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Omoide Project: "Memories"

The Omoide Project is an initiative of the Hifumi En Society to create an audio/visual record of the people, stories, and history of the Japanese community in Spokane, Washington. This collection of interviews focuses on many aspects of Japanese American history, from early U.S. immigration to present-day issues. The majority of the interviews follow a life-history approach, which offers a detailed, in-depth glimpse into each interviewee’s life. Hifumi En worked in collaboration with KSPS public television to create this video archive to serve as a reflection tool as well as an educational tool for generations to come.

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Ada Honda

Ada Honda's first hand experience living in Pasco, Washington during WWII and the discrimination that she and her family faced.

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Ada Honda

Life Story

Ada Honda recalls her family's immigration to America and her experiences during WWII.

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Patty Marinos

Patty Marinos' experience moving across the country and her family's hardships during WWII

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Jeanne Yamada

Jeanne Yamada describing her experience in the Japanese internment camps during WWII.

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Lili Hirata

Lili Hirata recalls her experience living in the Japanese interment camps during WWII and the discrimination she faced afterward. Click here to view photo gallery.

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Nobuko Oka

Family Life

Noboku Oka recalls her family's life before WWII.

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Nobuko Oka

Life After the War

Nobuko Oka talks about her husband and their life together during and after WWII.

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Aiko Minata's Husband

Aiko Minaka talks about her husband's time in WWII and career.

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Aiko Minata

Internment

Aiko Minata talks about her experience being held in the Portland live stock facilities and Minidoka internment camp.

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Charlotte Tetsuka

Charlotte Tetsuka talks about her life in Hilo, Hawaii during WWII.

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Emiko Suemori

Emiko Suemori talks about living in Japan and the United States, her Family, and Church Click here to view photo gallery.

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Hiroko Tanaka Clevenger

Marriage

Hiroko Tanaka Clevenger talks about what it was like to be a Japanese citizen and marry an American G.I

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Hiroko Tanaka Clevenger

During the War

Hiroko Tanaka Clevenger recalls her experiences living as a citizen in Japan and being bombed during WWII.

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Jack Ishitani

Jack Ishitani talks about members of his family that aided the US during WWII. Click here to view photo gallery.

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Jerry Emoto

Jerry Emoto describes some of the generational differences of Issei, Nisei, and Sansei

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Kazue Yamamoto

Inside the Internment Camp

Kazue Yamamoto describes what is was like be in an Internment Camp with her family. Click here to view photo gallery.

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Kazue Yamamoto

Kazue Yamamoto talks about family and Japanese culture

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Ted Toribara

Internment

Ted Toribara talks about his parents' experience in the Minidoka Internment Camps

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Ted Toribara

Mixed Marriage

Ted Toribara on being in a mixed race marriage

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Toshie Kawahara

Toshie Kawahara describes what was like in Tule Lake Internment Camp

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Alice Tanaka

Alice Tanaka talks about her life growing up in Spokane, WA before and during WWII.

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Ayako Tanaka

Inside the Camps

Ayako Tanaka recalls her experiences in the internment camps during WWII.

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Ayako Tanaka

Starting A Family

Ayako Tanaka talks about her husband that aided the US during WWII and the beginnings of their lives together.

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Ed Takeda

Ed Takeda recalls his experience in the Minidoka Internment Camp Click here to view photo gallery.

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Emiko Collett

Emiko Collett describes how she became the owner of Spokane's first Japanese Restaurant, the Suki Yaki Inn.

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Bette Kondo Johnson & Mike Kondo

Bette Kondo Johnson and her brother, Mike Kondo, look back on their family history.

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Thelma Yasuhara

Thelma Yasuhara talks about her husband's life and the community that he impacted so heavily.

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Chuck Furumasu

Career

Chuck Furumasu sits with his wife Amy and talks about his long career as a successful Barber in Spokane, WA.

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Chuck Furumasu

During the War

Chuck Furumasu sits with his wife Amy and recalls his experience fighting in WWII and receiving a Congressional Medal of Honor.

