<Begin Segment 22>

TI: Well, so I'm at the end of my questions. Is there anything else that you wanted to talk about in terms of your career, your life, anything that you learned, anything else that you wanted to talk about?

WY: I'm just surprised that, you know, like you coming to my door and asking to talk to me. I said, gee, this is old stories of a different time, of a different group of people that had a totally different outlook on life. Why are you so interested still? I'm just amazed.

TI: But I hope you understand that for me as a third-generation, what you did through some of your stories is you brought to life the Issei generation that I never really knew because of the language barrier. And so I knew my grandparents, but yet I didn't know them. And you've captured them as individuals in a way that I was never able to understand. And that's what your writings have always done for me.

WY: Thank you. I guess those -- see, that's why I think to myself, my grandkids, they don't care.

TI: Oh, well, I know many in the community really are thankful.

WY: I told Joy, "I have two of these (books) left, I've already signed them for my grandkids," two of 'em, Alyctra and Lucas. She said, "You already gave us one." [Laughs] "Oh, I forgot, excuse me. Well, here's another."

TI: Well, and this is, that's the other thing, that you're hoping to publish another book in the next year or so?

WY: Yeah. I've been a very, very lucky person. The first one, this first one, Garrett Hongo did all the work. The second one, a woman named Lillian Howan is doing all the work. To me, another book, that doesn't matter this late in life. It's not going to make me better or worse or richer or poorer. But I appreciate, 'cause I wouldn't go through that kind of trouble for anybody, even myself. So Lillian Howan's going to bring the other book. She said that University of Hawaii Press is -- I'm talking loudly because I can't hear too well -- University of Hawaii Press is printing it, and she's been after them. She said, "It should be out by the end of this year." I don't know, the economy's tanking. And I don't really care. I really don't care, but then I'd like to see it out, because she's working so hard. To me, one other book is not going to do that much for my life or my money, my economy.

TI: But what you have to understand is it really helps, I think, people like me and others who are interested in this to be able to read --

WY: But there are so few of you.

TI: Oh, I don't think so.

WY: I think so.

TI: Well, Wakako, thank you so much for your time.

WY: You're welcome, Tom. My goodness, I'm pleased.

<End Segment 22> - Copyright © 2009 Densho. All Rights Reserved.