<Begin Segment 21>

SF: Did you know you were a dual -- you had dual citizenship?

YM: Yes.

SF: And did you ever just think about becoming only an American citizen?

YM: I think my dad did that, after, after the war? I don't know if it was before the war. But that was the thing to do, having a dual citizen because most of the Issei parents were actually thinking of going back to Japan after they earned their, their fortunes here, and...

TS: Yeah.

YM: With the war, well, that, they changed their minds. And, it's surprising that hundreds of the Isseis became citizens after the war.

SF: So most of the Niseis had dual citizenship, and they sort of went along with their parents because maybe someday they would...

TS: Or, maybe...

SF: Go back?

TS: You're unaware of it.

YM: A lot, I think a lot of us were...

TS: Yeah.

YM: Unaware of it, too.

TS: 'Cause I don't know.

YM: You didn't know, huh?

CK: Well, practically everyone renounced their citizenship to Japan during the war because that was the thing that you had to sign, right?

TS: Oh, you mean when they joined the army?

CK: Well, even before that.

YM: Where you what...

TS: Went to that...

CK: You had to write...

YM: Well, the question was...

CK: Yeah.

YM: Will you fight for the United States...

CK: Yeah.

YM: Or will you --

TS: Oh, the...

CK: And do you --

TS: Yes-yes question, huh?

CK: Oh. Do you give up all allegiance to foreign countries.

TS: But that wasn't to Japan that you did, though?

CK: What?

TS: Your -- the Kenjinkai.

CK: No, but that's one way of proving that --

YM: You're a loyal citizen.

TS: Yeah.

CK: The Nisei that remained behind here gave up their citiz -- dual citizenships, see? Because they're pledging their allegiance only to the United States.

<End Segment 21> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.