<Begin Segment 27>

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

TI: Okay, so Frank, I'm going to jump ahead now, 'cause we're kind of running out of time. And your, yesterday, there was a ceremony at the University of Washington to give honorary degrees to Japanese Americans, you know, Nikkei who were at the University of Washington in 1941.

FT: '41 and '42.

TI: And so you're here in Seattle for this. And I wanted to ask you what it meant to you to be presented this honorary degree.

FT: What?

TI: What it meant to you.

FT: Oh. Well, like I told the interviewers, when I learned that I was going to get a diploma from the university, I called my son, Ike, in Boise. I said, "What am I going to do with a diploma? I'm not going to be sending out resumes anytime soon." So he says, "Well, why don't you hang it on the wall," along with his, and his sister's, each of whom double-dipped in diplomas, (...) the diploma to be earned by his daughter who was finishing up her second year on campus. And he said, "The wall will be lined with diplomas of three generations of the family from UW."

TI: And so that was a good reason to do it then for you?

FT: Yeah, I guess so.

TI: Well, in addition to the diploma, yesterday I was talking to Secretary Norman Mineta, and he mentioned your name, because he got a phone call from someone.

FT: From Barbara.

TI: Yeah, from your daughter about it. And apparently, you've been acknowledged several places. Can you tell me where else?

FT: Well, I got a certificate of commendation from the Hawaii State legislature. And I got a letter from Senator Inouye (and Honolulu mayor Hanneman).

TI: So this has turned out to be a big thing? A lot of people acknowledging.

FT: Yeah, I don't know, I thought I was the only one from Hawaii, but then I learned later there was a John Sato from Hawaii. And John Sato was in the Japanese Students Club with me. And in fact, I met him in Hawaii.

TI: And that's the, so I know his brothers Frank and Bob. Frank and Bob Sato are his brothers, I think.

FT: Yeah, and John, yeah.

<End Segment 27> - Copyright © 2008 Densho. All Rights Reserved.