<Begin Segment 2>

AI: And then what about your mother's side?

WW: My mother? She was born in Washington, Vashon Island, actually, Washington, and, 'course, went to school there until the time they moved, her parents moved the family to Kent, Washington. And then she continued her schooling there and graduated from Kent High School.

AI: Oh. So actually, your mother was Nisei.

WW: Nisei, yes, my mother was Nisei. Right.

AI: So, and, do you happen to know what ken her parents came from in Japan?

WW: Shimane-ken as well.

AI: And tell me, what kind of business, or how did her folks make a living?

WW: Her father... well, when he first got to the States, he came as a young man, and he worked on the railroad in Montana, he used to say. And when he used to relate to how cold it got, people would not believe him. Didn't realize how cold it can get. And then later on, I don't know how long it took, but he seemed to have a knack for establishing businesses or doing this kind of thing. And eventually, he had a fairly large greenhouse, and then adjoining land, upon which, within the greenhouse they grew, I guess, flowers and tomatoes and then outside they grew some crops, flowers and some vegetables as well.

AI: So they were, your mother's family was in business --

WW: Yes.

AI: -- and she kind of grew up, it sounds like, grew up in the flower business.

WW: Right, correct. Right.

AI: Well, did your mother say very much about her growing-up years? She, at that time, she must have been one of the older Nisei then.

WW: When we were evacuated?

AI: Before that. When your, when your mother was a child. Did she tell you much about her own childhood?

WW: I can remember some things. She mentioned that when she, she had a brother -- she had several siblings, but a brother that was about a year, year-and-a-half older than her, and they started school together, actually. And when they started school they could not speak English, but they obviously learned very quickly and well. And she went all through the school system in Kent and graduated from high school.

AI: Oh, and when was your mother born?

WW: My mother was born... born in October 14, 1912.

AI: 1912.

WW: Yes.

AI: And, and what was her name? Your mother's name?

WW: Her name was Rose Ayako.

AI: And what about your father? Do you happen to know when he was born?

WW: He was born September 24, 1899.

AI: And his name?

WW: Frank Kunio Watanabe.

AI: So he went by Frank.

WW: He went by Frank, right.

<End Segment 2> - Copyright © 2004 Densho. All Rights Reserved.