<Begin Segment 5>

[Translated from Japanese]

I2: When was your first encounter with Mr. Best?

I1: He just said that was his first encounter with him.

I2: I mean when was that?

TY: I went to the office alone and requested to arrange a meeting with Mr. Myer and Mr. Best if they were there. Our delegates would like to talk.

I1: So you met Mr. Best but future negotiation was rejected.

I2: Did you just see his face?

TY: Yes. We did exchange a few words. He asked my name. I said, "I am looking for Mr. Best." He replied, "I am Mr. Best." I said, "Please meet with a few delegates of ours." He said, "I have no intention to meet." I insisted, "How about limiting the number of delegates to a few?" He replied, "I have no intention."

I2: Do you remember what exactly Mr. Best said in English?

TY: Me?

I2: Do you remember how Mr. Best expressed he had no intention to meet with you?

TY: I don't remember. He was apparently irritated by the large number of demonstrators. He told me that he had no intention to meet and negotiate with our delegates.

I2: Why were you chosen to deliver the request?

TY: It wasn't that I was sent as a negotiator. I was just asked to find out where Mr. Best was and whether we could talk to him or not. I was just looking for him.

I1: You were there to tell Mr. Best that negotiators were coming later.

TY: Yes. They told me to ask Mr. Best to meet with our delegates if I saw him.

I2: There wasn't any violence in this process like you went into the office with your fist up.

TY: Not at all.

I2: It is also hard to believe that you went there as you were having a conversation with Mr. Todoroki.

TY: Well, there was one occasion that we were talking to each other in Japanese.

I1: What were you talking about?

TY: I think I said something like, "Everyone, go back to the camp." That must have been in Japanese.

I2: Was it on the 4th?

TY: It was on the evening of the 4th.

I2: Who was "everyone"?

TY: It was right before those white officers suddenly came out in front of us. I had no idea where the warehouse was. It was pitch dark.

I2: About what time was it?

TY: I think it was around 8 o'clock. It was winter and was very dark outside.

I2: You were in Block 4 at that time as you mentioned yesterday.

TY: We were having a delegate meeting there.

I2: You ran from there?

I1: You went out to look for Mr. Best.

I2: Here is Block 4 on the map. Do you remember which direction you went running?

TY: I think I went in this direction from here, and I got beaten up around here.

I2: Toward where army was stationed or where the administration was? You were running toward the area where the white officers lived. It was in the opposite direction of the warehouse. The warehouse was on this side. You were supposed to go in this direction but went over there by mistake.

TY: I went in this direction. Going straight here. We weren't sure where and asked, "Where is the warehouse?" I was told, "Go straight." "Over there." It must have been around here. There was a school or something around here. We must have been beaten up around here.

I2: In between the school gates?

TY: I don't remember exactly because it was very dark. But we didn't run that far.

I1: It was darker because it was in the school. There must have been some lights if it had been near the residential area.

I2: Mr. Kai asked you to go because you were a fast runner.

TY: That is one of the reasons. But also it must have been easier for Mr. Kai to pick me because I was very close to him among the young people in the Kai group.

I1: You were close with Mr. Kai back in Fresno, and you also went to Jerome together.

TY: I went to his Sunday school there.

I1: What about the three shots fired from the automatic pistol described in the report?

TY: I don't know. They were armed, but they didn't shoot. I just remember being hit with a big fist. Right in my face. It left a spot on my face, and it was more noticeable in the winter. Those white guys were huge. Todoroki flew in the air when he got beaten.

I2: How big was Todoroki? [Laughs]

TY: Small. He was a tiny boy.

I2: How old was Todoroki?

TY: He must have been about my age.

I2: Around twenty?

TY: Around there.

I1: Skinny?

TY: Yes, skinny. He was a Kibei and could not speak English well.

I2: No one was hit by the baseball bat at that time, correct?

TY: No.

<End Segment 5> - Copyright (c) 2004 Densho. All Rights Reserved.