<Begin Segment 10>

TI: So 1939, at the time you married Ken, what kind of law practice did he have?

BI: I think it was just mostly business, helping the Isseis with their business problems.

TI: So most of his clients were from the, the Japanese or Japanese American community?

BI: Oh, yes, uh-huh. Yes.

TI: And so after your, I mean, what role did you play? Did you help him out with his practice, or what was, what was your relationship in terms of work like?

BI: Well, I used to act as a receptionist for him for a few months before we got married. And I would have to speak Japanese. My Japanese wasn't very good, but I learned to speak Japanese working for him and having to speak to his clients. As a matter of fact, I was once asked by someone, "Were you born in Japan?" And I thought, oh, no. They said that they thought I spoke very good Japanese, but I can't speak it now. (Narr. note: I continued working for Ken after we were married -- until I was about 7 months' pregnant.)

TI: That's interesting. So -- and I'm curious, so Ken was a lawyer, most of his clients were, were Japanese. Were there very many other lawyers like that in the community that focused on the Japanese community?

BI: Yes, there was (Thomas Shinao) Masuda and Bill Mimbu. I think they were the only three that I know of.

TI: And then were there other lawyers who focused more, like, on the Japanese American community, or is it -- I'm trying to think, there's, so like your husband and Matsui and Mimbu focused more or helped more the Japanese or the Issei?

BI: Uh-huh, uh-huh.

TI: Were there... I'm just wondering if there were other Niseis who were lawyers who were more English-speaking?

BI: No, no, at that time, I think they were about the only ones in L.A.

TI: Or in Seattle, you mean?

BI: I mean in Seattle, uh-huh.

TI: So how prominent were these lawyers? Were they pretty important people in the community, because they, they had the training, the education to help?

BI: I think so, uh-huh. Since the Isseis couldn't speak English, Mr. Masuda and my husband spoke Japanese, so I'm sure they were very helpful in that way.

TI: Right. And Mr. Masuda was the other lawyer. I think I said Matsui earlier. Okay.

BI: Let's see. Bill, did I say "Matsui"?

TI: I think you might have said Masuda, and I said Matsui.

BI: I think it's Bill Mimbu.

TI: Oh, yeah, Bill Mimbu?

BI: Yeah, Bill Mimbu, uh-huh. And Masuda.

TI: And Masuda, right. So after you were married, where did you live?

BI: Well, we lived in South Park in a little farm house.

TI: Okay, so South Park is I guess south of downtown, again kind of more of a farming...

BI: Yes, uh-huh, it was a farming, more of a farming area, very close to the Boeing airfield.

TI: And so why, why did you choose South Park?

BI: Well, I think he was living there when we were dating, and I don't know if his father lived there at one time or not. But probably the father lived there also at one time, but the father was living in Seattle when we got married.

TI: Okay. So when, just a little bit about South Park, were there very many Japanese who lived in South Park?

BI: Yes. There was a regular Japanese community there, farmers.

TI: Kind of similar to Bellevue?

BI: Yes, uh-huh. I don't think they had their own clubhouse, but there was a community there.

TI: So here's just a question. When you look at the communities in Bellevue, the Japanese community in Bellevue, the Japanese community in sort of Nihonmachi, Seattle, and then the Japanese community in a place like South Park, how would you compare them? I mean, how were they alike, or were they different?

BI: I didn't know too much about activities in South Park. Our, I think there was a community in Kent, Auburn, in that section, too. But as far as I know, I think Bellevue was the only one that had our own community hall.

TI: So do you think Bellevue was, because of things like that, a more cohesive or tighter, a tight-knit community than some of these other ones?

BI: I, I think we had a lot more activities than Bellevue, organized activities.

TI: Okay. So, okay, so I'm thinking, so you're living with your husband in South Park, and you also, your parents are living in Bellevue and Ken's practice in Seattle. So I just wanted to get that clear in my mind. So I'm going to... well, let me ask you this: I mean, your first child, when did you have your first child?

BI: Let's see. We were married in '39, and she was born in '41, February of '41.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.