<Begin Segment 14>

DG: Okay, so you start boarding up the store...

MM: Before evacuation.

DG: And then you had tenants, and what did you think you were going to do with the store?

AM: We didn't know that we would be closed up and be sent away. They...

DG: Why didn't you have somebody lease it and...

MM: Yeah, some Chinese wanted to come and take over the store, but no, (we said) no.

DG: Why was that?

MM: You know, we just -- didn't want them.

DG: So, tell me about what you did with the store.

AM: We boarded up all the glass, and then -- that's all. We put all the things away in the cellar.

MM: So if you came in, you see nothing. Just a empty co-, you know. Empty tabletops.

DG: And then you had somebody taking care of the building?

AM: We had a man on the corner, he told us that he would watch our store. And he was a wonderful Jewish ano ne, loan man. He worked, and he stayed during the war, all the time.

MM: He was one of our longest tenants.

AM: Uh-huh.

MM: He was a Jewish fellow. And his older brother had a wholesale, so we knew them. And, we told, my Pop says, no hot water or heat because we'd be gone, but he said that was alright, he wanted to stay. And it was a blessing. And we get a letter in camp, saying, "Clean your alley." So we sent the letter to him, the letter, and we told him to have it cleaned, and then deduct it from his rent. So he, he (did)...

AM: I don't know what...

DG: So were there several people renting while you were gone?

MM: No, he was the only one. 'Cause he was the only non-Japanese.

DG: So then who was in this building at this time?

MM: Well, there was Chihara Jewelry. And then...

AM: He was a loan office.

MM: Oh, Jackson Loan Office. That's the Jewish fellow.

DG: Did they all closed up theirs?

MM: No, no he wanted to stay open. And I think he made a bundle.

DG: Who else, Chihara?

AM: Chihara (Jewelry).

MM: And then Uji no barber shop. And of course the upstairs, the young lawyers and doctors, well, of course they all had to go.

DG: And so did you close those...?

MM: Yes. Upstairs was completely closed. No heat or hot water because...

DG: So what did you do about finances?

MM: Finances? Well, we didn't owe anybody as far as I know.

DG: You didn't have any payments, either?

AM: We paid the taxes from the, Minidoka. The bills came through, so we paid the taxes.

<End Segment 14> - Copyright © 1997 Densho. All Rights Reserved.