<Begin Segment 29>

SY: So this, the business that you do with Japan, do you notice certain, like, traditions or Japanese characteristics that are different from Japanese American?

PM: Oh yes, very different. It's very hard to understand Japan Japanese sometimes, but the downfall for me was that, first, I'm a woman trying to do business in Japan, so I had to counteract at the very start. It really was hard to break in, but I learned. I would ask for the manager of a hotel and he would come out and he would look at me with a, "What does this woman want?" [Laughs] And in those days we took, we call omiyage, presents, so we'd take a bottle of scotch or something and the next time he would be a little bit more cordial. And slowly I'd build a rapport with our suppliers in Japan so that now I know almost all the general managers of all the hotels and they've become my friends. It took time.

SY: It took time, and you just, it was just by being polite and being generous?

PM: Also, I also explained to them, with some of the people I do business with, "I'm a Japanese American, I'm a third generation," even, at that, and so I'm very frank and I will tell you what I think. I don't like you to talk behind my back. If you're going to say something just say it to my face. Because in Japan somehow it's a feeling and it's not, doesn't come right out, so they'll talk behind your back and say something, but I told them, I prefer that you say it to me, and also I prefer that you do the work correctly. I will pay what's right. I don't want it done halfheartedly and have you come later and say, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll take you to dinner," bring me a present. I don't need those things. I want it done right to begin with. So I sometimes lay down the law when I want it to be nice for clients, so I was called a fussy old lady even though I was young. [Laughs]

SY: Really? So this started --

PM: Yeah, I found that out.

SY: -- this started when you were, when you first began the business?

PM: Maybe, yes, ten years or so into the making I found out that that's what they were calling me, 'cause one day one of the guides -- that time I had five guides altogether -- and she came up to me and she says, "Peggy-san, you're not the way they've told me." I was called urusai baasan, which means fussy old lady. [Laughs] I said, oh, and that's when I found out. But they wouldn't say that about a man who's being particular, but it's because I'm a woman in Japan. But now women are getting stronger in Japan, so we are able to stand up a little bit. But in front of my clients I'm not like that. I just want to do the best I can for my clients so that they have a good time. That's the whole purpose. They're paying a lot of money.

SY: That's really great. You're, and how, where do you think that comes from, that sort of being able to stand up to these people in Japan? I mean, is that something you feel very natural doing?

PM: Just because I know that I'm doing what's right, and I think it goes back to Dad, because he had the family spirit, but he was also strict in what he wanted done. And I'm sure it goes back to -- because I can really stand up for my rights when I have to. My clients know that as well, so, and I try, my motto at office is nothing is impossible. And they know that. So my clients also know that I will always try, and if I can't do it then it really is impossible, but I will try first. And nowadays, normally I can get most things done 'cause I've been in business so long. My staff knows that.

SY: It's interesting how you have little rules, kind of like, that you have developed over the years that you stand by.

PM: Right.

SY: These little messages that you've learned over the years.

PM: Right. One other thing is that I'm a Gemini, born in May, and the Gemini is a twin so sometimes I can give the excuse that I can be this way at home and I can be this way outside, 'cause I'm a twin.

SY: I see.

PM: So that's a good excuse. [Laughs]

SY: So your children see a different side of you.

PM: Correct.

SY: [Laughs] Although they probably see the stern side of you too, right?

PM: Yes, I'm afraid they've had their comments to me. Every time before I leave on a trip I go to each one and tell them, "You have to be very good while I'm gone," because many times when the mother is not here people will talk and say that it's because their mother is always gone. So when I came back, when I come back I'd say, well, how was it? "Mom, we missed you, but we didn't miss your lectures." [Laughs]

SY: But you, yeah, because really as they were growing up you were gone how many, how many times out of the year, would you say?

PM: I was gone, yes, maybe about five times. Quite a few of the days I was gone, escorting, yes.

SY: And that's when your in-laws would sort of...

PM: Yes. Yeah, they would live with us, so they always took care of the kids.

<End Segment 29> - Copyright &copy; 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.