<Begin Segment 19>

[Translated from Japanese]

I2: Could you talk about your high school days since you mentioned it? We would like to have it on the tape. We are going back a bit. First of all, could you talk about your life in Japan prior to your life in the United States and then why you left for the United States?

TY: I lived with my mother, elder brother, elder sister, and younger sister in a house in Hiroshima. My mother's younger sister's three daughters were living with us too. My mother took care of us all by herself. My elder sister left for Hawaii to live and work for the company called Sumida Company owned by our relatives because she did not want to be a burden to our mother. It was a big store. Before entering junior high school, my older brother moved to the mainland to live with the mother of the three girls living with us. I also moved to the U.S. when I was in eighth grade. I was a star track athlete in Japan at that time. I was a champion in the 100 meter and 200 meter in the Chugoku Shikoku region. I left for the United States following my elder sister and brother, and I was hoping to ease my mother's hardship. I went to the United States and left behind my younger sister and three cousins. I went to my sister's place first, but we didn't get along with each other. Then, someone from Hiroshima prefecture asked me to work for him. I started to live with them, work at the restaurant he owned and went to school there. I was a so-called "schoolboy." I worked and went to school. I did sports also. I had to attend a special English class at first, but around 1939, 1940, or 1941 I was accepted to attend a regular high school after about one year. People asked me to participate in a relay event at the local Japanese American field day. A physical education teacher at the high school spotted me when I was practicing for the field day. He said to me, "Wow, you are fast. Can you run the 100 meter for me again? " He liked how I ran, and I was recruited to join the high school track team. The high school had about 490 students, and it was supposed to be the smallest high school in the States. There were many black students and some white students. The track team was not doing well. Basketball and football teams were really good but not track. I was told that the track team had been great once but no longer. The coach said, "I am interested to see how it will work with you joining us. Do your best." I won all the races in 1939 and 1940. The other teammates, who were practicing with me, became taller, stronger and faster than I was in the second half of 1940. They were all black. I thought my mission was accomplished, and I was no longer needed for the team. I was ready to leave the team. The coach said to me, "Don't talk nonsense. You are like the founder of this track team. Everyone worked hard to catch up with you and hiked up to this level. Why don't you remain on the team as a relay member?" I joined the relay team and won another series of medals and trophies for 400 meter, 800 meter, 1600 meter and medley relays. We were broadcast on the radio as well as reported on in the newspapers. I visited them a while ago and told the coach and friends that I had lost my trophies and medals when I was sent to the camp. They sent this to me then. They told me that my hard work and work ethic created a strong team. I raised the bar where it still is. They are always thankful for my effort. They said, "Our team is still strong. We want you to visit the school again." The coach's wife sent me another letter before he passed away. These are all good memories.

I2: So, you didn't have a lot of difficulties with English since you came to the United States?

TY: What was that?

I2: Any difficulties in speaking English? Did you have a hard time with English when you entered the high school?

TY: Well, I only lived within a limited boundary. I didn't need to speak English when I ran. Everything was simple when I worked at the restaurant. It was taking orders and cooking. That was all. I didn't need speak much English even though I was in the United States for a while. [Laughs]

I1: What about studying in high school? How was studying in high school?

TY: I wasn't really trying to be academically advanced. Being average was fine with me. I focused on conversation more than writing. I told myself I only needed to be able to make myself understood in English. I didn't care if I was speaking broken English.

I1: Did you study English while you were in Japan?

TY: There was a school called Fraser School.

I1: In Hiroshima?

TY: It happened to be in Hiroshima. My elder brother went there to study English before he left for the United States. I went there for about two years to study English as I thought I would have to go to the United States in the future.

I2: Did you have classes every day?

TY: Every night. About two hours every night.

I2: Were you born in 1920?

TY: 1922.

I2: 1922 in Hawaii, correct? Then, you moved to Hiroshima when you were three?

TY: My father became ill. He was hospitalized in Hiroshima, but he passed away shortly after.

I1: So, you have great memories in high school. You were adjusting to American life well. If nothing had happened, you would have...

TY: I would have lived in the United States. I would have been in the army if I had been drafted. I would have lived a normal life as an ordinary American.

<End Segment 19> - Copyright (c) 2004 Densho. All Rights Reserved.