<Begin Segment 16>
[Translated from Japanese]
I2: Did the Spanish Consul come to visit you during the hunger strike?
TY: While I was in the bullpen.
I2: When you were in the bullpen?
TY: Right, when I was in the bullpen. The Tule Lake incident became big news in the U.S. The media reported that Japanese people started a riot. The news was forwarded to the Japanese government by the Spanish Consul. The Japanese government notified the U.S. government through Spain that such mistreatment of Japanese citizens would be retaliated against American prisoners of war held by the Japanese government.
I1: Were you grateful to the Japanese government?
TY: Yes. I felt more patriotic toward the Japanese government. They were concerned about us and went out of the way to ask the Spanish Consul to meet with us while the U.S. government did nothing for us.
I2: Did FBI agents also come to see you while you were in the bullpen?
TY: No, they came while I was in the stockade. FBI agents and the Dies Committee people. They came when I was in the stockade.
I2: Did they tell you that you would not be released immediately because the WRA had to save its face?
TY: It wasn't the WRA, but the U.S. government.
I2: The U.S. government?
TY: To save the face of the government.
I2: Was it right after you were confined in the stockade?
TY: Right. We were the first ones to be confined. We three were always the first.
I2: So, you were told that you would not be released soon and ended up being confined for eight months?
TY: Right. They told us we would not be tortured again because the case drew international attention. But the U.S. government has to save face. They said they were sympathetic for us and told us to be patient and stay put.
I2: The best way to save the face of the government was for the U.S. government to prove that you were guilty. But the government didn't try to do it.
TY: They didn't. WRA tried to frame us and hold us guilty. The FBI or military did not do that.
I1: I find it very interesting. In this recorded phone conversation between military officers, they mentioned that the FBI was conducting an investigation on WRA officers as well as on you. I can see the army was keeping a distance and observing what the FBI was investigating. [Laughs] The FBI investigated on both sides and must have found out something about the misappropriation by the WRA officers. It just wasn't made public. Findings were not revealed.
I2: Did you receive a cigarette from the Spanish Consul while you were in the bullpen?
TY: It was so good. He asked, "Is there anything you want?" I told him that I would like to have a cigarette. He gave one to me, and it was just great under that kind of circumstance. We didn't know what would happen to us. "Is there anything you want?" "I would like to have a cigarette." He lit it for me. It was so good. His kindness touched my heart. It was just humane. We had been treated very harshly up 'til then.
<End Segment 16> - Copyright (c) 2004 Densho. All Rights Reserved.