Densho Digital Archive
Densho Visual History Collection
Title: Esther Takei Nishio Interview
Narrator: Esther Takei Nishio
Interviewer: Sharon Yamato
Location: Los Angeles, California
Date: September 21, 2011
Densho ID: denshovh-nesther-01-0030

<Begin Segment 30>

SY: Now, I also, during that period, I guess, when you were still with the Pasonas, right, and you had your first child, this was, when was John born?

EN: In '48.

SY: 1948. So very early on.

EN: Yes, right away.

SY: Then after a while did you, were you thinking, you totally ignored your, I mean, you really didn't talk much about your camp experience?

EN: No, I didn't talk about it until 1999.

SY: 1999? And what was it that prompted you to talk about it?

EN: Well, all through the years I'd been approached by various people who wanted to interview me, but I always turned them down because, I said, I don't want to talk about it. But in 1999 I was approached by Darcy Iki when she, while she was working for the Rafu Shimpo, and I don't know why, it must've been because she was so charming, but I agreed to an interview with her. So that was the first time I opened up to anyone.

SY: And can you just say a little bit about why you decided?

EN: Well let's see now, I did an interview for the, was that for the museum, was she working for the museum?

SY: She was working for the Japanese American National Museum.

EN: Right, that's the one. That was the one that --

SY: In '99.

EN: Right, that's the one.

SY: But why did you choose not to talk about the camp?

EN: It was too painful to talk about the evacuation.

SY: Camp experience. But even though, would you describe your experience of coming to Pasadena as a good one?

EN: Very good.

SY: So, but it didn't, it didn't register that it was...

EN: But I just didn't want to talk about it.

SY: You didn't want to talk about it, I see.

EN: No, definitely not.

SY: And then once you started talking about it how did it affect you?

EN: Well, I was willing to remember what happened.

SY: So the memories came back as you, as you...

EN: Right. I still don't have total recall, but I do remember the wonderful things that happened when I came back.

SY: I see. So is this something that you talk to your husband and your son about now more?

EN: No, not really. Only when people come to interview me. [Laughs]

<End Segment 30> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.