<Begin Segment 7>

MN: So when you were at the Shonien, were most of the children actual orphans or did they have one parent?

MY: I'd say ninety percent of them had a parent. Very few or maybe even more, 'cause I only know a couple of families that was there as long as I was, I was there for ten years. And it's like I was an orphan because after my mother passed away I never saw my dad, I never saw him for nine years. So, you know, I just figured I didn't have a father, nobody in the Shonien knew where he was, they couldn't contact him or anything. So it's like I never had a father.

MN: But your father visited you one time, is that right?

MY: Yeah, he visited us, picked us up and took us to visit our mother. Other than that I never saw him.

MN: So when you went to go see your mother, she was at the Sunland Sanitarium.

MY: Sunland Sanitarium.

MN: How was her condition?

MY: You know, we couldn't go in. We had to stay out and she had to stay in by the screen door and we could talk to her and things. Other than that we couldn't see anything so we went to see her and that was the last time I remember seeing her.

MN: But was she able to see you boys?

MY: What's that?

MN: Was she able to see the boys were there?

MY: Yeah, she knew we were there. I remember, I guess she was sort of sad but then she was glad to see us.

MN: And then you mentioned your mother had passed away 1933. How did you learn that your mother had passed away?

MY: Well, I was in Shonien and then they took us to a memorial service. I remember this Reverend Kusuhara had the service and that's the last time I know we saw my mother.

MN: How did you feel when you found out your mother had passed away?

MY: Well, I don't know. I guess like any other kid that loses a parent.

MN: How about your other two brothers, how did they react?

MY: Gee, I don't remember. I think my younger brother was too young. My older brother was probably similar to myself.

MN: And after that you never saw your father?

MY: Never saw him.

MN: What were your feelings towards your father at that time?

MY: At first it sort of... I guess it didn't bother me, but as time went by I really felt bitter toward my dad because the other kids had a mother or father that would usually come once a month or something. They'd take them out for lunch, take 'em to a picnic or a park or something and I resented the fact that my dad never came. And as time went on I grew more bitter. In fact, as I got older and I realized I could take care of myself, when I got out of school I figured I don't need him. But I would have never seen him again if it wasn't for different circumstances.

<End Segment 7> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.