<Begin Segment 11>

MA: So let's talk about December 7, 1941, the day that Japan bombed Pearl Harbor. Can you tell me your memories of that day?

GK: Let's see. That was a Sunday, I believe. I think I was at home and had the radio on. And I can't remember, if it was a Sunday, we would go to church, but, so that part is kind of fuzzy in my mind. But I think I was at home, and then the news came on the radio of what had happened in Pearl Harbor. But that's the only remembrance I have of it. I don't really have any vivid memories.

MA: And what about, like, going to school the next day? How was that for you and your sisters?

GK: Well, it was kind of uncomfortable. Because the people looked at us like we were the enemy, because they didn't differentiate between Japanese in Japan and the Japanese in this country. So yes, it was uncomfortable. And even in later years whenever December 7th came, it was very uncomfortable because people would kind of stare at us. And we felt guilty, which we shouldn't feel guilty about, but yes, it was uncomfortable.

MA: And do you remember your father or your mother talking with you about Pearl Harbor, or do you remember their reactions to the news?

GK: See, at that time, my father was sick, so we didn't really get to talk to him about it. It would have been interesting to get his take on it, because he was really interested in world affairs and things. And my mother was, she was more quiet, so we really didn't have too many discussions about it.

MA: Okay, so your father was ill, then, right around that time.

GK: Yes, he started getting...

MA: He started getting sick right around Pearl Harbor.

GK: Right.

MA: And was he, so you said he was diagnosed with cancer.

GK: (Yes).

MA: So was that, was he in the hospital at that point?

GK: Well, it would be after Pearl Harbor that he entered the hospital, right. So I remember when we got the news that we had to be evacuated and my father was still at home, but he was very thin and weak. And he was helping with the packing, putting all of his books, because he had so many books, into these crate boxes and he was trying to pound nails into them. But I remember he was very weak. So then we had to get help from another young man to help us with the rest of the packing.

MA: And... I just, I can't imagine how, sort of, difficult and scary that time must have been for your family with your father sick. And here you are, you hear news that you have to be going to camp somewhere, being removed. And how did your mother cope during that time? You as the eldest daughter, did you feel like you had more responsibility?

GK: (Yes). My mother was a very strong person. She didn't talk a lot, she was quiet, but I'm sure she suffered. But she was very strong, and again, she had her faith in God to carry her through. But we sort of talked about it, that since I'm the oldest, then I'd have to help her. So it was a very difficult time.

MA: And then sort of preparing for camp, to be removed from the city, what happened to your possessions, your home, everything like that?

GK: Well, we had to, (sell out) appliances and furniture (...). And there were always people who would take advantage of people trying to get rid of their things. So I'm sure we practically gave away most of our things. And some of (my father's) books and things (...), some of our Caucasian ministers said that they would store them for us, which was very helpful. And some of our, like, albums and things that we didn't want to lose, they held for us. So we were fortunate that we still have all those things, albums, and my father's sermon notes, he had boxes and boxes of sermon notes, some of which I have donated to the Japanese American National Museum.

MA: Oh, good, so you were able to save all of those.

GK: Yes.

MA: That's great.

GK: Right, we were fortunate that we didn't lose all that. So that's what I did a few years ago, I donated them.

MA: When did it... so you were talking before about, your father was in the hospital. When did it become clear that you would be separated from him, that he would have to stay in the hospital and you were gonna, basically, have to leave?

GK: Well, when we got the evacuation order, when our neighborhood was supposed to be evacuated, that's when we realized, oh, then we have to leave our father. So it was hard having to just leave him by himself, as sick as he was. And then we were put on these old troop trains, and we didn't know where they were taking us, they didn't tell us, and we didn't know how long we would be gone either. So it was just a very, kind of a scary time.

MA: Right, and your father in the hospital, I'm sure you didn't know when you were gonna see him again.

GK: Right. So I'm sure he died earlier than he would have if our family were able to stay back with him.

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