<Begin Segment 10>

BF: So you just decided to, to follow him.

MH: Yes.

DG: How much later did the rest of your family join?

MH: To go where?

DG: To Los Angeles.

MH: After, let me see. Three, two years. Three years, I think. My brother graduated high school and then my sister graduated grade school. My brother finished the third year of the grade school and then they came, 1930.

BF: And your mother stayed with them in Japan.

MH: Yes.

BF: So you were traveling by yourself to America around eighteen?

MH: Yes, I did. People really surprised that a woman, girl, came alone from Japan, but...

BF: What was that trip like?

MH: I don't think anything about it, yes, because my uncle was very top of NYK Line, that ship company. So suddenly I wanted to go to America and then I have to be there before, let me see, before June 15th. So ship people all decided who is going to, but two people drop then and put me because he was quite a top so could do that.

BF: So you probably were able to travel fairly comfortable because of your uncle's position.

MH: Yes. That's thankful. I never thought it was hard. [Laughs]

DG: So when you came over, were you planning to go back to Japan?

MH: No, I don't think such things. That time, not airplane, boat. Takes two weeks so no one think that sea two weeks. It's a long time.

DG: What I meant was is that, did you come with the intent of staying in America, or were you planning to go back to Japan eventually after?

MH: I didn't... I just follow the father.

DG: Okay.

MH: That's I think Japanese woman, parents comes first.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 1997 Densho. All Rights Reserved.