Densho Digital Archive - Terry Aratani - Fred Matsumura - Kenneth Okuma - Henry Bruno Yamada Interview (denshovh-aterry

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ME. Let's talk a little bit about the reunion that we're at, tell me about the spirit of these reunions.

TA: Well, we, maybe ten years ago, we used to fight the war all over again. Especially when Kashino was here. We always fight the battle all over again. But I guess we kinda outgrew that as time went on. But you notice that we seldom talk about what happened to, with others, but when we get together, it seems like we fighting the war all over again. And I know this is, my son, one year, attended the Las Vegas reunion with us. And just happened to be about four or five of us from 1st Platoon got together, setting up for lunch. And he was, he was surprised at, all the stories came out, and he, later on he asked me, "Dad, you didn't tell me all those things." But so, I guess we used to do that. We used to fight that, but now we don't do that anymore. But again, just the fellowship that has been going on so long. And it's just something that, pretty hard to explain that, the close-knitted fellowship we share all these years. And see, we just can't let go. So it just keep going and going on and on.

ME. Bruno, you've been working in helping to organize these reunions for years now, ever since the first one.

BY. Yeah. 1953 was our first reunion. And ever since that, every five or three years (we've) been getting together. And Shiro Kashino came to almost, every one of 'em, except this year. And we had good programs. And everything goes well, so they wanna have it the following year again. So we've been going to Reno, Las Vegas, (Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago) every year, at least every (third year), so that we could stay close-knitted.

ME. What keeps people coming back?

TA: Just the camaraderie and the fellowship that we enjoy each other. We share and enjoy each other. I guess that's it. I don't know how to explain it because we just a family, okay? It seems like one big family. And we just, we keep in touch with each other, and I don't know. It's hard to get the feel -- because, your contact and your friendship that bond you together from the wartime is, I don't think anybody can experience that, unless you were there. You sleep together and you fought together, and the hardship and all that. And somehow even I try to explain to you, not feel that because you weren't there. But if -- I think that's the thing that keep us close together because we sort of, I don't know, you just can't feel that, but it's a big family we have. The kids grew up -- our grand -- our children grew up together with us, and they part of the group now, and it's a big family, that's all.

ME. How does that make you feel when you see your daughters and sons and granddaughters and grandchildren coming to the reunion as well?

KO: As Terry said, if something is intangible, you don't get to say in concrete terms why we so happy to come together and see each other. The very fact that the families are increasing with the children and grandchildren gives us big satisfaction. I'd like to point out, I went to Seattle couple of times. I don't know whether -- and both times the Shiro Kashinos hosted us. And when I, when we went there, there was a turnout of at least forty Seattle people. Just get together. And that's what the other cities do whenever a Company I person, somebody takes over, and Seattle has been one of the strongest. And that kind of feeling comes sort of naturally, spontaneously because there'll be one key person contacting the others, and without any questions, get together.