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MN: I wanted to ask a little broader question about how did you and your family feel about the treatment of the Okinawa people by the Japanese during the war?

AT: Actually, we didn't have too much negative during the war. But because Japanese were fortunate, they were more kind to us or my grandparents as remember, they even gave us some fabrics. And I don't know, come to think of it, I don't know why they had those fabrics. It was a bright silk rose. And in fact, it was enough to make kimono for my sister and I. So it was a yellow kimono with a big red, maybe it was like a hinomaru, but it was a, yeah. They must have -- I don't know why they brought it -- they had it. Because I remember my mother bringing it home, this was from Japanese soldiers. So because we didn't really see them being any harsh to Okinawan, I don't think, I don't remember having... I remember my grandparents talking about, talking to these Japanese military people, that they had talked about their families, that they have children like these at home or something like that. So directly, we didn't have any bad feelings.

MN: But the Shouwa Tennou could not...

AT: Oh, no. And my sister was so upset about Tojo, so she was always, "Why does he have to live?" And Shouwa Tennou couldn't come to Okinawa because whole Okinawa was just... they know they were being used as, to divert the whole war to Okinawa. So it was sacrificial lamb.

MN: Did he ever visit Okinawa before he died? Shouwa Tennou? Did he ever come to Okinawa? Was he able to come to Okinawa?

AT: No, he never did. It was never, never... Okinawa. In fact, in fact, I think current Tennou came when he was kotaishi. And I know they had a big, big protest, and I believe, I believe he came when, yeah, kotaishi. That I cannot be sure, but I know they only made one visit there. Tennou definitely was not.

MN: Now, recently, prime minister of Japan, Hatoyama, he had to resign because he broke the promise to the Okinawa people regarding the U.S. military bases. What are your thoughts about the U.S. military bases, their expansion? Do you think Honshu should carry more of the burden, or what are your thoughts?

AT: I definitely feel that Honshu should. Because, and it's, they've been there too long. It's after the war, this long, and why such a presence, big presence of U.S. military in Okinawa? Well, I know U.S. don't want to, with, especially with Korean conflict over there, they don't want to let it go. But I really think that they have the best part of Okinawa as their base, and it's time to leave or minimize it or use more or Honshu area. That's, that's my strong feeling. Because they do have jobs, but my understanding is it's not that significantly huge amount that Okinawa job will lose. But I know there is a lot of opposition in Okinawa also because their income of the property, rent, are coming. But again, that comes from Japanese government. It's not the military, U.S. government, Japanese government are the ones that paying that. And that's a big chunk of income that those landowners hold. So that's another opposition in itself, conflict develops in Okinawa.

<End Segment 22> - Copyright © 2010 Densho. All Rights Reserved.