<Begin Segment 11>

TI: So you go to Puyallup, Washington, the site of the Western Washington Fairgrounds.

TT: I was in Area D, right in the middle of the fairground. Right in the middle of the racetrack area.

TI: So was that a good place or a bad place relative to the other areas? There was Area A, B, C, D, you were in D. How did that compare with the other parts?

TT: The buildings were very similar, Area A, B, C, D, except for people that lived underneath the grandstand. And then some of them lived in the horse stall.

TI: So the people who lived under the grandstands sometimes lived in the horse stalls, but the other places were more just barracks?

TT: Well, they had shiplap barracks where we lived. The top was open, as you've probably heard, and knotholes. But then, now, I didn't stick around home. 'Cause get up in the morning, you go to eat, then we'd go and stick around with friends. I was working in the operation crew.

TI: And what's the operation crew? What kind of things did you do?

TT: That's the maintenance crew policing in the area, then any time someone comes up to move and things, we had to go help. Then every chance you get, we're playing cards, card game, pinochle. Then after a while, we had our own separate room under the stands.

TI: And then how about things like school or other regular events? Did you guys have anything scheduled?

TT: Nothing. We did do sumo.

TI: So how was that organized? Who set up...

TT: Well, one of the guys in our group, I'll mention the name, Mr. Tsuboi, Louise's, you know, her dad (and) Mr. Iwasaki, I don't know if you know Gaylord. They started a sumo (group). And one of the guys in my group was Louise's brother Frank. Do you know Frank Sr.?

TI: Uh-huh.

TT: So he's the one that drafted us to do sumo. [Laughs] That was fun.

TI: And so you guys just found a big space...

TT: In one of the buildings, we had to set up a ring. I don't know what you call that (and stuff). You wrap around (yourself)...

TI: And then you would kind of take turns going in there and essentially doing sumo.

TT: Then after a while, we used to have tournament with other areas, too. [Laughs]

TI: So that was a fun event or distraction for you.

TT: Besides, we weren't there that long anyway.

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 2009 Densho. All Rights Reserved.