Impact of Pearl Harbor on her family

The only Japanese family in Ocean Park Impact of Pearl Harbor on her family Initial impact on life at camp Mixed blood people at camp from a child's point of view Embarrassed to talk about camp The birth of a novel through a conversation with her nephew Documenting family history for future generations Getting the book published Her father as a typical Issei East First Street the hub of Japanese American community California housing shortage after the war Farewell to Manzanar not a bestseller, but is steady Being involved in every aspect of the film Controversy over the film Trick in developing the film Unexpected positive reviews and an Emmy nomination Not a "camp story" but a human story Racism doesn't end

Transcripts available in the following languages:

I can remember that term, Pearl Harbor, because I didn’t know what it was. I’m trying to put myself into that mind of a child of what was happening. A lot of it was confusing, a lot of confusion, wondered where my dad was. It was pretty harrowing when I think of it now because our family…we were a very tight family. Family was everything and my father was such the powerful center of it and then for him to just suddenly be taken away was very disconcerting and, you know, terrifying because he was a very strong and outspoken man. He could speak English very well. He spoke with a British accent because he studied in Japan where they spoke with a British accent. He was a very proud person so, you know, you felt safe with him and then suddenly he’s gone.

Date: December 27, 2005
Location: California, US
Interviewer: John Esaki
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

family Pearl Harbor World War II