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[Ed. note: This transcript has been edited by the narrator]

TL: What, in your book you also talk about the renunciation of citizenship issue. And could you tell us more about what, what led up to that and how that issue became resolved later?

MK: (Yes.) (...) (When) I was transferred to Tule Lake, (and saw) these tanks (and) jeeps with mounted machine guns (coming into the camps, I was mentally depressed, and physically exhausted). (I lost my) appetite (and) developed rashes if I ate. The Japanese doctor did not help me. So I appealed to the administration, but the security guard there did not permit me to enter. In fact, they chased me away. So I told them that this is a country only for the white people. "You people do not represent a democracy." (...) They shot at me three times (with) a .45. (I lost confidence in) the American government. And (...) I renounced.

TL: From reading other histories, there was a fairly large number of other Japanese who also were encouraged to renounce their citizenship.

MK: (Yes.) I think some renounced because they wanted to stay together and go to Japan together. But in my case, my, my mother was already out (of the camp. And so) it was not a family decision, it was my (own) decision.

AI: So I'm trying to understand your state of mind at that time. And it seemed that you had -- your physical health was not good. You had not been eating, and you had been under attack by the guards. And it's -- I'm trying to understand -- did you feel that you did actually want to go back to Japan when you renounced or was it...?

MK: Let's put it this way: because of my early education in Japan, I was confident that should I go to Japan, I'll fit in right away. On the other hand, I knew that I could fit into this country, too. So it's not a matter of loyalty or disloyalty. (Nonetheless,) the fact that the government imposed this kind of (repressive measure evacuation, loyalty question, and now the renunciation act has forced me to lose confidence in that government. I renounced my citizenship as a gesture of defiance. It should also be noted that psychologically, Tule Lake was an abnormal society. Thus, renunciation was an act of stupidity, but long years of rage and accumulated resentment spawned that stupidity.)

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.