<Begin Segment 12>

MN: And what was your first impression when you got to Santa Anita?

YY: Well, it was very interesting. I mean, who would have thought? But you do what you have to do. You don't question it. There's no point in questioning, you go where you have to go. And we had to fill our sacks with straw for our mattress. And I had hay fever, it was horrible. But it's not the most comfortable thing, but if you want to have a little mattress, that's what you do. Just like in Heart Mountain, if there's coal you got to go run down and get a bucket so you can get that going, the (potbelly stove), you know, keep the heat in there because it's so cold. That's the first time I've seen snow, blizzards and stuff.

MN: Going back to Santa Anita, now, you said you lived in the parking lot area. Did you live with the Takahashis?

YY: Uh-huh.

MN: The Takahashis had a son. Was the son living in the barrack also?

YY: I think he was in the army if I'm not mistaken. Because he was thirteen years older than me.

MN: What about your brother Takeo?

YY: He was, I think by then he was married.

MN: So he didn't live in the same barrack as you?

YY: I think... let me think. Was he in Santa Anita? I think he was. And then I think he went to Manzanar, and then they transferred over to Heart Mountain. Because I think the baby was born in Heart Mountain.

MN: So he joined you at Heart Mountain.

YY: Pardon?

MN: He joined you at Heart Mountain.

YY: Yeah.

MN: But going back to Santa Anita, was your barrack near the cesspool?

YY: Yeah. It was awful-smelling.

MN: But do you get used to the smell?

YY: You have no choice, it's there.

MN: A lot of people that I've talked to had diarrhea at the beginning. Did you have that problem?

YY: No, thank goodness.

MN: I want to ask you some personal questions, female personal questions, menstruation. You had already started when you were in --

YY: No, I think I did.

MN: How did you know you were menstruating?

YY: Well, because there was blood. I was getting it outside. [Laughs]

MN: Did you understand what was going on with your body?

YY: Well, I think my sister-in-law... well, now she's my sister-in-law, but she was more well read and everything, so she tells me a lot of stuff. Because my obasan wouldn't tell me. In those days, there was no belts or anything, they make it out of flannel, they pin it. It was very old-fashioned. Because I remember swirling my dress and it was all red, and I was so embarrassed. Because I flowed quite a bit.

MN: And where did you buy the pads?

YY: Oh, I don't know. I don't remember now.

MN: Did they sell it at the canteen?

YY: I think they must have, because I don't even remember things like that. All I remember is when you took a shower the first time, you went to the horse stall, there's no partition, you're all lined up. So embarrassing. Gosh.

MN: Especially because your body's changing, too.

YY: Yeah, especially that, and you're so shy. It was horrendous. That's one of the worst experience I had. But you get used to it because that's what it is.

MN: So were you one of those people that waited until really late to take a shower or really...

YY: No, I don't think so.

MN: You just get used to it.

YY: I guess so.

<End Segment 12> - Copyright © 2012 Densho. All Rights Reserved.