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JT: Well, your dad was born an American citizen in 1901. And then you were telling me that your dad had a florist's. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
KN: Yeah. My uncle was Uncle Mas. When he was younger, I think he was still going to high school, and he was going to the florist shop on Tawada's on Santa Clara Avenue, and he learned... I guess Harry Kono learned how to do the flower business. And then my dad, in 1923, '24, was taught the flower business from my Uncle Mas and they two bought the flower shop.
JT: And where was that located?
KN: On Grand Avenue in Oakland. That's where the Oakland theater is?
JT: Oh, Grand Lake?
KN: Grand Lake Theatre, close to Piedmont.
JT: And you said that your uncle Mas was taught by Harry Kono?
KN: Yeah, he worked there.
JT: Because Harry Kono had the shop on Santa Clara, and he learned his flower skills from Mr. Hayashi, who had that same shop before.
KN: Yeah, we didn't know Mr. Hayashi.
JT: So was your dad working, or did your dad have the florist's when the war broke out?
KN: Yes, he had the florist shop right into the Depression until the time the war started. And then when they had to leave Alameda, they had to sell everything.
JT: Let's talk about that a little. What do you remember about when the war started? Because you were only four years old. Do you remember anything?
KN: Not a whole lot. But I always know my mom was busy all the time.
JT: Right. Because did you have any brothers or sisters?
KN: Yeah, I have an older sister, Joan, and a brother, Eddie, and my other sister Carol.
JT: And where are you in the family?
KN: I'm the bottom. I'm the fourth one.
JT: The youngest.
KN: Youngest.
JT: Okay. Were you spoiled?
KN: I guess so. I'm not sure. I had a good life.
JT: What makes you say you were spoiled?
KN: Because I think, my siblings are, they had to adhere to my father and mother more closely than I did. I was the nice boy.
JT: Oh, you were a good boy?
KN: I was a good boy.
<End Segment 3> - Copyright © 2021 Densho. All Rights Reserved.