<Begin Segment 17>

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

SP: Okay. Well, I want to move a little further ahead, and I'd like to ask what your feelings were about the government's formal apology and the issuance of monetary reparations in the 1980s to Japanese Americans. What were your feelings about that?

SA: Oh, I think that we deserved it actually. And I, it's too bad that our Issei parents who worked so hard, (are) the ones (who) really deserved it. Because they came to this country, an alien land, and worked so hard. And you know, they taught us to be honest and hard-working. And I really appreciate the Japanese culture that was instilled in us.

SP: How did you spend your redress money?

SA: Oh, I tell you what, I gave some to my children. [Laughs] I think a lot of Niseis did. I've talked to many Niseis, and they say, "Oh, I gave some to my kids." And so I gave half of it to my children. And then, the other half, I just think that I just put it away. Saved it. That's a typical Japanese because we were always taught to save our money.

TI: Well, I'll have to talk to my parents. I didn't get any of that money. [Laughs]

<End Segment 17> - Copyright © 2008 Densho. All Rights Reserved.