<Begin Segment 34>

[Translated from Japanese]

TY: When did the two Japanese people working for Mr. Collins come to see you? You were talking about it yesterday.

TY: Yes, Mr. Collins... it was in 1954, Showa 29.

I1: Did you keep that memo?

TY: Yes. "Attorney Wayne Collins fought for civil rights. Forced mass removal was unconstitutional and it was based upon racial discrimination. The renunciation was void from the time it was made. Three and a half years of incarceration was also unconstitutional. The conclusive judgment was made on May 20, 1959 regarding the renunciation. Attorney General William Rogers acknowledged the wrongdoing made by the United States and declared that the United States as a free nation would publicly work toward the restoration of citizenship." It goes on, "Mr. Collins was one of the few advocates for Japanese Americans in the most difficult years. Two Japanese American Nisei working for Mr. Collins came to Japan. They came to meet with renunciants who came back to Japan in 1954. They encouraged us to apply for the restoration of our citizenship. I also received two phone calls from the U.S. embassy to find out if I had any intention to have my citizenship restored."

I2: Is this before or after? Before this one? After?

TY: It was mostly before and after.

I1: Did you write this? Is "I" in this writing you? Or, someone else. What about "us?"

TY: Me. Myself.

I1: That was a diary.

TY: They came to visit several people. I heard from others about their meeting.

I1: There are specific dates listed in here. Are they from your diary?

TY: I had many memos I had kept. She sometimes tells me, "I need that. Send it to me." So these memos go between places [Laughs].

I1: I see.

TY: Why don't you visit my older sister when you have a chance? She has a huge volume of resources including some documents I had sent and some she created.

I1: I am still waiting for her to write the family history she promised when I visited last time. [Laughs]

TY: My older sister had special ties with Mr. Collins as she was trying to help me when I was arrested for the Tule Lake incident. She received information from him and relayed it to me.

I1: That's why your elder sister was a close friend with Michi Weglyn.

TY: She had a friend like that. She sent me cakes from New York several times. [Laughs]

I1: Is that right?

TY: She sent me New Year's cards too. It is unfortunate that she had passed away.

I2: Have you met Michi Weglyn?

TY: No, I haven't

I2: You haven't?

TY: I haven't, but she interviewed my sister and wrote about me in her book.

I1: Did you say you have met Mr. Collins?

TY: Yes.

I1: When was it approximately?

TY: It was after the FBI investigation at Tule Lake.

I1: In the stockade?

TY: Yes.

I1: Toward the end of the confinement?

TY: I was the only one who met him.

I1: Is that right?

TY: He came to see me because my sister asked him to talk to me.

I1: Was it a little before the hunger strike? Was that a long time before the strike?

TY: It was before the hunger strike.

I1: Was it right before?

TY: Right. It was about two or three months after I went to the stockade. It was earlier.

I1: Was there any word from him?

TY: Nothing in particular. He didn't want people to speculate that he was up to something. He asked me to just tell him how I ended up being there. He said, "Your sister is worried about you and your health. She asked me to visit you because no one else had access to this facility. I am in a position that I can come and visit. I will forward your message to your sister." He also said, "War makes people crazy." [Laughs]

I1: Did Mr. Collins say that?

TY: Yes. People do extraordinary things during wartime.

I1: What is your impression on Mr. Collins? He was viewed as an "outraged attorney," Someone who is always angry and fighting against racial discrimination.

TY: He was a fast talker but also a gentleman.

I2: About the statement by Attorney General William Rogers. What was released? Was that a judgment?

TY: He "acknowledged the wrongdoing made by the United States and declared that the United States as a free nation would publicly work toward the restoration of the citizenship." It is about the renunciation of the citizenship.

I2: What did you think about his declaration?

TY: I wasn't interested in such matters much. My sister sent me some documents.

I1: An official closing ceremony was held. It was to officially end renunciation trials. There was still more to be taken care of, but they tried to put an end to it.

I2: Everything wasn't finalized until 1965.

I1: About 300 people were still left in limbo. 300 were stateless. There were more including those who were not stateless. The determination was made not to deport the stateless. The renunciation issue was still unsolved, but the government tried to close the case. Mr. Collins was furious and refused to attend the ceremony.

I2: Did you have any intention to go back to the States? Was it a hard decision?

TY: No.

<End Segment 34> - Copyright (c) 2004 Densho. All Rights Reserved.