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TI: So let's go back to your father and mother. And so they returned to California, and where do they go live?

FK: Well, they had to live in San Gabriel. In fact, I think it was Temple City, in that area. And back in those days, I don't know what it was like, way out in the sticks, I'm sure.

TI: Well, when your father came back, did he practice medicine, or did he farm? What did he do?

FK: Well, he couldn't practice medicine, 'cause he had to take the state board. And he couldn't take the state board 'cause his English wasn't fluent enough. So he, his English was self-taught, 'cause somehow or another he passed the state board in a year or so. And back in those days, to go to medical school in Japan, aside from Nihongo, you had to know German, 'cause most of the professors were German. And so my dad was quite proud that his German was quite good. And he'd spout out things to us, his kids, you know, never heard that kind of language before. But he was quite... of course, being Issei, your hatsuon, your pronunciation didn't have to be that sharp like in English. You could mumble something in German. Anyhow...

TI: But he was trilingual, so he was Japanese, German, and English.

FK: Eventually, yeah. So all the Issei doctors had to take the test in English. In fact, my youngest son, when he was doing some research, he found, came across, there used to be a doctor named Isamu Sekiyama. My youngest son came across his papers for the state board, and it was all in English, beautiful handwriting. And so I guess they all made an effort to pass the state board. If they were alive now, it'd be a piece of cake, I'm sure.

TI: Interesting. So let me recap a little bit. So he came to the San Gabriel area, he, for a year, he needed a year to learn English so he could pass the state board. During that time, was he also doing farming or taking care of the farm that your grandparents were working on?

FK: I haven't a clue. There was no one to ask, and we didn't know these facts.

TI: That year that he was studying for the state board, had your mother joined your father yet?

FK: She did come over eventually, I don't know what year exactly.

TI: Okay, so right around all that time. So after he passed the state board, then what did he do?

FK: I guess that's when... in the meanwhile, he was scouring the area wondering what to do. And how he found Gardena, I don't know, but he did. There was, I guess, a group of Japanese who lived around there, farmers, mainly. And, I don't know, he just fell into it, I don't know.

TI: And this was to practice medicine?

FK: Yes.

TI: He was looking for a community where he could settle and practice medicine.

FK: Right. So he found this area down here near Gardena Boulevard and Vermont, there were a bunch of little cottages, and he found one to rent. I guess it was large enough for our family, so eventually he filled it with family.

TI: Well, so then after he got to Gardena, that's when Sachi was born, and then after that was... and what was the age difference between you and Sachi?

FK: Three years.

TI: Okay, three years later, then you were born. Good.

<End Segment 4> - Copyright © 2009 Densho. All Rights Reserved.