<Begin Segment 2>

WS: And then I went to Japan in 1931, in December, November the 30th or something, I went back -- I won't say "back" -- but I went to Japan on Hiye. Hiye Maru.

TI: Now, why did you go to Japan?

WS: What?

TI: Why did you go to Japan? You're ten years old...

WS: I was eleven.

TI: Okay, eleven.

WS: So anyway, my parents wanted me to get the Japanese education.

TI: Who else went to Japan with you?

WS: My sister, my younger sister went with me.

TI: And what's your sister's name?

WS: Lillian. Lillian Toyoko.

TI: And how much younger was Lillian?

WS: One year younger than me.

TI: Before going to Japan, did you go to Japanese language school?

WS: Yes, I did. I went to the Japanese language school. I went up to fifth grade here, fifth year. But then I wasn't too good of a student, and I went to Japan and then they put me down to the third grade.

TI: How did you feel about being sent to Japan? Was that something you wanted to do?

WS: I don't know, not exactly. It wasn't my choice.

TI: And so when your parents said, sent you to Japan, did you argue with them?

WS: No.

TI: How about your friends in Seattle? Did you talk to them about going to Japan?

WS: Well, maybe. But then I can't remember too much about those, about those times.

TI: In Seattle before Japan, what kind of things did you do? Like for playing...

WS: Like what?

TI: Yeah, in Seattle, before Japan, what were some activities that you did besides school?

WS: I can't remember.

TI: Like play games? Do you remember any games you played?

WS: No, I don't think I was too active.

TI: How about like fishing or anything like that before?

WS: I used to go out fishing in the waterfront, but that was about it.

TI: So when you got to Japan, what are your first thoughts about Japan? What did you think of Japan?

WS: Well, kind of hard to say. Anyway, I did, they put me in the third grade, and took me three years to finish the elementary school. And then I went to -- this is the elementary school called Azuma, A-Z-U-M-A, Azuma elementary school. And after I graduated from the elementary school from the sixth year, I took the exam to high school known as the Kanto, K-A-N-T-O, Kanto Gakuin. This was also American founded school. It was also known as the Meibi Memorial High School. It was sponsored by some Christians in New York, and anyway, I went to this Kanto Gakuin for five years. Kanto Gakuin is a five-year high school. And I finished the high school, so that's three years in Japan elementary school and five years in the high school, making a total of eight years. And then I came back. And just about that time, there was talk about war between Japan and the United States. So this school, Kanto Gakuin, we had about three or four different teachers who were also, we had about three English teacher, and there were about three or four Japanese teacher who was graduated from the university and was teaching there. So anyway, I was told by these teacher to, better to go back to the United States before the war started. Because I was in Japan at the dormitory, high school dormitory. And anyway, I was told to go back in 1941.

TI: How do you think the teachers knew that there was going to be war?

WS: Well, there were talk about war between the United States and Japan coming up. Because at that time, at least Japan was quite, pretty aggressive in China. And China and Manchuria... Manchuria and, there were more or less going on between Russia and Japan. And so they figured that Japan and America will be in war pretty soon, so better to be with your parents. My parents was in Seattle and they were operating a hotel called the Wilson Hotel.

TI: For you, in 1941, did you think of yourself more Japanese or more American?

WS: Well, kind of hard to say which or which. But anyway, after I came back --

TI: Okay, but Warren, a couple more questions about Japan. When you first got to Japan, in elementary school, how did the other Japanese students accept you? Were they friendly or were you, did they think you were strange or anything like that?

WS: Oh, in the elementary school, there wasn't too much discrimination against me. And I graduated with honor in the elementary school. And then by the time I graduated from the Kanto Gakuin, I was number three out of 250 students.

TI: At the Kanto Gakuin, did you learn very much English going to high school?

WS: Well, they were teaching English, but then not too much.

TI: How about your sister? What was your sister doing during this time?

WS: My sister was in Japan for three years, and Mother came back to Japan and picked her up and took her back to Japan in three years, while I was there five years after that.

TI: So why did your sister go back?

WS: I guess she just wanted to go back.

TI: How about you? Did you have a choice? Could you have gone back also?

WS: Well, I figured that since I'm in the high school, I might as well try to finish it.

TI: And in elementary school, who did you live with in Japan?

WS: It was my cousin.

TI: On your mother's side or father's side?

WS: Mother's side.

TI: In Japan, in high school, did you have any really good friends?

WS: Oh, yeah, I didn't have no problem.

<End Segment 2> - Copyright © 2012 Densho. All Rights Reserved.