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AI: Well, something else I noticed in the information you gave me about Lewis & Clark was the fraternity situation.

TI: Yes.

AI: And Lewis & Clark did not allow national fraternities at the time, but you did have local fraternities. And in fact, you were able to join one.

TI: Yes.

AI: Can you tell a little bit about that? The name of your fraternity and the nature of...

TI: Well, as I recall, we were Alpha Rho Omega. [Laughs] I can't, my memory is so bad. We had initiation to get it in, and it was clean fun. We did our little activities together. And again, I had the good fortune to be part of several experiences like that. All of this being involved started on the basis of my work in the church, in high school, then becoming part of the youth fellowship group, and finding a lot of fun there. Because home was limited to going to school, going, after that going to Japanese school, coming home, eat, study. That's it. So it was a very closed experience. Once I had a chance to start in being involved in the church, it opened up more doors for me. And then as I went on to college, I got involved again, too. So I felt a sense of comfort in doing that based on my earlier experiences.

AI: So although you were active in many different kinds of organizations and groups, it sounds like the one constant was some sort of church-related activity...

TI: Yes. Yes. Uh-huh.

AI: ...and that was a constant, stable aspect of your life...

TI: Yes.

AI: ...over the years.

TI: Whatever city I went to -- Monterey, California, or Minnesota, or Salt Lake City where I initially moved from the camp, I quickly found where the Japanese church was located and built my friendship right away. It didn't take long. So that really helped me in my loneliness of being in a strange city, a community and finding some common bond.

AI: And do you think that this, the church and church-related activities played a similar role for other Japanese Americans at that time?

TI: Well, I was the only social worker. And for a majority of the Niseis, it was pretty much limited to church. I didn't see 'em getting involved in other community groups. But I just had the privilege of being involved in so many things that it became very comfortable doing that.

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