizations
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21:58 - Discusses sports
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24:37 - Recalls church services; and Obon
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Partial Transcript: The Sakaida family is Buddhist. The church services are at individual homes. There are about 20-30 people that gathered at the home for church services. Seichi does not participate in boys' day or girls' day. However, he does participate in Obon.
Segment Synopsis:
Keywords: Buddhism; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; Nisei; plantation; primary school
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26:01 - Recalls friends; and Leper
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27:35 - Discusses leper colony
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29:07 - Recalls job; and siblings
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Partial Transcript: After high school, Seichi works at an automotive shop. Even though he did not go to mechanic school or is formally trained, he is skillful in repairing cars. Seichi lists his siblings from oldest to youngest - Masao, Seichi (himself), Susumu, Manabu, and Maybel. Seichi explains how his sister gets an English name rather than a Japanese name as the other siblings. Maybel is born in 1938. In 1938, the Issei are more familiar with English. Therefore, they start to name their Nisei children with English names.
Segment Synopsis:
Keywords: family; Hawaii; high school; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei
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31:49 - Discusses Masao, and parents
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Partial Transcript: Seichi is closest to his older brother, Masao. The Sakaida family needs supplement income to survive. Consequently, Masao quits school in the 9th grade to get a job to help his family. A special memory that Seichi has of his mother is when she makes short pants for him to play basketball. As for his father, his special memory of him is working in the garden together.
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Keywords: employment; family; Hawaii; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei; plantation
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33:49 - Recalls December 7
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Partial Transcript: Seichi graduates high school in 1941. After high school, he works on the plantation helping with repairing cars. Seichi recalls prewar, the barefoot football team goes to Honolulu but does not go due to an injury. However, his two young brother goes to Honolulu. On December 7 the barefoot football team travels from Pearl City and passes by Winterfield. They see airplanes on fire. Soon after they learn that the war is happening. They are not allowed to come back to Molokai and they have to stay in Pomona for one month.
Segment Synopsis:
Keywords: employment; Hawaii; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Pearl Harbor; siblings; sports; World War Two; youth organizations
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37:21 - Recalls restrictions
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Partial Transcript: Seichi learns of the war from the radio broadcast and is shocked. Following the Pearl Harbor attack, restrictions are in place. Seichi recalls blacking out their homes and curfew. Seichi says his two younger brothers and the other guys on the barefoot football team have to stay in Pomoho for one month. They are offered a job at a pineapple field with housing. After one month they return home to Molokai.
Segment Synopsis:
Keywords: blackouts in war; employment; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Pearl Harbor; plantation; siblings; World War Two
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40:20 - Recalls community
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Partial Transcript: Seichi says the Filipino and Korean Communities did not treat the Japanese Americans badly after the Pearl Harbor attack. Molokai is an isolated island and the only interaction they outside the island is from the radio. After December 7, the plantation begins to place signage in the pineapple field in fear of airplanes landing in the fields. Moreover, the plantations hire night guards. Seichi says he is surprised to see the Filipino practicing drills on the baseball field.
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Keywords: Hawaii; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Pearl Harbor; plantation; World War Two
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42:56 - Discuss military service
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Partial Transcript: Seichi remembers his neighbors talking about volunteering. A year after the war starts, Seichi and his neighbors go to volunteer at the clubhouse at the baseball field. Six guys including Seichi are accepted into the military after volunteering. Seichi gets his physical exam at a hospital on Molokai. When he informs his Issei parents about volunteering, they feel he is doing the right thing. Seichi instructs his brothers not to volunteer and to wait to sees what happens next. Seichi says his older brother Masao is in Honolulu at this time.
Segment Synopsis:
Keywords: 442nd; Hawaii; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; plantation; siblings; World War Two
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45:30 - Recalls Schofield Barracks
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Partial Transcript: After passing the physical exam, Seichi recalls going to Schofield Barracks. At Schofield Barracks, Seichi receives his uniform. He says the fit of the uniform is oversized. When Seichi goes camping Shelby, he is able to get his uniform tailored.
Segment Synopsis:
Keywords: 442nd; Camp Shelby; Japanese Americans; Mainland; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; Schofield Barracks; World War Two
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48:02 - Discusses Iolani Palace; and departure
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Partial Transcript: Seichi discusses the formation at Iolani Palace, Honolulu, HI. When he leaves for the mainland, Seichi is not allowed to correspond with his family about basic training. On the voyage to the mainland, Seichi is seasick. From Oakland, CA, to Camp Shelby, Mississippi, the trip is a week-long train ride. On the train, they are instructed to black out the windows.
Segment Synopsis:
Keywords: 442nd; basic training; blackouts in war; Camp Shelby; correspondence; Hawaii; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese Americans; Mainland; Nisei
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51:19 - Discusses Camp Shelby
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Partial Transcript: Seichi describes the living conditions at Camp Shelby, MS. The campground at Camp Shelby is huge. He recalls the locals and going to Hattiesburg. The food experience is something new to Seichi. He has never had food like that before.
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Keywords: 442nd; basic training; Hawaiian soldiers; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Mainland; Nisei; Nisei soldiers
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53:49 - Discusses segregation I
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Partial Transcript: Seichi discusses segregation between the Caucasians and the African Americans in Mississippi. Seichi says there are signs for segregations and different seating at the movie theater, restroom, restaurants, buses, and water fountain. He says you do not see that in Hawaii. In the military, Seichi recalls being instructed to stay on the Caucasian side.
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Keywords: "colored"; 442nd; Camp Shelby; discrimination; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Mainland; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; prejudices; race discrimination; segregated unit
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55:50 - Discusses segregation II
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Partial Transcript: Seichi discusses the treatment of African Americans in Hattiesburg. The toughest part of basic training is the 25 hike with a full backpack. The backpack is approximately 25 to 30 pounds. Moreover, Seichi talks about triggers and how they get under your flesh.
Segment Synopsis:
Keywords: 442nd; basic training; Camp Shelby; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Mainland; marching; Nisei; Nisei soldiers; World War Two
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