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[Ed. note: This transcript has been edited by the narrator]

VY: So it sounds like you spent a lot of time with your mom.

YY: Well, I went with her to grocery shopping or whatever she had to do.

VY: What kinds of things did your mom talk to you about?

YY: During the day it was so busy we didn't have much conversation, but usually when I went to bed, or if we were in bed -- we were in the same bedroom -- so we would talk about different things then.

VY: Did she like living in San Francisco or did she miss Japan?

YY: I think by the time I was born, she was (getting) used to it and kind of resigned to the fact. But before that, when I was maybe about two or three, I would always hear her saying she wants to go back to Japan, that she was homesick (for) her mother (and family).

VY: Did she have an opportunity to go back to Japan to visit her family?

YY: Actually, she took four of the children, my four older siblings, to Japan in 1933, I think (she thought of not returning to the U.S., but) was worried about having borrowed money and felt obligated to) pay that back. She (fell) ill during that summer (in Japan), and (her family) didn't think she was going to make it. (She did recover, however, then felt determined to make the return trip to the U.S.)

VY: So that's interesting. So she took her four children with her to Japan, and she was planning to stay there. Do you know why?

YY: What?

VY: Do you know why she made that decision?

YY: Well, she felt she wanted to go back, and she felt (the children) had learned to read and write (in Japanese). They thought she would, I mean, she thought they could adjust to living there (in Japan). She didn't discuss it with them. (She eventually) decided that she had to take care of her debts.

VY: Well, and what about your father? Did he know that she was planning to not return?

YY: No, I don't think so. I don't think she discussed that.

VY: So she was planning to leave him.

YY: Uh-huh. (Perhaps, I don't really know)

VY: I see. So it sounds like she was not very happy in her marriage at that time.

YY: She felt this was her only chance, because she didn't think that she would have a chance to go back again.

VY: Who did she borrow the money from?

YY: A friend, a family friend. And he was married in Japan, and he had a family there, but he came to the U.S. to earn some money (then he thought) he could go back. Which he did, actually, in 1958 he did. But all that time, he was alone.

VY: So he never got married? Well...

YY: Oh, he was, he had a wife (and child) in Japan, and he was sending money home to them.

VY: I see.

YY: I met his son. When he went back, we went on the same ship. My first trip to Japan was after I graduated from college and my mother wanted to take me because I was the only one who hadn't gone. And at the same time, this man decided (he was) getting so old that he better go back while he still can. And since we were going, he wanted to come with us on the (same) ship, so he did.

VY: Oh, interesting. What was his name?

YY: Mr. Doi, D-O-I.

VY: And what did he do that he could loan money?

YY: I'm not really sure what he did and how he made his money, I don't know.

VY: Did he loan money to other people?

YY: He always (seemed to be lending to others), we were (concerned he may not be repaid. But) apparently, most people did.

VY: So was he kind of a friend of the family as well? Was he a friend of your father's also?

YY: Oh yes, yes, I mean, that's how he knew us, through my father.

VY: So I imagine, if he was a friend of your father, he probably, when he lent money to your mother to go back to Japan for a trip, I imagine he probably didn't realize that she wasn't intending to come back.

YY: He was one who never tried to remind people that they borrowed from him, and so we were always afraid for him that people would take advantage of (him). But I think in most cases, they were pretty honest.

VY: Okay, so any other memories of when you were very little in Japantown in San Francisco? Did you have a lot of friends?

YY: Uh-huh.

VY: Do you remember your friends? This was before the war still.

YY: Yeah, a lot of them were the same age, and therefore we were in the same class all through high school.

VY: Interesting. So...

YY: Of course, there were two or three high schools that you could go to. And in camp, we were always in the same grade, too.

<End Segment 4> - Copyright © 2021 Densho. All Rights Reserved.