<Begin Segment 13>

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

AI: Well, I especially wanted to ask about that, because it seemed to me from your writing that a great theme in your adult life stems from these times, where you discussed both the pacifism, the going beyond the questions of national identity or citizenship or loyalty, going beyond that, and also bringing together the themes of peace. And again, going beyond the usual definitions of loyal, disloyal. And also bringing together eastern thought and the western thought, as you were mentioning.

MK: Let's go one-by-one now. Okay, what is your question?

AI: Well, my question is -- if you could talk about these themes that emerged, that you...

MK: The pacifist theme?

AI: Yes. Yes -- the theme.

MK: Okay. The Christians who were pacifists, in that they did not endorse neither the Japanese government's policy nor the American government's policy. So to that extent, they were pacifists. Now, in as far as the Buddhist leaders in Tule Lake were concerned most of them endorsed the Japanese nationalism (...). But this does not mean that I, I'm against Buddhism. If I'm against Buddhism, I wouldn't have gotten a doctorate degree in Buddhist philosophy. (...) It's only (...) fair (to note that a handful of Christians) helped the Nisei at that time.

AI: Well, and in particular, Wayne Collins. Can you discuss what happened then -- in how Wayne Collins assisted you to have the renunciation declared void?

MK: Well, it took ten years, you know.

AI: Yes.

MK: So during that time I never had any contact with him. So I don't know. He's a lawyer, so he went about his way. And finally he won. But I couldn't wait that long. So in spite of the fact that I've renounced my American citizenship, I just went ahead and got an American passport, and went to Japan and studied -- granting that it was a great risk. But it was a risk worth taking.

<End Segment 13> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.