<Begin Segment 25>

TI: So, I'm curious, the families that helped you, that sort of took you in and gave you work and let you stay there, was there any family connection or connection to your village, or were they just --

RM: No, they're total strangers. See, the one, first one was a Fukuoka and the next one was probably Kumamoto, then the next one is Kagoshima, but I'm from Hiroshima, nothing to do, just generosity, the goodwill of the people and helped me. That's why I know, even though I'm not rich but I help the people, lotta people, so I make lotta donations even though, not money, but it's a -- I don't know whether you're interested in this story or not, but my uncle and I appreciate him, so some time I make a donation in memory of my, Frank Y. Matsumoto, Yoshio Matsumoto, 'cause very appreciate. Like, you know, as you know, I helped -- all my relatives, has a big family. So my mother has a lotta sister and brothers. My father has a brother and sister, so cousin, about two dozen cousins.

AI: A lot of family.

RM: Then when uncle died, he didn't have any kids, so no heir. And who get it? He willed to me. So that's why I was able to live in San Juan Island, my uncle.

TI: But going back to this time period in the Japanese American community, was it pretty common for the community then to sort of watch out and take care of its own?

RM: Yes.

TI: This is like in the early '30s. So here you are, your parents and most of your family are still in Japan and you're sort of looking for a job, going to high school. It seemed like the community was sort of looking out for you. If needed, they would give you a job --

RM: Well, the thing is all the farmer, then the Depression time, everybody have a hard time. And they're, also their own kids, too. Especially my great-uncle, he likes to drink, so I didn't think he had too much money. I know, different from my, my grandfather, he wouldn't do it. Of course, the father different, so maybe different gene, but, of course, the picture, you know, my grandfather is a heavier type, then my (great uncle) is the skinny, tall, you know. So same mother, I mean, same mother but different father, see, just a half brother.

AI: Well, I wanted to get back to asking about the Yamaguchi family. And what was their family business?

RM: Dry cleaning.

AI: And so, Mr. Yamaguchi was pretty well-established.

RM: Yes, and he had a lotta hired personnel from Kagoshima and, for instance, Arimas and some other people and he was, I think he was chairman of the board of governors of Kagoshima Kenjinkai, I think, also school board, probably was one of the...

AI: So he was --

RM: Higher up, so that the FBI pick him up.

AI: He was a prominent member of the Japanese American community then. Well, and did you --

RM: Prominent member, then he was sent to camp; FBI pick him up. So then poor wife with the three kids, they don't know. But other people just close the shop, but --

<End Segment 25> - Copyright © 2003 Densho. All Rights Reserved.