Skip to main content

A Boy Who Went for Broke, The Story of Private First Class Ted Fujioka

By April 27, 2023November 15th, 2023Programs

When: Sunday, May 21, 2023 @ 1:00 p.m.

Place: Faith United Methodist Church
2115 W. 182nd Street
Torrance, CA 90504

Speaker: Darrell Kunitomi

Business Meeting: No meeting

Program:

Long after World War ll, letters from a Nisei soldier to his high school teacher were discovered. The letters found their way into his nephew’s hands, and they reveal a first-hand account of the first days of incarceration for the Fujioka family at the Santa Anita racetrack horse stalls. The nephew, Darrell Kunitomi, will read a selection of the 1942 letters and tell his uncle’s story.

One selection is “Can you imagine, they ration toilet paper to us. One roll to 4 persons – for two weeks! Golly, I wonder what will happen if we all get diarrhea or something.”

Darrell Kunitomi is The Los Angeles Times’ company historian and tour guide/speaker, and a veteran there of 45 years of service. Kunitomi also performed and directed with the Grateful Crane Ensemble, and have many professional credits. Kunitomi worked with the Japanese American National Museum, Go For Broke, the East West Players, past member of the Manzanar Committee, and current board member of the Heart Mountain Foundation.

Sponsored by Faith’s Social Action Committee

Co-sponsored by Greater L A. chapter of JACL

Info.: Faith UMC desk (310) 217-7000

or Louise at greaterlajacl@gmail.com

Image: Darrell Kunitomi