<Begin Segment 13>

[Ed. note: This transcript has been edited by the narrator]

TI: Okay, so we're going to start the second hour, Sharon. And the first hour, we were talking a lot about probably your family's business, the grocery business. And back then, what did you guys call the neighborhood?

SA: Nihonmachi.

TI: Nihonmachi. And then there was Nihonmachi and then Chinatown? Was that distinct?

SA: Uh-huh.

TI: Okay, because now we call it the International District, which encompasses all that area.

SA: Yes. In fact, there's hardly any Japanese. I mean, there's no place you can find -- this is what I'd like to talk about, is the tremendous change from our era to your era. Now, we're on the, where you're in the mainstream, we're on the banks.

TI: I'm sorry, say that again.

SA: To me, this is the way I look at it: we're observing what (your generation) people are doing and we're on the banks, and you people are in the river. You're flowing by, you're in the mainstream (of life where things are happening, raising a family, working, etcetera).

TI: Oh, I see. I got it.

SA: That's the only way -- 'cause, you know, when I listen to people, (...) I'm trying to stay on top (of current matters). The reason I say this is because I go into details because (...) I have a master's (degree) in librarianship (and) they thought I ought to go into reference work (and do researching). We didn't have anything like the computer in those days. But that's why I'm curious. I'd like to -- well, they come with questions (in reference work), you've gotta look for the answers. But I like to (look for information) and a lot of my peers can't conceive (this), they (don't use) the computer. (...) I was one of the first (librarians) in Seattle Schools to (use the computers and to) bring it in, and we started with tapes, you know. (The Seattle district) sent me to Radio Shack for three lessons, three quarters. I didn't really absorb a thing, but they wanted me to teach, and teach the other teachers. (...) I said, I can't do it, I don't understand it myself, (but I did do it once, because of pressure).

TI: Sharon, we'll get to that later, probably the next interview about...

SA: Changes, yeah.

<End Segment 13> - Copyright © 2008 Densho. All Rights Reserved.