<Begin Segment 12>

DH: So then what happened after you were sent home?

JH: Well, I don't recall what happened after I was sent home, but obviously the order for relocation came from a directive from President Roosevelt, and the Bainbridge Island Japanese citizens were the first to be evacuated.

[Interruption]

DH: So Bainbridge Islanders were given eight days to get their affairs in order, and then to be relocated. What did your family do?

JH: Well, there was a rule that those people who lived on the west side of the Cascade Range needed to be evacuated, but those who lived in the east side of the Cascade Range, in the state of Washington, need not be evacuated. So that's the reason those people who lived in Spokane, the Japanese Americans citizens who lived in Spokane, did not go to camps. So my cousin, Kamekichi Shibiyama, heard of this, and he said, "Let's act quickly, and let's move to Moses Lake." So three of our families went to Moses Lake -- the Shibiyama s, the Sekos, us and -- in fact, there were four families -- and Koba family. Koba was... Fujiko Sakuma Koba, Fujiko Koba Sakuma. Actually it was a young lady, one of the Niseis that worked at Bainbridge Gardens, and we took her along, their family along.

DH: How did you acquire the property at Moses Lake?

JH: I think Mr. Shibuyama procured the property, and I'm not sure whether he leased it or he purchased it. But I have a feeling that he purchased the property.

DH: Do you remember the last days here at Bainbridge Gardens before you left?

JH: No, I frankly can't. I was probably out playing someplace.

DH: What have you heard about what your parents did during those last few days?

JH: Well, I hadn't really heard much at all about that. I think again, it's a matter of them protecting us from any harm. And they were very discreet about the war, the discussion of war, or anything like that, of negative feelings. And so frankly, I have very little recollection of what happened during our departure from Bainbridge Island.

DH: What arrangements did they make for the business?

JH: The grounds, the produce grounds, the nursery, the greenhouse, and the sunken gardens were leased to some individuals. Separately, the grocery stores were leased to other individuals. And as it turned out, the grocery stores were our salvation because the rent on the grocery store lease paid for the taxes for the property. And, therefore, we were able to hold the property in our name for all these years.

DH: And what did Zenhichi do with the bonsai that he had been working on so carefully, and the trees and the plants that he loved, the "No Sale" ones.

JH: Unfortunately he had to leave 'em all, but the significant story behind his departure, as far as in saying good-bye to his trees, were the red, Japanese Red Pines that he had started from seed from Japan. And he had little seedlings growing in the greenhouse in little clay pots. And he treasured those pines; he always loved those red pines. And so he hurriedly planted those in a shady part of the nursery, so that they may survive. And when we got back, a great many of them did survive and they grew out of their pots. And so, therefore, I treasure those trees. They're still standing today. In fact, it was recently recorded in the University of Washington Arboretum that they are the largest and tallest Japanese Red Pines in the state of Washington.

DH: He brought the seeds from Japan?

JH: He brought the seeds from Japan, yes.

DH: And he started a greenhouse --

JH: That is correct.

DH: -- right here and they still stand here.

JH: That's right. And those remaining trees still stand here; they're, they're... basically in the meadow of yesteryear.

<End Segment 12> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.