Ideno, Kazuo Gene (8/24/2017)

Ideno, Kazuo Gene (8/24/2017)

Japanese Americans--Evacuation and relocation, 1942-1949

Kazuo Ideno was born in San Francisco, California. His father was born on the island of Shikoku and his mother in California although she was raised and educated in Japan. His family was incarcerated at Crystal City Internment Camp located in Texas. His father was a kendo instructor and leader in the community. After imprisonment, his family moved to Seabrook, New Jersey for an opportunity to work at a cannery. Soon after, the family relocated to Chicago, Illinois where he spent a lot of time participating in sports and extracurricular activities with Japanese peers. It was in Chicago that he met a classmate who hadn’t been imprisoned in a camp which confused him. Ideno discusses his feelings of guilt as a youth and his “gung-ho” attitude to “prove” his loyalty to the U.S, alienating himself from his Japanese culture which he discusses in regret. He concludes with a message to future generations to never forget what happened and to be aware of the historical issue of prejudice in the United States.

2017-08-24

video

Takada, Anna

Ideno, Kazuo Gene

Oral History Interview: Ideno, Helen (8/24/2017)

Nisei

Crystal City

Seabrook

Sumo

Kendo

Aurora

Poston

Hyde Park

Park Ridge

San Francisco

Sports

2300