Marian Asao Kurosu Interview Segment 64

Family background: born in Fukui Prefecture, Japan (ddr-densho-1000-118-1) - 00:06:50
Beginning English lessons in the third grade (ddr-densho-1000-118-2) - 00:02:59
Living with grandfather as a child (ddr-densho-1000-118-3) - 00:02:19
Description of father; siblings (ddr-densho-1000-118-4) - 00:04:40
Journey to the United States at age sixteen: applying for a visa, physical exam (ddr-densho-1000-118-5) - 00:07:24
Coming to the United States with very few belongings; changing to Western clothing upon arrival (ddr-densho-1000-118-6) - 00:01:55
Spending the night at the immigration station as a result of a family emergency at the greenhouse (ddr-densho-1000-118-7) - 00:07:13
Being raised by grandfather (ddr-densho-1000-118-8) - 00:02:18
Getting married in traditional Japanese style, using a "go-between," or matchmaker (ddr-densho-1000-118-9) - 00:05:31
Description of arranged marriage process, wedding ceremony (ddr-densho-1000-118-10) - 00:05:07
Beginning a greenhouse business in Sunnydale, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-118-11) - 00:08:23
Daily chores: housework, childcare, learning how to cook (ddr-densho-1000-118-12) - 00:05:46
(ddr-densho-1000-118-13) - 00:02:09
Meeting other Japanese families who also ran greenhouse businesses (ddr-densho-1000-118-14) - 00:02:42
(ddr-densho-1000-118-15) - 00:01:24
Climate and seasonal effects on a greenhouse (ddr-densho-1000-118-16) - 00:01:16
One of only a few Japanese families in Sunnydale, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-118-17) - 00:01:33
Husband's previous job at a lumber mill in Tacoma, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-118-18) - 00:01:41
Before marriage, husband's involvement in community activities (ddr-densho-1000-118-19) - 00:02:36
(ddr-densho-1000-118-20) - 00:02:40
Coping with speaking very little English during early years in the United States (ddr-densho-1000-118-21) - 00:01:58
Husband had no intention of returning to Japan to live (ddr-densho-1000-118-22) - 00:01:40
Speaking little English upon arriving in the United States; using a dictionary for writing (ddr-densho-1000-118-23) - 00:04:05
(ddr-densho-1000-118-24) - 00:00:50
Purchasing land in Sunnydale, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-118-25) - 00:03:30
Isolated from Japanese community; having to eat mostly non-Japanese foods (ddr-densho-1000-118-26) - 00:04:03
Celebrating Fourth of July by going to the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, Washington (ddr-densho-1000-118-27) - 00:01:40
Raising children to understand both English and Japanese (ddr-densho-1000-118-28) - 00:03:52
Early life; raised by grandfather (ddr-densho-1000-118-29) - 00:04:42
Having a child with the help of a midwife (ddr-densho-1000-118-30) - 00:03:28
Description of duties of a midwife (ddr-densho-1000-118-31) - 00:02:09
Having children (ddr-densho-1000-118-32) - 00:05:54
(ddr-densho-1000-118-33) - 00:00:52
Raising many children: the older ones help take care of the younger ones (ddr-densho-1000-118-34) - 00:01:26
Decision to give children both a Japanese and an English name (ddr-densho-1000-118-35) - 00:02:31
Father's return to Japan due to fear of U.S. hostility prior to World War II (ddr-densho-1000-118-36) - 00:04:31
(ddr-densho-1000-118-37) - 00:01:51
Raising children in Sunnydale; no Japanese language schools (ddr-densho-1000-118-38) - 00:03:03
Receiving news that younger brother, still living in Japan, was killed during the war (ddr-densho-1000-118-39) - 00:04:00
Brother Hideo visits from Japan but is trapped in the United States due to the onset of World War II (ddr-densho-1000-118-40) - 00:01:54
(ddr-densho-1000-118-41) - 00:02:24
Hearing about the bombing of Pearl Harbor; surprise that Japan would attack the United States (ddr-densho-1000-118-42) - 00:02:29
Trying to operate greenhouse business under curfew restrictions (ddr-densho-1000-118-43) - 00:02:05
Hearing stories of FBI searches and arrests (ddr-densho-1000-118-44) - 00:02:20
Entrusting home and possessions to neighbors (ddr-densho-1000-118-45) - 00:02:31
War's impact on family (ddr-densho-1000-118-46) - 00:03:33
Effect of mass removal on greenhouse business (ddr-densho-1000-118-47) - 00:01:57
Deciding what to take to Pinedale Assembly Center, California (ddr-densho-1000-118-48) - 00:03:26
Worrying about loss of land during mass removal (ddr-densho-1000-118-49) - 00:01:18
Trip to Pinedale Assembly Center, California; heat and dehydration (ddr-densho-1000-118-50) - 00:05:42
(ddr-densho-1000-118-51) - 00:01:23
Hobbies at Pinedale Assembly Center; making jewelry out of shells, sewing (ddr-densho-1000-118-52) - 00:03:04
Food in Pinedale (ddr-densho-1000-118-53) - 00:01:59
Rambunctious sons in camp: difficult in such close proximity to other families (ddr-densho-1000-118-54) - 00:03:13
Description of barracks at Pinedale Assembly Center (ddr-densho-1000-118-55) - 00:03:40
Water and primitive facilities at Tule Lake concentration camp, California (ddr-densho-1000-118-56) - 00:03:42
Meals and mess halls: "there was a line for everything" (ddr-densho-1000-118-57) - 00:01:55
Description of clothing and a photograph from Tule Lake (ddr-densho-1000-118-58) - 00:06:02
Description of a bag made in a sewing class at Tule Lake (ddr-densho-1000-118-59) - 00:05:12
(ddr-densho-1000-118-60) - 00:01:34
Answering the so-called "loyalty questions" (ddr-densho-1000-118-61) - 00:04:01
Hearing about poor wartime conditions in Japan (ddr-densho-1000-118-62) - 00:03:57
Problems at Tule Lake concentration camp, California: scorpions, ticks and sagebrush (ddr-densho-1000-118-63) - 00:04:04
Memories of the trip from Tule Lake, California to Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming (ddr-densho-1000-118-64) - 00:03:56
Climate differences between Tule Lake concentration camp, California, and Heart Mountain (ddr-densho-1000-118-65) - 00:01:27
Activities at Heart Mountain concentration camp: Victory Garden, sewing classes (ddr-densho-1000-118-66) - 00:02:43
Buying goods at the camp canteen (ddr-densho-1000-118-67) - 00:01:03
Son born in camp hospital (ddr-densho-1000-118-68) - 00:01:13
(ddr-densho-1000-118-69) - 00:02:44
(ddr-densho-1000-118-70) - 00:01:26
Mixed feelings upon hearing that the United States had won the war (ddr-densho-1000-118-71) - 00:05:49
Returning to South Park, Washington, after the war until home in Sunnydale was vacated (ddr-densho-1000-118-72) - 00:04:15
Postwar discrimination: hearing that the principal of a high school in Sunnydale did not want the Japanese American families to return (ddr-densho-1000-118-73) - 00:03:28
Children experiencing discrimination: getting into fights at school (ddr-densho-1000-118-74) - 00:02:55
Returning home to find used possessions (ddr-densho-1000-118-75) - 00:03:48
Rebuilding the greenhouse business after World War II (ddr-densho-1000-118-76) - 00:03:30
Giving birth to two more children after World War II (ddr-densho-1000-118-77) - 00:02:54
(ddr-densho-1000-118-78) - 00:02:39
Obtaining U.S. citizenship; acquiring an American name (ddr-densho-1000-118-79) - 00:06:42
Avoiding talk of discrimination: "shikata ga nai" (ddr-densho-1000-118-80) - 00:01:27
Coping with death of husband, keeping the greenhouse running (ddr-densho-1000-118-81) - 00:05:47
Reflections on past experiences (ddr-densho-1000-118-82) - 00:08:16
Reactions to receiving redress money (ddr-densho-1000-118-83) - 00:03:10
Enjoying life: staying healthy and traveling (ddr-densho-1000-118-84) - 00:03:03
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PARTNER

