Interview with Hama Yamaki, 1985 December 27-1986 January 27
Scope and Contents
Audio recording of interview with Hama Yamaki (1891-1988), with abridged English transcript (40 pages). Yamaki immigrated to Portland, Oregon, with her husband, Eitaro Yamaki, a year after they married in 1913. Five years later, they moved to the Hood River Valley, where they first purchased an orchard in Oak Grove, and later moved to Pine Grove. Yamaki discusses her her early life on a silkworm farm in Fukushima, Japan, talks about her marriage to Eitaro Yamaki, and describes immigrating to the United States. She talks about adjusting to life in Portland and shares the reasons she and Eitaro Yamaki moved to the Hood River Valley. She discusses their life in Oak Grove and Pine Grove, and talks about raising their four children. She shares her experiences after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, and discusses making preparations before the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans by the U.S. government during World War II. She describes living conditions at the Pinedale Assembly Center in Fresno, California, and the Tule Lake incarceration camp, and talks about leaving the camp in 1943 to work on a farm in Nampa, Idaho. She closes the interview by reflecting on her experiences as a first-generation Japanese American woman.
Dates
- Creation: 1985 December 27-1986 January 27
Creator
- From the Collection: Tamura, Linda, 1949- (Interviewer, Person)
- From the Collection: Noji, Mamoru, 1918-2006 (Translator, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Extent
12 audiocassettes (12 hr., 19 min., 6 sec.)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: Japanese
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org