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Amy Furumasu

Amy Furumasu talks about her time in the Tule Lake and Minidoka Internment Camps.

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George Yamada

Army

George Yamada recalls his experience being a part of the US Army during WWII.

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George Yamada

Life

George Yamada talks about his parents and his life with his late wife.

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Hida Yonago

Hida Yonago on growing up in Ketchikan, Alaska and an Internment Camp

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Jun Yugawa

Career

Jun Yugawa talks about his classified work, time in the Army as a photographer, and a lifelong friend.

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Jun Yugawa

Inside the Prison Camps

Jun Yugawa remembers his time in the Tule Lake "Prison Camps"

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Phyllis Hathaway

Part 1 Grandparents

Phyllis Hathaway tells her grandparents' stories of early life in America at the beginning of WWII. Click here to view photo gallery.

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Phyllis Hathaway

Part 2 Internment

Phyllis Hathaway tells her mother's story of being in the internment camps during WWII. Click here to view photo gallery.

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Phyllis Hathaway

Part 3 Farm Life

Phyllis Hathaway recalls working on the family farm after WW2. Click here to view photo gallery.

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Phyllis Hathaway

Japanese Culture

Phyllis Hathaway explains the traditions and expectations of Japanese culture while being in a mixed race relationship and visiting family in Japan. Click here to view photo gallery.

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Terry Sorensen

Terry Sorensen tells the story of her family's internment during WWII.

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Jeanne Tanaka

Family

Jeanne Tanaka talks about her family and describes to have a language gap and not being able to communicate with her parents.

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Jeanne Tanaka

Internment

Jeanne Tanaka talks about her experiences in the Pinedale Assembly Center and Tulle Lake internment camps, and recalls what is was like moving back to Japan with her family after WWII ended.

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Joanne Ferris

Church

Joanne Ferris describes her experience growing up in Spokane, WA and the importance of her Church to her and the Japanese community

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Mary Barker

Mary Barker talks about what it was like growing up in the Japanese internment camps and how people treated her once she got out.

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Linda Takami

Linda Takami describes what it was like growing up right after WWII

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Dean Tatsuo Nakagawa

Dean Tatsuo Nakagawa tells the story of how his grandparents came to America and eventually settled in Spokane, WA.

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Dudley Mizoguchi

Dudley Mizoguchi talks about his family background and the discrimination that the Japanese community faced after WWII.

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Michael Wakabayashi

Michael Wakabayashi talks about his family getting settled in Spokane, WA.

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Joanne Shiosaki

Part 1 Grandparents

Joanne Shiosaki talks about her grandparents and how they established roots in America.

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Joanne Shiosaki

Part 2 Father

Joanne Shiosaki recalls her father's stories about being in the army during WWII.

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Joanne Shiosaki

Part 3 Mother

Joanne Shiosaki recalls her mother's stories about settling in America.

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Lynda Kayano Peterson

Lynda Kayano Peterson talks about her family's heritage and what her church means to her.

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Michael Mukai

Michael Mukai talks about his father's experience serving in the army during WWII.

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Joanne Ferris

Parents

Joanne Ferris talks about the impact her parents had on the community of Spokane and their Church.

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Robert Ohashi

Internment

Robert Ohashi recalls what it was like going to the Minidoka internment camp during WWII.

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Robert Ohashi

Parents

Robert Ohashi talks about his parents' origins and how they met.

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Diana Munk

Diana Munk talks about being one of the first caucasians in an all Japanese American Church, and how the Church has changes over the years.

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Sherrie Hayashi Wright

Family Origins

Sherrie Hayashi Wright talks about her parents' family origins.

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Sherrie Hayashi Wright

Laundry

Sherrie Hayashi Wright recalls growing up and helping run the family laundromat.

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Sherrie Hayashi Wright

Mixed Relationship

Sherrie Hayashi Wright tells her mothers story of trying to be in a mixed race relationship after WWII.

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Sherrie Hayashi Wright

School

Sherrie Hayashi Wright recalls what it was like being the only Asian student in school after WWII.

