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TI: So you mentioned your brother, so describe the first time you saw him again. So this is, the war had ended, we talked about earlier how he had joined the U.S. Army, the MIS was in Okinawa or someplace. But then at some point, the two of you met in Japan. Can you describe that meeting?

MO: We were so happy we just cried each other shoulders, and then we went to visit our relatives who were evacuated during the war in Nagano-ken. So that, in fact, I have a picture of that, too. It was one of the most wonderful things, to welcome these fellows back.

TI: But let's go back to that very first time that you met your brother. Do you recall, like, the day or the time and the circumstances when you met?

MO: Well, somebody was knocking at the door, bang, bang, bang. And so it's all dark, nobody... and I was afraid to open the door, I didn't know who that was. I could see three shadows, he had brought his friends, and they had come in from... I don't know where he was stationed, but he and some friends came over. They said, "Open the door, open the door." I wasn't going to open the door if I don't know who that is. "Who is it?" And so he said, "This is your brother, Akira." I said, "Oh, why didn't you say so?" [Laughs] Lot of things like that happened here and there.

TI: And what was he wearing? What did he look like when you first saw him?

MO: Regular uniform, you know. But in the dark, you cannot see.

TI: And when you were able to see his face, was it pretty much the same Akira that you...

MO: Yes, uh-huh.

TI: And describe the feeling again, what it felt like when you saw your brother.

MO: I said, "Oh, how wonderful to see that you are safe."

TI: And this was about how much after the war had ended? I mean, this was about what month?

MO: Gee, about a month, maybe in a few weeks. They had come from Okinawa, you see.

TI: Okay, that's a good story.

<End Segment 17> - Copyright ©2009 Densho. All Rights Reserved.