<Begin Segment 5>

MN: You mentioned that you were heartbroken and cried when the war ended. Did you listen to the imperial broadcast announcing the surrender?

YA: Yes. Not the entire announcement. I was listening to news, and they aired a part of it and a commentator was on after that. They talked about what happened and where. The news was repeated over and over, and I heard it again later.

MN: You mentioned that you were glad that the war was over. Why did you feel that way?

YA: We were all enduing hardship for a long time. Even as a child, I was aware that the military was in full control over us. The soldiers I encountered at school were all very nice, and I didn't have a chance to meet with a lot of military officers. But through newspapers and news from other sources gave me an impression that men were always in charge. I was constantly told to be quiet because I am a woman. I might be naturally a bit too outspoken, but I was always told to be quiet. I thought the end of the war would bring equality between men and women. I thought it was great. Democracy was introduced right away by MacArthur's order, and the entire education system in Japan was disassembled. It was down to nothing, and restarted from the bottom to help the democracy penetrated into the society. Media supported the effort and reported that was the better way. I didn't particularly think that the American way was wonderful, but I welcomed the idea of equality between men and women.

<End Segment 5> - Copyright © 2010 Densho. All Rights Reserved.