<Begin Segment 27>

[Translated from Japanese]

I2: But in the loyalty questionnaire, you intentionally avoided to clearly express your opinion. Could you tell me why?

TY: Well, how can I explain this... The loyalty questionnaire itself was an issue for me. I didn't understand why it had to be administered at that point. I asked Mr. Kai, "Why does it have to be done now? It would have made sense to have it done before we were sent to a camp. What is the government going to do with it after they sent us all to be in a camp? What would happen to us after this? I can't answer yes or no to a question if I don't understand the intention behind it." Mr. Kai told me to go with it. That is why I told them that I had no intention to answer the questions.

I1: It was different from answering no to the questions.

[Interruption]

TY: "Are you willing to serve in the armed forces of the United States on combat duty, wherever ordered?" It was question 27. Then, question 28 asked, "Will you swear unqualified allegiance to the United States of America and faithfully defend the United States from any and all attacks by foreign or domestic forces, and forswear any form of allegiance to the Japanese Emperor or any other foreign government, power, or organization?" That's what the questions are.

I2: Did you refuse to answer both question 27 and 28? You didn't answer?

TY: Right.

I2: How was your intention to go back to Japan questioned? Was there another question about it in a different section?

TY: Well, at that time, it was only about these two questions. I told them I didn't have to answer.

I1: There were many other questions. You refused to answer these two particular questions?

TY: Correct.

I2: And how did you express your intention to go back to Japan?

I1: I think it was in the same questionnaire.

I2: Was there a question about it in the questionnaire?

I1: They didn't only send people who answered no and no to Tule Lake. They also sent those who expressed intention to go back to Japan. There must have been a question about it.

I2: Did the questionnaire confirm the intention to go back to Japan?

I1: Other camps were closing down. Tule Lake was the last one left, and their initial plan was to send people in the camp back to Japan.

TY: So, at that time, they did not question if we wanted to go back.

I1: Question?

TY: I wasn't asked.

I1: I think you were. I think the questionnaire included one question asking if you wanted to go back to Japan. Some people answered yes to both questions but still were sent to Tule Lake because they said they wanted to go back to Japan. So, the question was asked. I don't remember where the question was placed, but there were at least 28 or 29 questions. The questionnaire asked your name, address, occupation and so on. Then, there were questions about your religion and educational background and academic records. There is also a question about your intention to returning to Japan. It could have been on a different page.

<End Segment 27> - Copyright (c) 2004 Densho. All Rights Reserved.