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Gwen Mukai Utley

Gwen Mukai Utley talks about her parents, grandparents, and her Japanese upbringing.

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Margie Miyoshi

Margie Miyoshi talks about her family and their experience growing up as Japanese Americans during and after WWII

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Margie Miyoshi - Part 2

Margie Miyoshi discusses school, how she met her husband, raising her family, and God.

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Pamela Newton

Pamela Newton talks about her family origins in America.

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Pamela Newton

Pamela Newton talks about her brother's life serving in the military.

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Mary Ando - Internment

Mary Ando recalls what it was like in different internment camps during WWII

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Mary Ando - Family

Mary Ando talks reflects on her and her family's lives

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Dorothy Hashimoto

Dorothy Hashimoto recalls her experience being in school when the atomic bomb exploded in Hiroshima, and reflects on other events in her life.

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Mary Takami -
Life During The War

Mary Takami describes what it was like growing up Japanese in Spokane during WWII

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Mary Takami

Later In Life

Mary Takami on her Japanese heritage and family

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Peggy Heyamoto

Tokyo

Peggy (Matsue) Heyamoto remembers life in Tokyo during WWII. Taking shelter from B-29 bombings, the Atomic bomb, and how American GIs came to her house.

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Peggy Heyamoto -
Family and Career

Peggy (Matsue) Heyamoto talks about her family and career as a successful saleswoman.

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Seiko Edamatsu

Seiko Edamatsu describes her voluntarily evacuation during WWII and how she began her new life in Spokane

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Seiko Edamatsu

Family

Seiko Edamatsu elaborates on her family

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Sumi Shiosaki

WWII

Sumi Shiosaki remembers her life during WWII

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Sumi Shiosaki

Family

Sumi Shiosaki talks about her family

Densho Visual History

The following interviews, consisting of Japanese Americans in or from Spokane, was conducted by Densho starting in 1996 as part of Densho’s initiative to capture the stories of Japanese Americans from various parts of Washington. For more information or to see more stories from Japanese outside of Spokane, click here

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Ed Tsutakawa

23 videos
Nisei male. Born May 15, 1921, in Seattle, Washington. Spent much of childhood in Japan, returning to the U.S. at the age of fifteen. Began attending the University of Washington before being removed to Puyallup Assembly Center, Washington, and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. Created a series of art pieces depicting camp life. Moved to Spokane, Washington, after leaving Minidoka, and established Litho-Art Printers Inc. in 1954. Active in the sister-city program between Spokane and Nishinomiya, Japan. Helped establish a branch campus of the Mukogawa Women's University in Spokane. Mr. Tsutakawa passed away on October 6, 2006.

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Fred Shiosaki

47 videos
Nisei male. Born August 23, 1924 in the area of Spokane, Washington, known as Hillyard. Grew up in a multi-ethnic Hillyard area where his parents owned the Hillyard Laundry. When World War II began, was a senior at Rogers High School. Went on to attend Gonzaga University and then volunteered for military service, joining the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a segregated U.S. Army unit consisting of Japanese Americans. Mr. Shiosaki fought in Europe, then returned to Spokane where he finished his degree at Gonzaga, and started his career and family.

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George Yamada

39 videos
Nisei male. Born 1923 in Spokane, Washington. Spent childhood in downtown Spokane where parents ran the World Hotel. Father also worked as a mail handler for the Great Northern Railroad. Attended Lewis and Clark High School and Washington State University. During the war remembers seeing train cars pass through Spokane with Japanese Americans headed to Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming. Drafted into the army in 1944 and served at the Military Intelligence Service Language School in Fort Snelling, Minnesota and Presidio, California.

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Kazue Yamamoto

20 videos
Nisei female. Born January 14, 1927 in Wapato, Washington, where family operated a truck farm. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, removed to North Portland Assembly Center and Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming. Family left camp in 1945 for Spokane, Washington. Worked as a domestic on Spokane's South Hill before becoming a licensed beautician. Married husband Dick Yamamoto in 1952. Although raised Buddhist, was baptized in 1963 and continues to be active with the Highland Park Methodist Church.

