Gene Akutsu

Gene Akutsu, who resisted the draft during World War II, was interviewed by Japanese journalist Ryusuke Kawai on Monday, June 23. Akutsu remembered his harsh experience during the wartime, which changed the lives of him and his family just after the Pearl Harbor attack. Akutsu and his late older brother Jim were arrested and sentenced to McNeil's Island Penitentiary because of refusing the draft. "I answered 'No-Yes' to the [so-called] loyalty question," said Akutsu.

According to Akutsu, many people, even newspapers, lumped war resisters together as "No-No Boys" at that time. "They called us 'No-good.'"

Now, after over 60 years, living on Beacon Hill, he enjoys every day life including Tomono kai activities