Densho Digital Archive
Densho Visual History Collection
Title: Arthur Ogami Interview
Narrator: Arthur Ogami
Interviewer: Alice Ito
Location: Seattle, Washington
Date: March 10, 2004
Densho ID: denshovh-oarthur-01-0042

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AI: Well, I just had a couple more questions. Again, as time had passed, of course, the redress movement got underway and eventually the redress legislation was signed. And I was wondering, when you finally got your apology in the mail -- or did you receive an apology in the mail?

AO: Yes.

AI: Well, and your check, what did you feel? What was going through your mind when you received that?

AO: Well, I received apology, it was signed by George Bush Senior. He's the one that signed the apology. Well, that's another piece of paper. And even to this day, in the move, we've moved several times, so I really don't know where that document is today, it may come out. And I received my $20,000 and I said, well, that's fine, I'll just deposit that in savings or invest it. My brother received it and he wasted it. My mother received it and she had a little bit of savings and she added the twenty thousand to it, then when she died my sister that took care of her most of the time while she was in the nursing home, so she said that she wanted to divide that among the three of us. I said, "Since you took care of my mother and I didn't, that I will, I wish you would give my," I wouldn't receive my share. But my brother wanted his because he didn't have much money. He didn't save any. So I don't know what happened to my mother's $20,000.

AI: Well, for yourself, did you really, did it seem like the United States really had apologized to you or did it make much of a difference to you?

AO: Well, actually, it didn't make that much difference. The apology is just a piece of paper and it wasn't President Bush that had to apologize, it's ones that already had deceased, especially General DeWitt and a few others behind him. I can't tell which one, are strictly behind the evacuation. But as long as the people are good to us, that's what I like to know.

AI: Well, is there anything else that you'd like to add that we haven't talked about?

AO: Really, nothing's coming to my mind at this moment.

AI: What --

AO: But I do feel that United States is one of the rare countries that, that abused our privileges but still we can come back and live normally. That's all I ask, that I can live in a normal condition.

AI: Well, we really appreciate your speaking with us.

AO: Yes.

AI: And thank you very much for your time.

<End Segment 42> - Copyright © 2004 Densho. All Rights Reserved.