<Begin Segment 10>

TI: Okay, now going back to you, so the next day, December 8th, I believe you were going to Cleveland High School at this point?

MT: Yes.

TI: So tell me what it was like on December 8th when you went back to school.

MT: I remember that day so well because I was afraid. I didn't know what the reaction would be from my classmates or whatever. I don't know why I felt that way but I remember dreading having to go to school that day. And then I had a classmate also, a Japanese girl, and we got together as soon as we saw each other in our classroom, and she was telling me that her father was picked up, too. Well, he was very active in Seattle. So it was a very difficult day, but we didn't encounter any problems, actually. Our classmates were tolerant enough.

TI: And at that time, Cleveland High School, like in a typical class, how many other Japanese would be in the class?

MT: I think in my class, well, the classroom, they were divided by alphabet. But it must have been about four or five, not too many.

TI: Okay. And the class being about how, like thirty students or so?

MT: Yeah.

TI: So about a sixth or so, fifth or sixth. And in the days following at school, were there ever any problems or discussions or incidents about the war that you can remember?

MT: I don't remember that. I think... I don't remember any, well, I just don't really remember that we discussed it openly or anything like that.

TI: How about things like school assemblies, talking about the war or anything like that?

MT: No, I don't remember if there were anything like that.

TI: Do you recall any of the teachers or anything, saying anything about Japanese or Japanese Americans?

MT: You mean during that time?

TI: Yeah, while you were at Cleveland High School.

MT: I don't think anybody really approached me.

TI: Now, I was curious, so Cleveland High School is pretty far away from your house. How did you get to school? Was there a bus, or how did you...

MT: No, there was no bus. Some of them must have dropped us off.

TI: Yeah, because it's pretty, it'd be a long walk to go.

MT: It is, it would have been, especially where we were living right before the war.

TI: So you must have gotten a ride from someone.

MT: Yes. I think my brothers, I think my brother was driving.

TI: Now when you were going to high school, did you still go to Japanese school after high school?

MT: Yes.

TI: So you were still taking... so then you would have to come all the way back into South Park and then go to Japanese school. So now thinking about your family during, after your father was taken away, how did your mother cope? I mean, your dad did so much, he was the head of the household, pretty much take care of the farm, how was your mother handling all this?

MT: Well, let's see. I think she sought help from family friends like the fellow who helped us buy the property and all. So our friends helped us as much as they could. I don't remember.

TI: And what happened to the farm? Because I'm guessing that with your father gone, the family could not make the payments.

MT: That's right.

TI: So what happened?

MT: Well, the main arrangements with this Italian man, they would take over the farm and work the farm. But I don't know what the financial arrangements were, and no way could my father make payments on that, the ones who were in camp. But during the war, an agent came into camp and said that, "You asked my father to sell the property," so that's what happened. My father had no choice.

TI: Do you know how much he sold it for or if it was, whether or not it was a fair deal?

MT: Well, like I said, we had just started buying it, so I don't know the details. It was more like a total loss, I'm sure.

TI: Was your father bitter about it or did you ever get a sense of how he felt about having to sell?

MT: No. Well, he may have had regrets, but by that time, I had... no, I'm sorry, I'm getting my timing kind of confused here.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 2016 Densho. All Rights Reserved.