<Begin Segment 43>
TY: [Jpn.] When the war started between Japan and the U.S., what did you think of it?
MK: [Jpn.] Huh. But then, what do you say to that? Curfew time. Cur... cur... that thing... we Japanese couldn't go out after dark.
TY: [Jpn.] Oh, curfew.
MK: [Jpn.] Yeah. Only during the designated time. Except for business...
TY: [Jpn.] Yes.
MK: [Jpn.] We couldn't go out. Because we operated greenhouses, we, my husband could go out a little. But not as much as before. Uh-huh.
TY: [Jpn.] Also, the curfew meant not only you couldn't go out but also you had to keep the house dark...
MK: [Jpn.] No. There was a curfew time.
TY: [Jpn.] Yes. Uh-huh.
MK: [Jpn.] Yeah.
TY: [Jpn.] Everybody closed their windows so that the light would not leak... I heard you closed your windows...
MK: [Jpn.] No. So that the light wouldn't show. I remember something like that.
TY: [Jpn.] Then, what did you do with the lights in the greenhouses? They had glass panels, didn't they?
MK: [Jpn.] Oh, those. You could turn them off any time. In those days, you just turn off the electricity, and then they were off. It's not like nowadays. Uh-huh.
TY: [Jpn.] Then, did it not interfere with the greenhouse operations?
MK: [Jpn.] Well, we didn't work at night under those situations.
TY: [Jpn.] I see. You couldn't if you wanted to, could you?
MK: [Jpn.] Just during the day. We could never use the lights during the night. Uh-huh.
TY: [Jpn.] Yeah. Then, were you worried about your business? I mean the greenhouse business?
MK: [Jpn.] Yeah. But the business was all ruined.
TY: [Jpn.] I see.
MK: [Jpn.] Yeah.
TY: [Jpn.] By the way, did you and your husband tell your children or did you hide it?
MK: [Jpn.] No. The children wouldn't be able to help us if we told them...
TY: [Jpn.] You are right. They were young.
MK: [Jpn.] Well, besides, there wasn't any to discuss with them.
TY: [Jpn.] I see.
MK: [Jpn.] This is a serious business. It's a major thing.
TY: [Jpn.] I see.
MK: [Jpn.] Yes.
<End Segment 43> - Copyright © 2000 Densho. All Rights Reserved.