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TI: So let's, let's go to Hilo, and you are the firstborn. And why don't you start telling me about growing up at Hilo. Because you were, you're about ninety-one years old.

KT: Yeah, I'm ninety-one now... [laughs].

TI: Because I'm really curious --

KT: I was born... I understand I was a very weak, weak child. It seems that every epidemic came around, I got it. So when I was growing up, of course we walked to school. I remember every assembly they had in the morning, I was the first one to fall down.

TI: What do you mean? Fall... you mean, so assemblies, people are standing up?

KT: Yeah, at school. I used to be the one that, first one to just go down. So after that, going to school, to Kapiolani school, I had to go to the office every morning and have one tablespoon of cod liver oil. That's how I was raised there, and I passed through that school. But seemed that every epidemic that came around, I got it. The last one was when I was twelve years old, I got the diphtheria. And my mother was so worried that I would be in the Pumaile, they would send me there. But I didn't... but somehow I got over that.

TI: And so when you were growing up, was your mother very careful with you?

KT: Yeah, my mother, I was always with my mother. Always behind her, always hanging on to her. [Laughs] Because I was so weak, she was worried about me, I think.

TI: And growing up, I'm guessing that you spoke Japanese with your mother?

KT: Yeah.

TI: So growing up, that's what you learned, Japanese?

KT: Yeah, more or less. I was more with her, so Japanese was communication with her. So I learned more Japanese.

TI: Yeah, so what was it like when you started school, I mean, English school? 'Cause then you had to learn English.

KT: Well, I had to learn, so... but I wasn't very good at that. [Laughs] But somehow I managed to go up through ninth grade and I graduate. And then my father asked me, at that time it was popular, children, parents sending children to Japan. Said, "You want to go Japan?" This is one of the things that I don't know why, when he asked me that, I said, "Sure." That is one thing, I don't know why I said, "Sure, I'll go." And I was only fifteen.

TI: At this point, were you much healthier, though? You weren't as sickly, you were stronger?

KT: I was a little stronger at that time. I guess with all the medication and everything else, must have been, made me stronger. And maybe I wanted to get away, I don't know. But when he asked me, he said, "Sure." And I didn't know about the financial or anything, I just said, "Sure, I'll go."

TI: And because, were you, when he asked you, you said sure, or yes. Was it because you, did you want to go or were you afraid?

KT: No. I didn't know if I wanted to go or what. This is the thing that I don't know why I say that. [Laughs] But somehow I managed.

TI: Now, when you were fifteen, how good was your Japanese?

KT: Well, at least I can get by. But our Japanese was more Hawaiian Japanese. It was a sort of a slang in Japan. But somehow, I managed.

TI: Now, when your father asked you, did you talk to your mother, ask her about this?

KT: No, I didn't talk to her. I didn't say anything, I just talked to my father and he said yes. And that was it, and I don't remember what I did after that.

TI: So talk to me, as the oldest child, what was your relationship like with your, first your father?

KT: Oh, I guess we were all right, I don't know. [Laughs]

TI: So the two of you --

KT: We talked, we talked, yeah. We talked. Because I can speak Japanese, so from that time on, I was more Japanese than English.

TI: And how about your mother? How close were you with your mother?

KT: Oh, yes, she was very close to me. Because I was weak, she really took care of me. She did everything, some kind of medicine, made it into syrup like and make me drink. She did lots. She did a lot for me.

TI: So when your, so when you decided to go to Japan, was she sad to see you go?

KT: I think so.

TI: Why do you think that? How could you tell that she was sad?

KT: Well, that, that I don't know, because I don't know why I chose that path.

<End Segment 2> - Copyright © 2010 Densho. All Rights Reserved.