<Begin Segment 21>

TY: [Jpn.] Well, then, did you have a chance to meet with a non-Japanese person? Was there an incident where you had to speak with an American?

MK: [Jpn.] Yeah, but there were many Japanese.

TY: [Jpn.] I see.

MK: [Jpn.] We didn't have to worry about it in those days.

TY: [Jpn.] I see.

MK: [Jpn.] Right. And the children grow up fast.

TY: [Jpn.] Yes.

MK: [Jpn.] Then the children speak English well. We didn't have to worry.

TY: [Jpn.] That's right.

MK: [Jpn.] Yeah. So the first generation had a hard time, but a little later the children spoke English well. So if we didn't understand something, our children helped us. So it was not difficult to live in the U.S.

TY: [Jpn.] I see.

MK: [Jpn.] Uh-huh. Thanks to the children. That's right.

TY: [Jpn.] When you left the greenhouse in South Park and started your own business, who handled English? There must have been times you had to speak English, such as buying land or placing orders.

MK: [Jpn.] No, there wasn't. There wasn't. If we need it, then a Philippi --

TY: [Jpn.] I see.

MK: [Jpn.] There were many people from the Philippines.

TY: [Jpn.] I see.

MK: [Jpn.] Single people.

TY: [Jpn.] Yes.

MK: [Jpn.] We hired them. We let them work.

TY: [Jpn.] Oh, I see. In the greenhouse?

MK: [Eng.] Uh-huh. Yeah.

TY: [Jpn.] Then, when you, your father and husband started your own business, you hired those people from the Philippines?

MK: [Jpn.] Yeah. It's the same thing.

TY: [Jpn.] I see.

MK: [Jpn.] Well, they were the best. Because they were single. It was simpler. The Filipinos could not bring their wives. All single. Uh-huh. Yeah. They worked here and saved money and go back to Japan, no, to the Philippines, I think.

TY: [Jpn.] I see.

MK: [Jpn.] Yeah.

<End Segment 21> - Copyright © 2000 Densho. All Rights Reserved.