Kay Matsuoka Segment 2

Mother sent to America as a picture bride (ddr-densho-1000-48-1) - 00:04:02
Father immigrates to America to make his fortune (ddr-densho-1000-48-2) - 00:03:20
Childhood memories: working on the family farm, attending school, and receiving training in Japanese culture and customs (ddr-densho-1000-48-3) - 00:05:13
Issei parents' values and attitudes: the importance of continuing Japanese culture (ddr-densho-1000-48-4) - 00:04:16
Issei parents' values and attitudes: on being Japanese in America, "lose to win," and "study harder..." (ddr-densho-1000-48-5) - 00:02:35
Japanese American community activities (ddr-densho-1000-48-6) - 00:03:07
High school memories: sports and activities (ddr-densho-1000-48-7) - 00:04:43
Choosing a career, "have a trade in your hand"; getting started in dress design, apprenticing and opening own shop (ddr-densho-1000-48-8) - 00:04:26
Denied the honor of being commencement speaker because of Japanese ancestry; accepting discrimination, "shikata ga nai" (ddr-densho-1000-48-9) - 00:04:28
Getting started in dress design, apprenticing and opening own shop (ddr-densho-1000-48-10) - 00:06:04
Getting started in dress design, apprenticing and opening own shop: description of clientele (ddr-densho-1000-48-11) - 00:03:17
The bombing of Pearl Harbor: parents' attitude, "Whatever government says to do, we're to obey"; losing the farm, dressmaker's shop (ddr-densho-1000-48-12) - 00:06:35
Mother's stories of arrival in America (ddr-densho-1000-48-13) - 00:04:22
Mothers stories of adjusting to life in America (ddr-densho-1000-48-14) - 00:03:22
Mother's advice on choosing a suitable husband (ddr-densho-1000-48-15) - 00:02:07
Various factors lead to marriage: Japanese matchmaking customs, old-fashioned romance, the war and impending incarceration (ddr-densho-1000-48-16) - 00:08:51
Moving to the "free zone" in central California (ddr-densho-1000-48-17) - 00:04:09
Preparing for mass removal: one suitcase, duffel bag, and care package (ddr-densho-1000-48-18) - 00:04:15
Memories of "evacuation day": "...Just like these movies when they go to jail, it was just like that" (ddr-densho-1000-48-19) - 00:05:55
Daily routine at Gila River concentration camp, Arizona (ddr-densho-1000-48-20) - 00:03:54
Finding out that husband has contracted tuberculosis in camp (ddr-densho-1000-48-21) - 00:03:06
Husband's tuberculosis in camp: quarantined in an abandoned post office (ddr-densho-1000-48-22) - 00:04:03
Husband contracts tuberculosis, ostracized by rest of camp (ddr-densho-1000-48-23) - 00:03:08
Detailing a history of difficult relations with in-laws while husband is ill with tuberculosis (ddr-densho-1000-48-24) - 00:07:19
Reaction to the bombing of Pearl Harbor: getting rid of everything Japanese (ddr-densho-1000-48-25) - 00:03:38
Getting married: a "hectic time" (ddr-densho-1000-48-26) - 00:08:47
Description of Japanese customs of "kosai" (reciprocity), "baishakunin" and "nakodo" (matchmaker) (ddr-densho-1000-48-27) - 00:05:30
Preparing for mass removal: one suitcase, duffel bag, and care package (ddr-densho-1000-48-28) - 00:03:07
Teaching children Japanese dancing and singing to entertain the Issei in camp (ddr-densho-1000-48-29) - 00:08:48
Parents answer "yes-yes" to so-called "loyalty questionnaire" (ddr-densho-1000-48-30) - 00:05:23
Detailing a history of difficult relations with in-laws (ddr-densho-1000-48-31) - 00:05:41
Detailing a history of difficult relations with in-laws (ddr-densho-1000-48-32) - 00:06:29
Christian missionaries' weekly visits to camp lead to conversion (ddr-densho-1000-48-33) - 00:07:36
Staying busy in camp, carpentry, gardening, and teaching dressmaking (ddr-densho-1000-48-34) - 00:07:34
Husband contracts tuberculosis while in Gila River concentration camp, is ostracized (ddr-densho-1000-48-35) - 00:03:50
(ddr-densho-1000-48-36) - 00:04:19
Receiving news of, and reaction to news of bombing of Hiroshima (ddr-densho-1000-48-37) - 00:03:52
Mother's advice on childbirth, "Gaman" (ddr-densho-1000-48-38) - 00:02:45
Last to leave, a difficult labor keeps camp hospital open, and Kay in camp (ddr-densho-1000-48-39) - 00:08:50
Returning to Fresno, California, after the war: struggling with illness and making a living (ddr-densho-1000-48-40) - 00:05:11
Postwar return: facing discrimination, even from churches (ddr-densho-1000-48-41) - 00:03:51
Postwar return: facing discrimination, even from churches (ddr-densho-1000-48-42) - 00:03:59
(ddr-densho-1000-48-43) - 00:03:14
Sharing memories of the incarceration with church groups and children (ddr-densho-1000-48-44) - 00:05:17
Visiting relatives in Japan (ddr-densho-1000-48-45) - 00:04:53
Visiting relatives in Japan (ddr-densho-1000-48-46) - 00:09:18
(ddr-densho-1000-48-47) - 00:02:49
Sharing memories of the incarceration with church groups and children (ddr-densho-1000-48-48) - 00:06:38
Two traditional Japanese songs (ddr-densho-1000-48-49) - 00:04:12
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PARTNER

Densho
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SEGMENT ID

ddr-densho-1000-48-2 (Legacy UID: denshovh-mkay-01-0002)

SEGMENT DESCRIPTION

Father immigrates to America to make his fortune

00:03:20 — Segment 2 of 49

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DATE

December 29 & 30, 1999

LOCATION

PARENT COLLECTION

Densho Visual History Collection

TOPICS

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PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

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PARTNER

Densho
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INTERVIEW ID

ddr-densho-1000-48

NARRATOR

Kay Matsuoka

INTERVIEW TITLE

Kay Matsuoka Interview

04:02:08 — 49 segments

DATE

December 29 & 30, 1999

LOCATION

Seattle, Washington

DESCRIPTION

Nisei female. Born April 17, 1917, in Moneta, California. Grew up working on family's strawberry farm. Attended Japanese language school where she learned Japanese dancing and singing. Was popular and excelled in high school, but was prevented by the Parent Teacher Association from giving the commencement address because of her ethnicity. Attended dress design school, and opened a dressmaking shop at the age of twenty-one. Met her husband through a Japanese matchmaker and got married soon after the onset of WWII in anticipation of being incarcerated. Was incarcerated at the Gila River concentration camp where her husband contracted tuberculosis. Cared for ailing husband, who was isolated and confined to the camp hospital. Taught camp inmates dressmaking as well as Japanese dancing and singing. Converted to Christianity as a result of weekly visits by Christian missionaries to the camp. After the war ended and the camp was nearly empty, went into a prolonged and difficult labor, requiring that the staff reopen the hospital and she and her husband stay at Gila River after everyone else had left. Resettled in Fresno, California.

PRODUCTION

Alice Ito, interviewer; Dana Hoshide, videographer

TOPICS

FACILITY

PERSONS/ORGANIZATIONS

CONTRIBUTOR

Densho

PREFERRED CITATION

Courtesy of Densho

RIGHTS

API