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TI: And so we'll talk about the house during the war and what happened to it. But before we go on, Barb, do you have any other questions?

BY: I'm really curious about school. So what school did you go to, did you have, was it, like, all Japanese or it was a mix of Japanese and white kids? Just talk about school.

TW: I went to Highland grade school, which was in Redmond, California, and we can walk there, you could walk on the street or through the woods and get home. And then, of course, that's all I did was go to Highland school before camp. And then like I said, my brother was going to the Bellevue High School.

BY: But so what was Highland school like? How many grades was it, how many kids were in your class and who were the kids?

TW: Well, there were grades one through six, it was primary. And I don't remember any other Japanese being there. But like I said, I had my friends Joy and Loretta. I don't remember how large it was. I remember our principal's name was Mr. Stevenson and the recess was over I was still doing cartwheels. And I was very embarrassed because he saw me doing cartwheels. [Laughs] That's about all.

BY: Do you remember any of your teachers in particular?

TW: No, I don't.

BY: I'm assuming they were all white?

TW: Oh, yes, very definitely all white.

BY: And how did... did you feel well accepted and a part of the school being the only Japanese family there?

TW: We didn't feel, I had no feelings about discrimination. Like I said, my good friends were right up the road and I didn't feel discrimination. Of course, and then every Saturday we would go to the Buddhist church in Seattle for our Japanese school.

BY: In Seattle or Bellevue?

TW: Oh, excuse me, in Bellevue.

BY: So then that's when you would see other Japanese American children?

TW: Yes. It was where Nordstrom is now. That's where the Japanese school and the Japanese community center was.

TI: And so that's, for people listening, so that's, Nordstrom's in Bellevue square.

TW: The most expensive, I have to believe, department building.

TI: And so Japanese language school, did all your siblings also attend on Saturday, or your other siblings?

TW: Yes, we all attended.

TI: And just describe what Japanese school was like for you? What was it like?

TW: Well, I think there was three in my class, but then all the grades were in one room. I think we had a teacher from Seattle come and teach us.

TI: And by any chance, do you remember any of the names of the teachers?

TW: No, I don't recall.

TI: So I want to -- before we go to the war, you mentioned how your grandfather had passed away right before the war. But in the pre-interview you mentioned, I think that you made a comment that you were like a grandmother kid. And so it sounds like your grandmother and you were pretty close?

TW: Well, that was after... my mother died in '43 or '2 in camp.

TI: Okay, so this is after the war that you and your grandmother...

TW: Yes.

TI: Okay, okay. And then so before the war, you weren't as close. It was really after the war that you and your grandmother got closer?

TW: I think we were always close because Grandma and Grandpa were right there with us. So I was always close to Grandma, she did a lot of cooking, because Mom did a lot of work on the farm.

TI: And just to make sure I'm clear about this, so your grandmother and grandfather that were living with you in Bellevue before the war, that was your father's...

TW: Mom and dad.

TI: Mom and dad, okay.

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 2022 Densho. All Rights Reserved.