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AI: Now, I want to jump forward quite a few years, many years later, then. In 1988, the government passed the redress -- Congress passed the redress bill.

BN: Yes.

AI: And in 1990, they started paying the redress and sending the apologies. Did you receive...?

BN: Yes, I received my $20,000 and the apology.

AI: What was your reaction?

BN: Oh, my reaction to that? Well, I was happy. However, $20,000 didn't go too far. Some people say, "Oh, $20,000, that's a lot of money." But actually it isn't when you consider when your farm equipments and everything were just being sold at the, in bottom, rock-bottom price, or just didn't sell it, just left it there. So actually, considering all those things, $20,000 wasn't much, yes.

AI: And now, some many years later still, you're here now at the Tule Lake Pilgrimage.

BN: Yes.

AI: What caused you to think about coming to this pilgrimage?

BN: Well, my primary reason, I wanted to see this Castle Rock. That was really, meant something to me, yes. And I have a silk painting that my Japanese school teacher gave me, because I made couple of picture frames for him. So that made me really, I mean, on this trip, when I saw that Castle Rock on the first glimpse, oh, my gosh. It just really made me so happy, and brought all the memory back. And then when I got off of the bus, I immediately touched the soil, felt the soil. Oh, my gosh. It was terrific, yes. Actually, I wanted to come to this reunion, but I didn't get the invitation. I don't know why, but I didn't get the invitation. And on this trip, I read in the Rafu Shimpo that the deadline was extended. So I immediately called Eiko (Sakuda), and she immediately came, and dashed to my home. And she said, "Ah, Bill," she says, "There's no time for mailing anything." Says, "I'll dash to your home." So she came to my home and everything was settled. And I'm really, really happy for, I mean, thankful for Eiko, for giving me this opportunity.

AI: You know, it's so interesting to me that when you were talking about being here in Tule Lake in the war years, it sounded very painful and difficult in some ways. And yet when you come back now, it felt good to be back. Can you say a little bit about that?

BN: Well, my citizenship is restored. That's the main thing that made me happy. And then to reminisce the past, of the turbulence or whatever you want, you may wish to call, and to look back and, "Would I take the same route again?" I thought to myself. And I told myself, "I would certainly do the same thing. I don't want to be the one that, that the government, I don't like, want the government to lead me into anything. I want my rights." So, at that time, I'll do the same thing over again. Yes.

AI: Well, are there any other thoughts you'd like to pass on to people, especially younger people?

BN: Yes. I was very happy to see so many younger generation on this trip. And I think this tradition should continue forever, because once you stop doing this type of thing, people forget the past. But when this is going on, hatred and other things will start to diminish. I wouldn't say completely, but it will take a turn and become less and less. And the people will start to understand one, each other. And I think this culture is very important. And nowadays, they are having so many exchange students, and that's a wonderful idea I feel, to learn the culture of other country. If most of the Americans knew the culture of Japan, I think this war wouldn't have happened. But they don't know, so one country will be greedy against the other or the vice versa, and that's what the war will start. That causes the war to start. So I feel that people starting to, exchange students, going back and, learning the other country's moral, and then they start to talk to your friends, and then the friend will talk to others, and I think it's gonna mushroom, you know, snowball, yes. I feel in that way. So this exchange program is another important thing to do, yes. I think it shouldn't be disbanded.

AI: Well, Mr. Nishimura, we thank you very much for your time and sharing your memories.

BN: Well, I thank you very much for interviewing me, but I hope I made myself clear on this evacuations and all that. I believe someone will disagree with me, and I understand that. It's their opinion, and I'm speaking for myself. So I wish everybody would understand that, I mean, take my opinion into their opinion and sort of balance it out. Thank you very much.

AI: Thank you.

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 2000 Densho. All Rights Reserved.