<Begin Segment 20>

[Translated from Japanese]

I2: Where were you and what were you doing when the mandatory mass removal was ordered?

TY: Was it on Sunday? I was still in school. I think it was in April. We were sent to Fresno Assembly Center where the horse racetrack was. All the Japanese people were ordered to go to the temporary assembly center. We were asked to gather at the Buddhist church at a certain time. Everyone was there, and the administration sent buses to transport all of us to the center. We were only allowed to bring one suitcase. Nothing else. Only 500 dollars to bring with us.

I1: What did you put in your suitcase?

TY: Only underwear. Nothing else. All I could pack was some clothes.

I1: Were you alone, not with your sister?

TY: I was alone and went to the bachelor ward.

I2: How did you explain it to your track coach? How was the farewell with the coach?

TY: He told me that he was sorry but there was nothing he could do. I had the last meet, the West Coast Relay. We all were supposed to go to Fresno Assembly Center in April, but I went there a month later in May. I was under the constant surveillance of the Department of Justice agents and police officers. The West Coast Relay was in 1941, when the war started. I ran, won the race and received a medal. I went into the assembly center accompanied by my coach. I was an exception.

I1: How sad. Didn't you say that you were admitted to go to college?

TY: Fresno State College asked me to enroll with them after I graduate from high school and offered a scholarship. I was told the school would take care of all the finances.

I1: It is a completely different path, isn't it?

TY: Yes. [Laughs]

I2: You had adjusted to American life well and had a future path ahead of you.

TY: I am not confident I would have lived a satisfying life even if I had gone to college in the States. I actually think that I was able to do what I wanted to do because the war broke out. I went through a lot of changes, came back to Japan and learned a lot during the process. I am thankful for the unpleasant experiences that happened to me. Some people think it's wrong if I say this though. [Laughs] I was very fortunate that I was able to come back to Japan eventually.

I1: I sense that you would have done well wherever you went. [Laughs] If you had stayed in the United States, then you would have done well as well.

TY: I got along easily with local people when I went to Thailand to work for Yakult. It was a good experience for me to go there and work for Yakult. It was also a learning experience to work on various projects with the occupation army. These days, the kids in the neighborhood like me and come to me. I take good care of them, you know.

I1: Could you talk about when you found out about the attack on Pearl Harbor?

TY: I remember it was on Sunday. I was just about to go to the Buddhist church. I was eating my breakfast, listening to the radio. Then I heard a radio announcement, "This is not a test. This is real. Do not turn off the radio and keep listening." I was wondering what was going on. "This is real. Pearl Harbor was under attack by an unidentified country and was suffering major damage." They repeated it over and over again. There was a connection problem between the mainland and Hawaii. A little bit before noon, for the first time, it was reported that the attacking planes had rising suns on the wings. Therefore, it was Japan that was attaching Pearl Harbor. The second and the third wave of bombing was continuing. "The enemy country is Japan." "The U.S. President will declare war against Japan now." Then, "The President of the United States has just declared war on Japan. The war between the United States and Japan has just begun." The news was on all day long. My friend called me and asked me, "Should we still go to school tomorrow?" I replied, "Not going to school is one option. But I think it is no use escaping from the situation. We are right here in the States no matter where we go. It is not us who are attacking Pearl Harbor. We should go to school and ask our teacher what to do." My track coach came to see me and told me, "This has nothing to do with you. You are all American citizens. Just come to school as usual."

I1: He came to tell you that?

TY: Yes. Then, I told everyone, "Let's go to school tomorrow because the teacher said so." We gathered at the Buddhist church and went to school together. We all didn't have any troubles in any classes. At lunchtime, all the students were called together at the auditorium. We were told, "The war between the United States and Japan has just begun. Therefore, we will conduct the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States and sing the national anthem." No one looked at us differently or gave us a dirty look. There were, though, several occasions where those who didn't get along got into an argument and yelled at us, "We have to be careful about what you Japs do. Jap boys." Then, the mass removal order was issued on February 19 or 29. School officials told us, "Until the actual removal notice comes, all of you are entitled to come to school." On the very last day before the removal, the school hosted a special farewell party for us. Then, we went to Fresno Assembly Center. My coach told me, "You have one big meet to run. I will go ask for a special arrangement for you to stay here now. Remain here." I think the meet was sometime in May. I ran the race, won it with a new record, and headed to Fresno Assembly Center in my coach's car.

I2: Did you return home once instead of going to the Assembly Center directly from the stadium?

TY: No, I went directly from the stadium.

I2: So, you brought your track gear to the Assembly Center with you?

TY: Right. I brought it with me.

<End Segment 20> - Copyright (c) 2004 Densho. All Rights Reserved.