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MN: And what year were you honorably discharged?

AI: '47, '48.

MN: And what did you do after you got discharged?

AI: I went back to Chicago and went back to the working again.

MN: Did your mother come with you?

AI: No, she didn't come at that time because I couldn't invite her. I didn't have a penny in my pocket so I had to re-establish myself financially before I can do anything and I know my wife is coming so that's going to cost me some more money. In fact I had to borrow money to get her.

MN: Well, you're in Chicago. Was it difficult to find another job?

AI: No, it was the same as during the war, easy to find jobs. In fact, this time I work in the cabinet shop.

MN: And how long were you in Chicago?

AI: We stayed there another year and a half.

MN: And then you came to Los Angeles.

AI: Came back to Norwalk.

MN: And why did you come out to Norwalk?

AI: One of the friend, old, old time friend, was farming and he was looking for partner so he invite me if I want to be his partner and do the farm. I says, well I got nothing so might as well do something, so I said yes. So we came back but that didn't pan out.

MN: So how long were you farming in Norwalk?

AI: One year.

MN: And then by then was your wife, did she join you?

AI: She came when I was in Chicago. I think she had a little trouble trying to get a passport to come back. She had to prove that she's a citizen, birth certificate and she had to go to Kobe to do all this. So back and forth traveling from Hiroshima to Kobe and it took a little bit longer to get a permit or the passport.

<End Segment 26> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.