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BN: And then do you know much about how he met your mom?

MM: Okay. So my mom was born in 1924 in Manchuria, as I said. My mother's father was a civilian businessperson and a pharmacist who was encouraged by the Japanese imperial government to colonize Manchuria once the military took over the expansion of Asia. And so he, I guess, volunteered to go to Manchuria. And my mother had an older sister who was born in 1910, and she was born in Manchuria, so my grandfather had been there for, as early as 1910, probably earlier. And during the war, as the Japanese were being defeated throughout and having to retreat back to mainland Japan, my mother came back. And they, not unlike many people in that area, they were a sort of matchmaker, and it was an arranged marriage through the families. And I heard stories of my grandmother having my father go out with other girls and stuff, like regular dating, but he didn't like any of them. And so he just settled for this arranged marriage. And I think statistically, I mean, most arranged marriages worked out just fine. The divorce rate is probably fewer than in dating situations now.

BN: Expectations are different when it's an arranged. Then I think you mentioned that he worked as a dentist in Japan, right?

MM: Yeah, so he had his own practice in a little town called Tsuyama where we grew up. So by 1956, he would have been thirty-nine. So in mid-life, mid-career, in the middle of raising a family, he decided to come. And my mother was just as willing, because I think it's difficult to live with an in-law, my father's mother. And so she was ready to get out of there, too, so they made the trip.

BN: And did you have siblings also?

MM: I have one older sister who's a year and a half older, and she was a teacher for many years.

BN: I assumed you're like nine or whatever. Did the opinions of either you or your sister have any influence in the family's deciding to move?

MM: Well, I was excited for the adventure, so I don't think I put up any resistance. My sister is quieter and more reflective. And I think she was more concerned about being able to adjust.

BN: Well, even just a couple of years makes a big difference at that age.

MM: It does make a difference.

<End Segment 3> - Copyright © 2023 Densho. All Rights Reserved.