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AI: Well, one other incident before we leave the '40s, 1940s, I wanted to ask you about was, that in your diary, you mentioned a visit from Minoru or Min Yasui?

TI: Yes.

AI: And if you could tell a little bit about him. He was, I think, pretty well-known among the Japanese Americans because as a, in Portland, he had defied the curfew order and then turned himself in. What do you recall about him and this visit?

TI: Well, I had mixed feelings because, on the one hand we were taught to obey orders. And here was a Nisei who -- [laughs] -- defied it. And first time I ever met a Nisei who was so outspoken and had conviction and could articulate it. This is why I noted in my diary that he made a real impression on me.

AI: And I believe this was around December of 1942?

TI: Yeah.

AI: And then did you think that he was justified in his defiance?

TI: Well, at the time I was a conservative Japanese American. And I thought he was disobeying. So I had that attitude to overcome. Listening to him I was really inspired -- one of the few Niseis who were outspoken that way. So it was very important to have heard him.

AI: So although he was disobeying in a sense -- in fact, it was civil disobedience that he was doing -- in another sense, he was also upholding some principles that you were thinking about.

TI: Right. But at the time, you know, we'd been taught to obey. And so, on the one hand, I felt he was being disobedient, and then, but his conviction really inspired me, and I respect, so because he was that unique a person, Nisei.

<End Segment 3> - Copyright © 2000 Densho. All Rights Reserved.