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BY: So what year did you enter Doshisha?

SN: 1952.

BY: 1952, so after the war.

SN: After the war.

BY: And Doshisha is a Christian university, is that right?

SN: Yes.

BY: So did you grow up as a Christian?

SN: No, I was Buddhist. [Laughs] And at the Doshisha, I met the missionary, Reverend John Young, and I lived at the dormitory for two years, during time I was converted to Christianity. But most people were... my older brother and sister remained Buddhist.

BY: So tell me a little bit about Reverend John Young. It sounds like he was a big influence in your life. So tell me about him a little.

SN: Well, he was a missionary in Hawaii and saved many families during the war. And after the war, he was sent to Japan, to Doshisha, and become a director of a Hawaii dormitory. And only ten people were selected and lived there. So fortunately, I was chosen to be there, and I learned my English from Reverend Young. And Reverend Young retired and came to California. There's a missionary village there, so he died there.

BY: And what was he like?

SN: Oh, he was a big man. [Laughs] But he's very, very kind, and he know each one's, what kind of character this guy has, and accordingly, he helped us. And as I said, after he retired and came to California, missionary retirement house, then after his death, his grave is in Hawaii. I visit a couple times.

BY: So it sounds like he was very important to you.

SN: Yeah.

TI: So I have a question. When you were a schoolboy, before the war, what did you think your life was going to be? What did you think you would become when you were just like in grade school, like fourteen years old, fifteen years old? What did you want to become back then?

SN: Well, honestly, at grade school, I wasn't so sure what the future would be. So as a normal kid, just enjoyed school and friends and that's it, no future vision. But went to college, then I had some future ambitions.

TI: And was that future ambition in the sciences, do you think?

SN: Yes. Become a, as my nickname shows, professor. [Laughs] I wanted to be a college professor.

TI: But how about your parents? When you were a schoolboy, what do you think their hopes for you were?

SN: Well, I don't know if they had any idea. Probably hope for the best. But I went to the Doshisha and then got a scholarship from the U.S. and so forth. So I'm sure my parents didn't know what I would be.

BY: It sounds like they were very supportive of your education.

SN: Oh, yes.

BY: I want to ask you about one more thing while you're at Doshisha. I think you let it slip that you met your wife at Doshisha. Can you tell us about that? How did you meet your wife?

SN: Oh. I met my wife (Eiko) at Doshisha University. And there were only three girls, students, at that time, all boys and only three girls. Fortunately, I could get one of the three girls. [Laughs]

BY: Oh, okay. So I think you were good at something else besides just science. [Laughs]

SN: Well, my wife was a real nice lady.

BY: Okay. So you met her there, and then later, I'll ask you about how you convinced her to come to Chicago, but thank you for telling us about that.

<End Segment 7> - Copyright © 2022 Densho. All Rights Reserved.