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Mara Mihara

15 videos
Nisei female. Born September 20, 1925, in Spokane, Washington. Father worked as a redcap for the Great Northern Railroad, and parents also ran a hotel. Grew up and attended school in Spokane. Graduated from business college during World War II and did bookkeeping and secretarial work for various companies postwar. Married and had a son. Currently resides in the Spokane Valley, Washington.

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Mas Akiyama

25 videos
Nisei male. Born May 19, 1917, in Eastport, Idaho, and spent childhood in Spokane, Washington. In 1933 traveled to Japan with family where father became ill and died. Attended school in Japan for three years and then returned to Spokane in 1936 and worked on a farm. Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, volunteered for military service but failed the medical examination. During the war, took brief trips to Manzanar concentration camp, California, a camp in Arkansas, and Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho. After the war worked as a painter of large signs in Spokane.

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Mii Tai

19 videos
Nisei female. Born 1923 in Spokane, Washington. Spent childhood in downtown Spokane where parents ran the Oriental Laundry. Family was active with the Methodist Episcopal Church and mother taught at the Japanese Language School. Attended Lewis & Clark High School. Remembers changes in the Japanese American community brought about by World War II. Husband, Sumio Tai, came to Spokane from Minidoka concentration camp through a work sponsorship. Married in 1945 and spent postwar years running a hotel and raising six children. Mii Tai passed away on September 4, 2012.

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Richard Yamamoto

22 videos
Nisei male. Born September 4, 1922 in Spokane, Washington. Spent childhood in Spokane, where parents operated a downtown Spokane hotel and father worked as a redcap at the local train station. Graduated from Lewis & Clark High School, attended Whitworth College, and then attended trade school where he became an electrician. Currently resides with wife, Kazue, in Spokane.

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Sam Ogo

21 videos
Nisei male. Born September 1, 1919 in Millwood, Washington, where father worked for SP&S railroad. After serious injury, father quit the railroad and moved family to Spokane, Washington, where they operated numerous hotels. Sent to Japan with siblings in 1933 to attend school. Was only one in the family to return to the U.S. three years later. Brother served in a non-combat position for the Japanese navy during World War II. Operated a produce farm until the 1960s when the state purchased the land to build a freeway. Worked at Crescent Department Store until retirement, and currently resides in Spokane with wife, Chiyo.

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Seiko Edamatsu

24 videos
Nisei female. Born July 18, 1919 in Seattle, Washington. Spent childhood in Seattle's Nihonmachi (Japantown) where parents ran the U.S. Hotel. Attended Bailey Gatzert Grade School and Washington Junior High School before moving to North Seattle with older siblings to operate a produce stand. Graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1937 and worked as a waitress at the Tokyo Cafe until 1941. Moved to Spokane, Washington, as part of the "voluntary evacuation" period in March 1942. Married husband Ed Edamatsu in 1944 and worked as a domestic until retirement.

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Spady Koyama

26 videos
Nisei male. Born June 4, 1917, in Ferry County, Washington. Sent to Japan at age five following father's death, returning to Spokane, Washington, in 1927. Enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1942. Served with the Military Intelligence Service (MIS) in the Pacific theater during World War II where he was seriously injured during a kamikaze dive bomb attack. Was recalled to active duty and subsequently served both in the Korean War and Vietnam War in military intelligence -- directing the U.S. Army's counterintelligence in Vietnam. Retired from the service in 1970 with the rank of colonel. Mr. Koyama passed away on March 19, 2006.

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Sumi Okamoto

19 videos
Nisei female. Born January 7, 1920, in Seattle, Washington. Spent childhood in Spokane, Washington, where father worked for the Alaska Junk Company. Attended Irving Grade School and Lewis & Clark High School. Wedding took place on December 7, 1941, the day of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. Husband passed away in 1946, and Ms. Okamoto worked as a secretary for the State of Washington while raising three children. Continues to be active with the Highland Park Methodist Church where she has been the organist since 1934.