<Begin Segment 1>

SY: Okay, I'm talking to George Nakano. This is an interview for Densho. Today is July 20, 2011, and we're at the Japanese American Community, Culture and Community Center in Los Angeles. My name is Sharon Yamato, and our cameraperson is Tani Ikeda. So, George, first of all I'd love to start with talking a little bit about your family background. Maybe we can just start with your parents. Can you give me their full names, where they were from, and a little bit of history on them?

GN: My father's full name is Shigeto Nakano. My mom is Sumiye Nakano; her maiden name is Asada. And they were both actually born in Hawaii. My dad was born at Papaikou, Hawaii, which is about fifteen miles from Hilo, and my mother was born in Waimanalo, Oahu. And their parents are from Hiroshima, and in both cases, when my father was about six years old and my mom was very young, their parents went back to Hiroshima and so they grew up in Hiroshima. My dad came back to Hawaii, I think, when he was about sixteen years old. At that time the mandatory education in Japan was through the ninth grade, and so I think when he completed the ninth grade he went to Hawaii, and then I think he also came out to the mainland to work 'cause I know that he had mentioned to me about working on a farm in Palos Verdes back in the early '30s or late '20s, I guess.

SY: So you think he came by himself back?

GN: It appears like he did.

SY: And he came from a fairly, what size family?

GN: A large family. I think there were eight in her family. My mom had a big family too; I think there were eleven in her family.

SY: Amazing. So now why did, so they're, they eventually, when he went back to Japan --

GN: It was an arranged marriage.

SY: So it was after he came here, went to Palos Verdes.

GN: And I think in northern California as well, I think he worked on some orchards up there.

SY: Uh-huh, and then went back to Japan on his own?

GN: Yes.

SY: I assume by choice, he decided he wanted to go back?

GN: And I don't know the reason for him to go back, but that is when he got married. It was an arranged marriage in Japan.

SY: And they, did they know each other at all?

GN: I don't think so, although they're both from Hiroshima.

SY: So their parents might have known family members or something.

GN: Yeah, could be.

SY: Something like that.

<End Segment 1> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.