<Begin Segment 19>

TI: So never, even though Idaho was a state where they had Japanese Americans in camps, Minidoka, which was south of Boise. When you were at Boise, did you know about Minidoka?

TH: Uh-huh, because I went to visit my friends there.

TI: Oh, so tell me about that. Who was at Minidoka? So these were people from the Portland area?

TH: Fumi Sakamoto, used to be Fumi Kaga. And a few, I can't remember who else I used to go visit. Most of them came out to Boise to work for their room and board. They didn't go to school just to get out of camp. But anyway, I went to visit her, I remember.

TI: And how did you go down there? Did you get a ride with someone?

TH: I think I took the bus to Twin Falls. I don't know how I got to the camp, but they must have a bus to go to the camp.

TI: And what did you think when you went to Minidoka? What were your impressions when you got there?

TH: It was like a vacation. And you know, just a lot of Japanese, and it was kind of nice, I thought.

TI: And was it hard to get into the camp? Like did you just have to check in or register?

TH: I don't think, I just think I just walked in. They did have the sentry or whatever you call them up there. But nobody asked me any questions.

TI: So when you were in there and saw your friend, was it just visiting them or did you partake in some of their social activities like dancing?

TH: No, just visited. I think I just stayed that one day.

TI: Do you recall your friends being curious what Boise was like? Because you mentioned some of them went up there later to the house for room and board? Do you remember any of the conversations?

TH: No. But there were a lot of them working, they came from camp. And then the fellows all came and worked on the farms, Ontario area.

BY: Do you remember thinking, "Boy, I'm sure glad that I didn't have to go to Minidoka, here I was able to go to Boise State?" Did you have that kind of thought at all?

TH: No, I didn't think anything of that.

TI: So how long did you attend Boise State?

TH: It was a junior college at the time I entered, and then it became a four-year college. So I finished my credit.

TI: So you finished four years there?

TH: Uh-huh. And I didn't pay any tuition so I never even thought of it. I just kept going to school. Isn't that strange that I wouldn't ask?

TI: Yeah, who was paying your tuition? Was it the state?

TH: I kind of think that it was, I stayed with this Dr. Barco and his wife, working for my room and board. And I think he might have been paying, they might have been paying it, I think. And I never asked. [Laughs] I never even thought of it. Isn't that terrible? I knew that they must have... June and I talked about it, but she didn't think anything of it either because her parents were probably just paying it and we just went to school.

<End Segment 19> - Copyright © 2022 Densho. All Rights Reserved.