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Oral
History N
PERCY
NAKASHIMA
Non-Nikkei
are some of Mr. Nakashima's best friends. They gave him some of
his best times and were with him when he needed help the most.
George Carlisle ģa most trusted Caucasian friendī is mentioned
often in his oral history--during the depression years of the
mid-thirties, during evacuation to camp, and during resettlement
after the camps were closed. He mentions a Ben Parker who
invited him often for chicken dinners. The twenty years working
at the Del Monte Cannery in Sacramento with Caucasian co-workers
were "most enjoyable years" Another source of pride
for him was when son Larry served in Viet Nam and returned home
with a Bronze Star.
KAZUO
NINOMIYA
Mr. Ninomiya,
age 75, was born in
Portland
,
OR
, and taken to
Japan
at age one where he acquired his early education. He returned to
the
U. S.
in 1921 and spent the ensuing years living in Caucasian homes
while attending special schools to learn English. He did various
kinds of work and lived in different parts of
U. S.
as well as travelling widely in the
U. S.
and
Asia
. His bilingual leadership qualities were put to effective use
in the
U. S.
military, university faculty work and community activities,
especially in U.S.-Japan relations areas such as
Matsuyama-Sacramento
Sister
City
programs with his wife, Hiroko.
SHIGENO HOKA
NISHIMI
This Oral
History of Mrs. Nishimi, age 90, was done in Japanese with a
daughter Sharon present. Interviewer was impressed with the
polite Japanese language. The Japanese spirit shows in her
devotion to Japanese arts such as calligraphy and flower
arrangement pursued in relocation camp and later life in
Sacramento
. This Oral History book consists of 47 pages of text, 10 pages
of photos including a page of color and 5 pages of miscellaneous
documents in the appendix. Family consisted of two sons and two
daughters and she was widowed in 1990. She remembers the heavy
losses of property when the forced relocation took place and
mentions very little discrimination and the turmoil which
characterized
Tule
Lake
.
KINYA
NOGUCHI
Though
lengthy but thorough, one of the better Oral Histories
consisting of 7 pages of photos and 179 pages of text. Noguchiķs
(64) parents, early education, high school experiences at Tule
Lake Internment Camp (student of Margaret Gunderson), and
Stockton High School, college study, career in law enforcement
starting as clerk, deputy, sergeant and lieutenant with
Sacramento County are brought out with some detail culminating
in being honored as Odd Fellow's "Peace Officer of the
Year" Mention is made of his volunteerism often together
with wife, Helen, in VFW, Buddhist Church, JACL activities.
Controlled rebelliousness shows during his youth but with
experience and maturity, positive relationships to people as a
Japanese American undergirds successful retirement.
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