Jimmy Naganuma

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

Memories of childhood in Peru Forcibly deported to the U.S. from Peru Food on the ship to the U.S. Family welcomed at Crystal City First meal at Crystal City Enjoying undokai and sports in Crystal City Postwar sponsorship (Inglês) Immersed in Japanese culture and language Proud of his Japanese, American, and Peruvian identity

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Jimmy Naganuma was born in Callao, Peru to his Issei parents in 1936. He was eight years old when his family were forced to board a ship, to be incarcerated at Crystal City, Texas, during World War II. They remained there even after the war had ended, without a place to go. They were able to leave via a sponsorship by a reverend in San Francisco, California, where they were able to find jobs and housing. (June 2020)

childhood japanese peruvian peru ship World War II food crystal city camp texas sports undokai postwar san francisco sponsorship culture language movies identity japanese american