Japanese-American Association of Lane County, Oregon, Oral History Collection

Alice Endo Aikens was born in Oakland, California in 1939. Her grandparents emigrated from Japan to the United States in the early 1920's. Her parents were both kibei, born in the United States but educated in Japan. Her family ran an Asian grocery…

Kenge Kobayashi was born in Imperial Valley, California in 1926 where his parents, who emigrated from Japan in 1905, had a farm. In 1942, his family lived in internment camps, first in the Gila River Relocation Center in Arizona for one year, and…

Miya Kaneko Kobayashi was born in Crystal City, Texas. Her parents emigrated from Japan to Peru where they operated an import/export business. Their family was forced by the American and Peruvian governments to relocate to a camp in Crystal City…

Mitzi Asai Loftus was born in Hood River, Oregon in 1932. Her parents emigrated from Japan and owned and operated fruit orchards in Hood River. Her father was forced to sell his property after he was sent to the internment camps. She was in the…

Yoko Matusoka McClain was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1924. Her maternal grandfather was the write Natsume Soseki (1867-1916), well known for his novels, short stories and poetry. Yoko lived in Tokyo during World War II and graduated from Tsuda College,…