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AI: Well, now you mentioned the shows, the occasional programs at the Nichiren church. Were your parents members...

TI: No.

AI: ...or did you belong?

TI: No. They worked always full-time, overseeing the hotel at nights or weekends. So we just went with friends and enjoyed it very much. And so we had, well, you know at that time they had Rose Festival, which the community, Japanese community helped produce a float made out of flowers and felt pretty proud about that. And they had a Japanese American Boy Scout troop, and had a band. So that was nice.

AI: Did you, were you able to participate in any of those things, the band or the...

TI: No.

AI: ...Boy Scouts?

A. Later on I tried, but didn't have time.

AI: I wanted to ask you also if your parents practiced any religion at home or if they gave you any religious teaching or encouraged you in some way?

TI: Not at all. No. We just didn't communicate. We just pretty much said, "Hai." Learned how to say "hai" and in a very polite way, especially. And so really it's tragic, but they're still strangers to me as individuals, yeah.

AI: Well, now you mentioned just now how they stressed the politeness? What other things did your parents emphasize with you?

TI: Well, obviously it was work, and to do work and be responsible and try to stay straight-and-narrow. [Laughs] which made that one incident with the police really disturbing to me. [Laughs] Feeling guilt, feeling... but they were hardworking, committed to raise us. I remember one Christmas from the closet doors, my mother opened up and gave us each, one orange each. And to me, it was a real nice gift, and appreciated that. But it, in reflection, of course, I found this really showed how poor they were, and, or at least they saved money and not spend it too foolishly. But, that's the only gift I could remember all those years that was that meaningful. I still remember. Yeah. And I don't remember at all where any of us kids really complained about it or anything like that. They were just grateful for the orange.

AI: Really stood out in your mind?

TI: Yes.

AI: Now, in some Japanese American families, especially where the parents are working so much, so much of the time, the oldest sister and oldest brother take on some roles. And I'm wondering what kind of relation you had with your older brother and sister, if they...

TI: I was primarily relating to my younger brother, who actually in many ways acted like he was the older brother. He took care of me in getting... and he was very good at saving money, so he'd buy things for me. So we had the closest relationship there, and he continued to do that after we got older. [Laughs]

<End Segment 5> - Copyright © 2000 Densho. All Rights Reserved.