<Begin Segment 20>

KN: Do you ever think of your experiences there and just think that sometimes of your home? Where is your home, because you've lived so many places?

EK: Yeah. I think my home is where my family is. So Hawaii is my home now, but I wish that my children were here with me. And I think they do, too, but they can't. They have their own lives. But we see each other often enough, so we're very lucky. But we did have a wonderful time in Lima, and my husband and I did not go to Machu Picchu because we had done that in our younger days, and we don't want to go through the altitude sickness and all that. [Laughs] But they did, and they had a fabulous time. But they did get a little sick, queasy. But my husband and I just stayed in Lima, just took it easy and had a grand time meeting a few old friends who are still there. And my friend Miyoko who had gone through camp and Seabrook, but they were the few who left to return.

KN: And so when you returned and you're immersed in the culture and the food, is this new for your children to see you in a different light in that environment?

EK: Peru was new, but they've come to Japan when we're there. They've met all the relatives, they met one cousin and her extended family, and they met my friend Miyoko and her family. So that was nice, that was special.

KN: Are they lucky enough to also speak Spanish and Japanese?

EK: Yes, yes. At least not everyone, but one cousin's wife spoke three languages very well. Spanish, of course, then Japanese, excellent Japanese and English. And most of them know English. Not perfectly, but enough that we communicate. The grandchildren communicated with their kind of little Spanish and English. They had fun.

KN: You've had such a remarkable life and story, is there anything that you could share at this point? I mean, I've been asking you all these questions. Would you like to share anything about anything that you feel like you want to impart to the next generation?

EK: Well, oh, gosh. I think what you are doing is a great thing for the future. I really don't want to do this, 'cause I hate to be in these bright lights and show my wrinkles. [Laughs] No, but the fact that you're leaving something for the generations to come -- and I hope that they will learn from whatever all these people that you have already interviewed, each one has his story, and I think each one has his special story. Each one is a special story. So I think that's a wonderful thing you folks are doing, really. So I'm very privileged and honored to be asked to do this.

KN: It's a privilege to have you share your story. That's what I wanted to say.

EK: I know, sometimes people ask me, "Tell me about your background." I say, "How many hours do you have?" because we've had so many changes. We've had so many different changes.

KN: I think it's remarkable that you lived in so many different areas and been into so many different cultures and experiences.

EK: Yeah. I think, well, right now I'm writing because my children asked me to do this, and I'm not a writer. So it's very difficult for me, but I did do an article for the Seabrook Cultural Center, 'cause when my son-in-law took us there, there was nothing on the Peruvian Japanese. [Interruption] And there are still a few families who served in the military, and one, my classmate died in Vietnam. And I said, "Gee, they should be acknowledged." And so I did write an article about Seabrook, living in Seabrook, how it was, how the housing was and all that, about the chamber pot and all this. So now I'm moving on to Chicago.

<End Segment 20> - Copyright © 2012 Densho. All Rights Reserved.