<Begin Segment 21>

TI: So we kind of talked about how you got your law degree working with, during the time with Mr. Collins. I kind of want to talk a little bit about some of your other legal work after the renunciant cases. You're down in Los Angeles, and wanted to, were there any particular projects or cases that really stand out for you?

TN: Well, I represented them in mostly civil matters. People get involved in leasing the premises for hotels and things like that. And a lot of, and gradually, right after the war, a lot of treaty traders starts coming into the United States, and they wanted to set up a corporation and business relationship. So there was a lot of work in that respect. One thing, mostly referrals, those cases. Because those days, borrowing was very strict, you know. You could never advertise as an attorney, so word of mouth.

TI: And during this time in your career, was there anything that kind of stands out that you think about proudly in terms of an effort that you worked on?

TN: Well, there was a lot of pro bono work I did. [Laughs]

TI: And so what are some that you really are glad that you did?

TN: Well, I'm glad that I was able to help these people. Especially, I'm a member of our Nishi Hongwanji, you know, and I was asked by Mr. Sasaki -- he was the president then at that time, of the Nishi Hongwanji -- he asked me to come in because the church might need some legal advice. So I went there, and we were faced with the city, the city was planning to condemn that property on First and Central Avenue where the museum is, and expand the City Hall, you know. So we were, had to take steps to relocate or do something. So it got to the point where we had to raise the funds, I had to help them raise the funds and find property on the Nishi Hongwanji. It cost us more than a million dollars at that time to start a project like that. That was the first time a nonprofit organization was able to raise that kind of money. And it was a good thing we had the foresight enough to go in an area where it was getting kind of deteriorated. We bought all the properties we could, figured that we'd need, parking more than anything else. So it's a big, big outfit now, Nishi Hongwanji.

TI: And so it moved a couple blocks over.

TN: On Vignes Street and First Street. Oh, you haven't seen that yet?

TI: Yeah, maybe I was looking at something else.

TN: Oh, it's just, the church is just like the Japanese type of... it had a kawara, you know, the roof tiles.

TI: Yeah, I'll have to go back and, or go by and see this. So you were part of that effort to help raise the money and redevelop that.

TN: Yeah.

TI: So what did you learn working with -- [sneezes] excuse me -- working with the city during that time, and what were they trying to do with Little Tokyo during this time?

TN: Well, the city hall wanted to take over. They'd go into Little Tokyo and the only way you could do that was organize a group in Little Tokyo and fight the city. You know how it is. Because... then I was asked by a group to join the community, CRA, you know. So I helped them for a while. So we received funding from the government to clean up a lot of old houses. But now... it was a big job, though.

TI: And if that didn't happen, if this group didn't come together to organize and fight city hall in some ways, what would have happened to this neighborhood, do you think?

TN: Well, I think all the north side of First Street would be gone, just like we lost the other side where the police station is now, there used to be a Japanese Town there. And then... because the city wanted to keep on taking all the property as much as possible. I don't know the reason why, but there's no limit to it.

TI: So unless the community gets organized and fight them, they'll just keep taking more and more and more.

TN: Yeah. Bruce Kaji and that group. [Laughs]

<End Segment 21> - Copyright © 2009 Densho. All Rights Reserved.