<Begin Segment 25>

DG: Okay. Let's get back into talking about Pearl Harbor again. Now, you were in Portland.

RM: Yeah.

DG: And what did you think was gonna happen to the Japanese people?

RM: Well, we just, I mean, I don't think we gave any thought about what was going to happen. It was a shock anyway.

DG: Why did you call your friend if...

RM: Oh, well, we didn't know whether we were going to get stopped or pulled in or what.

DG: Why would you think that?

RM: Because being Japanese.

DG: Was it embarrassing at all?

RM: No, it wasn't embarrassing, but anyway it wasn't a very good feeling.

DG: I guess I asked that question because I know somebody else who was just tremendously embarrassed by all of it.

RM: Why would he be embarrassed?

DG: Because being Japanese and having Japan attack.

RM: Well, I don't know whether I was embarrassed or not, but it's quite a shock all right.

DG: Were you worried about business?

RM: Well, we didn't know what was gonna happen to the business.

DG: What did your mom say?

RM: Gosh, she didn't know what to say either. It's a big shock to everybody.

DG: Now, let's -- by shock, what makes it a shock?

RM: Well, that Japan and this country would be at war. And we knew something was going on, but we didn't think the attack was gonna... anyway, we were in Portland, like I said, and we didn't know what was gonna, might happen to us.

<End Segment 25> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.