Densho Digital Archive
Densho Visual History Collection
Title: Yuriko Yamamoto Interview
Narrator: Yuriko Yamamoto
Interviewer: Martha Nakagawa
Location: Los Angeles, California
Date: April 24, 2012
Densho ID: denshovh-yyuriko-01-0005

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MN: Let me ask you a little bit about your schooling. Your Japanese language school, which Japanese language school did you go to?

YY: Gosh, I can't remember but I didn't enjoy it, I'll tell you that much.

MN: You think it was probably Chuo Gakuen in Boyle Heights?

YY: That sounds familiar.

MN: Do you remember going every day or just Saturdays?

YY: I think we did every, after school. Sometimes we took a bus, I think.

MN: And what is it about Japanese school that you didn't enjoy?

YY: I don't know, I just didn't enjoy learning, I guess. I just wasn't interested.

MN: Okay, so you're going to Malabar every day, then you go to Japanese school. What did you do on Saturdays?

YY: Play with my girlfriends, different things, Hide and Seek, do something in their house, play.

MN: What about Sundays, what did you do?

YY: I think my father took us places if I recall.

MN: Did you have to go to like a Sunday school?

YY: Yeah, I think I did go. Somebody picked me up, I believe.

MN: Do you remember which Sunday school you went to?

YY: I think it was a Christian school, actually. But I don't remember, it's too far back.

MN: Now in 1933, L.A. had this huge earthquake.

YY: Oh, yeah, I remember that. I didn't know what it was, I think I had my roller skates (on). She was cooking or something and she grabbed me and took me outside in the street. I didn't know what was going on, but I remember that she said it was an earthquake. It really frightened me.

MN: Did your house sustain any damage?

YY: No. Well, actually, we were renting, but no, no damage.

<End Segment 5> - Copyright © 2012 Densho. All Rights Reserved.