Partial Transcript: When Taira is a student, he gets a paper route job. The newspaper route job varies by availability due to subscriptions. Taira remembers supportive publications like the LA Times, Daily News, and Manchester Boddy Newspaper towards the Japanese Americans. He also mentions it is hard to get hired at Hearst Newspaper.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: employment; Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: When Taira has a son, he teaches him not to deliver newspapers. Taira recalls working for the Salt Lake Tribune to collect fees and get subscriptions. For the LA Times, he did not have to collect subscription fees. As a family custom, the money goes into the family pot. In the 1930s, there was a notion that tuberculosis was hereditary. Taira discusses why he gets medical shots as a child but later no longer has to. By getting the medical shots you keep the family intact. Cultural speaking, keeping the family together is important.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Issei; Japanese Americans; Japanese identity and values; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Taira is aware of world events from the LA Times. You read about land leasing and the war overseas. Taira does not know any teen who is interested in world events. Poverty is more important news in those days to Taira.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese Americans; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Taira recalls handing out flyers for Victoria Theater and getting free movie passes. Movie reels are shown before each film. Taira discusses movies, and he associates them with Manzanar. On December 7, Taira is playing football with the Japanese American kids. He recalls Charlie Chaplin is filming the movie The Great Dictator across the street.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: childhood activities; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Pearl Harbor

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Partial Transcript: The following day after the Pearl Harbor attack, Taira goes to school on the bus. The school has an assembly and shows support for the Japanese Americans. Taira discusses the treatment after December 7, and he does not realize the severity of the situation until the evacuation.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Executive Order 9066; high school; Japanese Americans; Nisei; Pearl Harbor

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Partial Transcript: After December 7, Taira recalls the neighbors coming to take the plants from the front yard. In the backyard, there are several fruit trees. However, those were permanent trees. When evacuation is announced, neighbors started coming by and offering low prices for their belongings. Taira sells his bike to the Harvey family for ten dollars (even though they do not need a bike). Besides evacuation orders, there is a curfew. Taira goes to school but has to stay from seven in the evening until seven in the morning. Taira was not treated differently after the Pearl Harbor attack. Yet, Taira's father, sister, and brother lose their jobs.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; curfew; discrimination; employment; Executive Order 9066; forced removal; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; siblings; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Taira's father and siblings lost their jobs after the Pearl Harbor attack. Taira's sister works as a housekeeper. Shortly after losing his job, Taira's father is asked to come back to work. Taira recalls prior to Pearl Harbor, he is not allowed to swim in the community pool. Taira also discusses Executive Order 9066 and receives orders to report to Union Station. The Japanese Americans are only allowed to bring what they can carry to camp. Word gets around quickly about evacuation orders and people started to come by the Fukushima family home to buy their belongings.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Americans of Japanese Ancestry; discrimination; employment; Executive Order 9066; forced removal; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; siblings

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Partial Transcript: Taira has his friend hold on to his Glenn Miller records while he goes to camp and his mother's sewing machine goes to storage. When Taira's mother leaves Manzanar, and she gets back the sewing machine. Taira believes his family is the first to go to camp because his relatives volunteer to help build Manzanar. Taira's brother loses his job after Pearl Harbor and decides to help with the construction of Manzanar. Taira describes his ride to Manzanar and milk.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Executive Order 9066; forced removal; Issei; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Taira and his family arrive at Manzanar. They are in the tenth Unit. Taira's parents, Fumiko, and Jim shares the space with a couple and their baby. Now living in the camp, there are certain adjustments you have to make. Taira recalls his brother Jim finding a dog and naming her Duchess.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; barracks; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: When Taira and his family arrive at Manzanar when it is dark. Manzanar is still under construction, and there are cautions of ditches. There is an apple tree at camp, and Taira says you do not see an apple tree in Los Angeles. Taira describes the grounds of Manzanar as clean and organized. However, if you compare it now, the looks run down. From Manzanar, you can see Mount Robertson. Manzanar is in Inyo County in California.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Executive Order 9066; Issei; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Taira discusses the barracks and living conditions. The barracks are made from less expensive wood, and the flooring is linoleum. Moreover, the mattress is a bag with straws. The first week of Manzanar, Taira meets his peers on the block. In the evening, guards patrol the camp, but Taira is not scared of them. For food, there are canned foods for the first two weeks.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Executive Order 9066; Issei; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Taira lives in the barracks with his family. He recalls linoleum flooring was installed after several months by the internees of the Manzanar. Taira analyzes the camp situation and says there are good moments as well as bad moments. You can still buy products at Manzanar. However, the pay is low in camp. Taira recalls sending ten dollars from his military check to his mother.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: "evacuation"; Executive Order 9066; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; living conditions; Nisei; siblings; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: Taira feels it is a blessing for his parents to be at Manzanar during wartime because they would be harassed or stressed outside of camp. If his parents lived outside the camp during wartime, it would be hard to find a job. When you are poor, you have nothing to lose. He gets a job farming in Idaho Falls and buys his mother a hot plate. In Idaho, he goes to high school at Idaho Falls High School. However, working and going to school were too much. Taira goes back to Manzanar and goes to school in the camp. He studies journalism. Taira is at Manzanar for a few months before going to the Army on September 15.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Executive Order 9066; Issei parents; Japanese Americans; Nisei; World War Two

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Partial Transcript: At Manzanar, Taira continues his schooling and studies journalism. He recalls discrimination getting a haircut with Eddie. Taira says times have changed, and he gives an example of characters like Abba-Zaba candy.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: education; Japanese Americans; Manzanar; Nisei

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Partial Transcript: Taira's good friend, Seigal Yoshinaga, suggests studying journalism at Manzanar. Later he becomes the senior editor of the paper. After Taira graduates high school, he recalls Ms. Goldberg advising him not to think about college. However, Taira only cares about working and helping his family. Taira learns about civil rights in camp. Taira recalls a reunion with his high school class.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: friendship; Japanese Americans; Manzanar; Nisei; rights; Toyo Miyatake

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Partial Transcript: Before being drafted into the Army in 1944, he explains why he does not like the Army. Taira is sworn on July 15, 1944, and called inactive on September 15, 1944. In Manzanar, Taira recalls answering the loyalty questionnaire. There are different ways you can answer the questions, and yes-yes, yes-no, or no-no. If you answer no-no you go to Tule Lake and then Japan. Taira gives the example of his wife's best friend who leaves for Tule Lake.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; loyalty questions; Nisei; Tule Lake

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Partial Transcript: Taira and his brother, Jim, go to Fort Douglas, and the men are divided to either go camping Blanding or Camp Hood. Camp Hood is for the anti-tank unit. However, Taira is a rife replacement for the 442nd, and there are eight to ten other Nisei. Taira is assigned to Company A 140th Battalion, and their unit is known as the Flying A. Taira says Army life is not too bad. He recalls the cook asking how to cook rice. There is some instance that the Army is fair in its treatment. Taira recollects a Colonel lecturing a Seagerant for hitting a soldier on the head. Moreover, Taira remembers Captain Allen. Basic training is cut from 18 weeks to 16 weeks due to the Battle of Bulge.

Segment Synopsis:

Keywords: 442nd; battle; discrimination in the military; Japanese American soldiers; Japanese Americans; Nisei soldiers; siblings; World War Two

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