Densho Digital Archive - Art Ishida Interview (denshovh-iart

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MN: So after one month at Minidoka where did you go?

AI: From there I went to Chicago because that's where my friend and my brother was there.

MN: But you stopped in Denver first right?

AI: I stopped in Denver to visit my friend. The friend I met in Jerome and he and his family was farming over there in Jerome, I mean, Denver.

MN: So what did you do in Denver?

AI: Just visit their farm. I was there only two days. We really didn't do anything, we kind of long talk we had while talking and he show us the farm, the areas and didn't go anywhere, there wasn't time, enough time to do anything or go anywhere so we kind of talked old times and what we did, what we do. I invited him to come to Chicago when he gets around, which he did.

MN: Now from Tule Lake your final destination was supposed to be Chicago but you went to Minidoka and you stopped at Denver. Did you have to get a special permit to go to Denver?

AI: No, ticket was made that way I found out. So same tickets I get off and took one month off at Minidoka I get back on with the same and went to Denver, two days I stay there, same ticket went to Chicago.

MN: When you were in Denver did you go to the Japantown?

AI: No, I don't think they had a Japantown.

MN: So when you got to Chicago did anyone meet you at the train station?

AI: Yes, my brother and one of the friend came and pick us up. And those GI box and my belongings they shipped it before me to the Chicago so I got the notice later to pick them up.

MN: And that was at the WRA office?

AI: Yes.

MN: And where did you folks stay in Chicago?

AI: South side, Ellis and 45th Street I think. That's where a lot of Japanese was.

MN: So once you arrived in Chicago what did you do?

AI: Immediately we rent apartment so the apartment there is we had to pay one week rent ahead every week. We pay the rent and since went out there nothing, so I had to buy all the utility for my chawans and dishes, pots and pans so we bought that and by then I had a forty-five dollar in the pocket to leave Tule Lake. And forty-five is gone so now next rent is coming next week so I had to have... so we went work hunting soon as we went there and I got job right away in a machine shop. And got the work there first paycheck one week, pay the rent, buy the food, same way that just about cover the expense. Not much money left maybe five more dollar in the pocket or something like that and this keep on going until we got a little bit more savings, accumulate.

MN: Did you encounter any racial hostilities in Chicago?

AI: It was really a surprise to me, none.

MN: What was your brother doing?

AI: He was working in the machine shop also, different machine shop. I got the job at a different machine shop.

MN: Now is it at this time that you were teaching photo retouching for the military?

AI: No.

MN: That was later.

AI: Later, I went to same school study and after I finished the course then I stay with the teacher. This school was basically for GI bill so all the veterans was coming to that class and I think I went with my friend, two of went that class and friend didn't continue. He went to work in another machine shop and I stayed there then gradually I knew enough of what to teach so I started teaching.