Densho Digital Archive
Densho Visual History Collection
Title: Fred Y. Hoshiyama Interview
Narrator: Fred Y. Hoshiyama
Interviewer: Tom Ikeda
Location: Culver City, California
Date: February 25, 2010
Densho ID: denshovh-hfred_2-01-0010

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TI: Any other memories of, like, Livingston? Growing up in Livingston, that you want to share? Before we go to San Francisco, I want to... it seemed like you had a very interesting, and in some cases, rich life.

FH: Well, our neighbor had a big, maybe over a hundred acres. It was Minomi and Takahashi family owned the ranch, and they used to have a camp of laborers living right there on their property. I had a, they gave me a job. Mother asked them, "Give a job to Fred, because he could do anything a man could do." Age twelve, I was making boxes. Hundred thirteen boxes a day, and I was earning one cents a box or something, crates, to ship. And I remember doing that for about two weeks, and that was another learning experience for me, that I can do anything another man can do. And I earned a few dollars, that helped us a lot. Penny meant something, ten cents was a wealth in those days.

TI: So even though you were smaller and younger, you could just stay up with the...

FH: That's right. And so that gave me confidence. That was a wonderful confidence-builder for Fred. So I'm small of stature, but I'm not afraid to confront six-footers.

TI: Talk about your role as the eldest son with your brothers. I mean...

FH: Well, that was... it just, I think because I was the firstborn, I wasn't a very good model, let me put it that way. I could have been a better model for my brothers. I tried. I think I tried to... I remember telling my brothers that to play with their sex organs is not acceptable, 'cause all kids play, you know. They learn curiosity. So that was because I'm the eldest, I felt I should at least take the place of a parent there. But I don't remember too many incidences where... we just kind of grew up. Did the best we could.

TI: Sure.

FH: Yes. So I don't have any stories or remembrance of anything special at this point.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 2010 Densho. All Rights Reserved.