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AI: So before World War II, a number of the Issei, as you mentioned, had their own businesses. And so they were not as subjected to discrimination in business in running their own small --

FY: Exactly.

AI: -- company. But that was wiped out during the war.

FY: Exactly.

AI: And then we're, after the war, the situation that your parents faced and yourself --

FY: Exactly. It was far too late for them to start over again. Besides, they had no resources. It's, it's a period where it's, it's... I think after the war, they were... I, as a resister, was discriminated by the community.

AI: Are you now speaking of the Japanese American community?

FY: The Japanese community. At that time, there were many Niseis that denied -- there was a lot of denial -- denied their heritage, their Japanese culture.

AI: Can you give me some examples of that, after World War II, the denial of the culture.

FY: I notice many names, for instance, many names, Japanese name changed to American names. I notice when they came to conversation about, "Remember the old days when they used to have certain, certain type of Japanese food?" They would walk away. They would try, they hesitate talking about that. This is among the Japanese even, Niseis. I can't categorically mention them, but there is a, several things that indicated that there was a denial of having any interest in the Japanese community.

AI: And how did that strike you? What was your reaction?

FY: Well, I was angry. I said, this is very important to retain our culture. And it had nothing to do with whether we were patriotic or not, and this is the -- this is the same attitude I had when I resisted the draft. It was just that it is our personal right to... if it's something that's illegal, I could understand. But it isn't. It wasn't. To appreciate one's culture is not illegal.

AI: In other words, you could still be a good American while appreciating --

FY: Of course. Of course. I, I, this is my personal opinion, but people, majority of people, unfortunately, I don't think understand what Americanism is or being patriotic is. It's certainly not just waving your, waving a flag or saluting the flag. That, that's not Americanism. Unfortunately, the media lead the people in thinking that's the way to be an American. I think American or a citizen of any country should be concerned with their well-being of their people and of the soundness and solvency of the country itself. I don't -- it's -- again, this is my opinion, but I... so anyway, I, I pulled out of the community. By that, I didn't run away or anything. It's just that my interest got involved with other groups and --

<End Segment 14> - Copyright © 2001 Densho. All Rights Reserved.