<Begin Segment 87>

TI: So, so, instead of going to China, you instead go to Tokyo back to work for Colonel Homan. Okay, so let's pick it up there now.

RM: Okay, then I came to Tokyo, then billet assigned is ATIS building because a lotta people there and lotta opening in room there. But as for the people in ATIS thinks I'm assigned there, see, came the billet, 'cause came from China, then assigned to general headquarters, so they thought I was, but my job waiting, but I didn't say that. I'd refused to get billeted and put 'em in the roster or things like that. No, I have my job waiting. In the meantime, I notify Colonel Homan's office so they so they waiting for me to come back. May never have come back, because if I, they, my low, but I have a chance to be rotated, that's a excuse to get out, go into Beijing. So okay, now come to Japan and then I was assigned, but right away they said I could be billeted Norton Hall, used to be Kenpeitai, gendarme headquarters, Japanese. We occupy that and made out accounting jobs corps, billets, and they had a mess hall and everything in the billet there. So I was sent there. And right away they told me to get rid of uniform so I went to --

TI: So explain this: they told you to get rid of the uniform because you were gonna go undercover.

RM: Undercover, yes.

TI: And so they wanted to give you, essentially, a new identity.

RM: New identity.

TI: They, no longer would be Sergeant --

RM: Matsumoto.

TI: -- Matsumoto, in a uniform, but you would be a different person.

RM: Mr.

TI: Mr. --

RM: Mr., Mr. Satoru Takahashi. And Takahashi happen to be common name and familiar name to me because I know lotta people Takahashi and the girl, I get to know in China was a Takahashi, too. And the Chief of Staff was a Takahashi, too. And that was on the dealing with the Japanese prisoners. So Takahashi is right name. But I'm just a little careless, you know, ask me, "What's your name?" well, that is, I have to, well, I get civilian clothes and went to PX and got shirts and trousers and... then they assign me billet right away and, "That's where you gonna go. You're at hotel and register as Takahashi then we gonna issue you a identification card." And I'm a civilian, rank, junior officer's grade and name will be, see, no Matsumoto, see.

TI: So you get all these new clothes.

RM: New clothes.

TI: And then what do you do then?

RM: Well, new clothes, but trousers too long, baggy, so I have to, and I asked 'em, "Where's the tailor shop?" "Oh, down the basement," the other people told me. And they also had their own PX in the small part and Japanese girl workin', then there's a newcomer, new face, so ask me in Japanese, in Japanese, "What's your name?" They want to get acquainted because want to try to make a boyfriend out of me. [Laughs] Anyway, I told 'em, "Takahashi." But then went down basement, then asked me, in just a friendly atmosphere, and the reason I found out was she was from, she were in Canada and know the English. It goes together know to deal, English to deal with the Americans, so, and then here comes the Japanese face and look like a Kibei, so ask me in Japanese -- well, first is, "What's your name?" So I said, "Matsumoto" -- no, no, I said, "Takahashi," then it come to me I'd registered as a Takahashi and living in a room assigned. So I cannot say Matsumoto, Matsumoto's not registered there. So I said, "Oh, Takahashi," see. So the girl is listening because curious because this boy speaks Japanese to this lady here and oh, then all of a sudden they giggling say oh, are yoshi, that is adopted to family.

TI: So that they thought that you were perhaps confused because you perhaps named Matsumoto.

RM: Uh-huh, but I dropped that.

TI: But that you were adopted a new name Takahashi because of marriage.

RM: Uh-huh.

TI: And that... okay.

RM: And Satoru happened to me my deceased brother's name, so he died when he was a baby. But anyway, it's easy to remember my substitute my name for her -- his name, so, and Takahashi's common last name so they thought it was Takahashi. And then, well, they think adopted. This girl's giggling. I understand everything they talk about, is Japanese, you know. But anyway, the way of polite way she says, she asked me where from. So I said, "Los Angeles." Because in case the people call you in, if you give a fictitious place and ask me, "What's the name of the bridge?" If you didn't, weren't there, you don't know. But like me, if I said I was in China, "Where you stay?" "Oh, I stayed in New Asia Hotel," see. Then oh, is that the Soochow Creek, or Broadway Mansion or whatever. I know that, so I could get by. That's why I use "I'm from China" later on. I says, "I'm a repatriate from China." So anyway, I don't tell a lie, make up a story because I'm from Los Angeles so eventually, well, it doesn't hurt because Los Angeles is big, so even though I'm not there if I say Los Angeles. So then this lady tell, "Oh, I was there," see? So then I says, "Was it 1932?" "Yes, how come you know that?"

TI: This was the year the ship went from Vancouver down to Los Angeles, 1932?

RM: Not Los Angeles, just, this... what do you mean? No, she is repatriated from Canada, exchange ship prisoner.

TI: I see, okay.

RM: And this American prisoner were exchanged with Japanese prisoner, and so they held them for exchange purpose. And so she was one of them. She was living in Canada and came back to Japan for exchange and so she said she been to Los Angeles.

TI: Now, Roy --

RM: By driving a car.

TI: When you say "she, she, she," who are you talking about?

RM: Oh, I talkin' this lady that, Akiyama. So happened --

TI: And she's the shop owner?

RM: Shop owner, yes. And several, you know, about ten people workin' there as a presser, there's ironing or making dresses, so forth. And so she happened to sound like she likes me and asked me whether I like to eat some Japanese food because they thought I came from stateside, 'cause they didn't know I didn't come, I came from China, I didn't say that. But anyway, so Japanese, says sushi or noodle or something in Japanese, say, "Yeah." "Then, in that case, I invite you for dinner. So come over." So okay, then when I'm not workin', in spare time, evening, and says, so visit with her. Then see the familiar face, when I'm working in the store. Then I didn't know they were related. And introduced me to the girls and one was, happened to be Mrs. Akiyama's brother's wife, in other words, sister in-law, and the other one that was the cashier, the one I remember, is, she says, my own sister. And her name is Kimiko, and later on happen to be my wife but that's the way I met my wife.

<End Segment 87> - Copyright © 2003 Densho. All Rights Reserved.