Interview with Bill Watanabe, Little Tokyo Service Center Former Exec Director

Описание: This is Part 1 of an extensive interview with longtime community activist and leader Bill Watanabe, who was the founding Executive Director of the Little Tokyo Service Center in Los Angeles, California. Mr. Watanabe was born in the Manzanar internment camp during WWII, when approximately 120,000 Americans of Japanese ancestry, most of whom were American citizens, were detained by the government.

The footage of Tule Lake internment camp was provided courtesy of filmmaker Anders Tomlinson, who had created films featuring the late Jimi Yamaichi, who narrates that portion. When I searched for video of Tule Lake internment camp, I came across the recording and tried to find Mr. Yamaichi, only to find out he had passed away two years ago.

Many thanks also go to Wataru Ebihara, an old friend from our soc.culture.asian.american days and the Asian American Graduate and Professional Student Organization (AAGPSO) forum, who put me in touch with his former colleague, Bill Watanabe. Wataru is also featured at the end when we went around Little Tokyo in July 2012.

These are important stories, part of American history, that must be preserved. Part 2 of the interview will be forthcoming. CORRECTION: at the end, the building shown was featured in "Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story." Thank you for watching and subscribing!

Judy Tseng

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