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VY: So we'll get to after camp in a minute. Now I know you don't have a whole lot of memories of when you're in camp, but this is a time in your life when you're advancing from infancy into your preschool years, and that's usually a time of significant intellectual, social, emotional changes. It's usually a time of rapidly progressing language skills, and it's also a time when you begin to notice other children. So with that in mind, I wonder if you have any memories or images or thoughts about Tule Lake?

MM: I do.

VY: Okay.

MM: It's interesting, I have some very vivid memories, actually. Most of it is just sort of general, but there are a few memories that are very, very significant to me. And one is that I don't know how old I was exactly, I had to be probably two or three, maybe even starting four, but there was an orchestra in the camp, and it must have been near where we lived, because I could hear it, apparently. Because my mother would say that anytime the orchestra was rehearsing, she would know where I was. Because I do remember actually, not going there, but I do remember being in the practice session where I was sitting on this wooden floor, cross-legged, listening to the violins and, well, the whole orchestra apparently. But I was only focused on the violins because I was sitting on the floor, and they were, of course, in front of the orchestra. And I was fascinated by their movements and the fingers, and I don't know if I was fascinated by the music or not. [Laughs] But that's where I became interested in the violin, and I would be there all the time when they rehearsed. I don't remember all the times, but I do  remember sitting on the floor listening to the orchestra. Okay, so that's one of my memories.

Another memory I had that's very distinct is that I remember kicking over one of those galvanized cans that they used to have for milk and stuff like that, and I was sure I was going to be in trouble. There was nothing in it, so I didn't get in any trouble, but I do remember that for some reason, weird. And then there are some general memories. Like I do remember I had a friend, sort of, I sort of remember that. And I do remember learning songs. We only spoke Japanese because my parents thought we were going to all be sent back to Japan. And as you might imagine, as a person who in a huge old camp, you don't really know what's going on, and you hear all kinds of rumors and things. So I think they had determined that they were going to be sent back to Japan, and so I only knew Japanese until I moved out of camp and we didn't have to go back to Japan. But that's about all I remember, really.

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