Densho
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SEGMENT ID

ddr-densho-1000-118-64 (Legacy UID: denshovh-kmarian-01-0064)

SEGMENT DESCRIPTION

Memories of the trip from Tule Lake, California to Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming

During this interview, Mrs. Kurosu alternately speaks in both English and Japanese. As a result, the English translation of the transcript contains [Jpn.] and [Eng.], which indicate whether the original dialogue was spoken in Japanese or English.

00:03:56 — Segment 64 of 84

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DATE

June 23 & 24, 2000

LOCATION

PARENT COLLECTION

Densho Visual History Collection

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

RIGHTS

PARTNER

Densho
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INTERVIEW ID

ddr-densho-1000-118

NARRATOR

Marian Asao Kurosu

INTERVIEW TITLE

Marian Asao Kurosu Interview

04:38:11 — 84 segments

DATE

June 23 & 24, 2000

LOCATION

Seattle, Washington

DESCRIPTION

Issei female. Born March 10, 1907, in Fukui prefecture, Japan. Graduated from Jinai Girls School. After grandfather's death, came to Seattle, Washington in 1924 to join father and uncle, working in family-run agricultural greenhouse. Arranged marriage to Mr. Roy Naoe Kurosu, an Issei working in Tacoma sawmills. Started new greenhouse in Sunnydale, Washington until all people of Japanese ancestry were removed from the West Coast in 1942. Returned to work in Sunnydale greenhouse until retirement at age 74. In 1954, gained U.S. citizenship along with husband, adopting first name "Marian." Mother of seven children, including a son born while at Heart Mountain concentration camp, Wyoming. At the time of the interview, Mrs. Kurosu resided at her home in Seattle, Washington.

(During this interview, Mrs. Kurosu alternately speaks in both English and Japanese. As a result, the English translation of the transcript contains [Jpn.] and [Eng.], which indicate whether the original dialogue was spoken in Japanese or English.)

PRODUCTION

Tomoyo Yamada, interviewer; Alice Ito, interviewer; John Pai, videographer

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

RIGHTS

API