<Begin Segment 14>

MN: Now, your family is from Okayama. Were you able to visit relatives in Okayama?

JK: Oh, yes. Well, we were given special cars. So, well, even though we had a special car for GIs, very few took advantage of it. But I took a trip to Okayama to visit relatives.

MN: Was this your first time visiting with them?

JK: Yes, uh-huh.

MN: What was that like?

JK: Well, it was a nice train ride.

MN: Were you able to communicate with your relatives?

JK: Oh, yes. They knew I was learning Japanese, and I guess that was the custom, to learn Japanese again.

MN: What kind of omiyage did you bring over?

JK: Well, the PX sold quite a few things, I think, like shoes, socks, clothes. Well, not clothing, underwear, some food. But our relatives were farming, so food-wise, it was, they were able to get by.

MN: Now, Okayama is close to Hiroshima. Did any of your relatives, were they affected by the atomic bombing?

JK: No, I don't think so. But they were awestruck by the explosion that morning. They were farmers, so they were working the fields when they saw this strange explosion. Of course, they couldn't explain it. No one could for a while.

MN: So they were able to see the mushroom cloud all the way to Okayama. Now, your brother, Kinya, was also serving in Japan at this time. Were you able to connect with him?

JK: Really, I missed him visiting relatives.

MN: How long were you stationed in Japan?

JK: Almost two years.

<End Segment 14> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.