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AI: What were some of the differences there between Minidoka and Puyallup?

SO: Oh, the structure of the camp itself. Instead of A, B, C, D, you had this huge compound. So the Seattle people were no longer separated. And the, the blocks were set up by sec -- within section -- they had sections, and then they had blocks. There was a little bit more thought to the construction of the camps. And the mess hall and the laundry room.

But as I said, it depends on your age. I think most of us who were thirteen, it didn't matter a whole lot one way or another. We just started looking out to make friends. And you really don't even ask what your older siblings felt or anything. I didn't pay much attention to my parents 'cause for the first time, they sort of left us alone. We were not as closely supervised. They were not as, if you might, strict with us, about, "Where are you going? Who are you going to be with? How long? What are you doing?" There were no questions. So there was a great deal of freedom, sudden freedom. And any early teenager will tell you, that's, that's something that dreams are made of.

AI: Well, do you recall what were some of the things you did with all that freedom of that time?

SO: We just roamed around bothering people. [Laughs] Frank Nakagawa, Sab Kanemitsu, Tomio Hamasaki, and I, the four of us, we just... yeah, we messed around a lot. And then I became very good friends with girls in our block and the next block who are still in Seattle, Kazzi Suzuki and Susie Shimizu, who passed away. Naoko Anzai, Tahagi.

AI: And then at some point a school started up and you had classes?

SO: Yes. Yes, the schools eventually started up. I don't even recall when. And that's when there was a music teacher named Erlin Erlinson. He was a chorale teacher. And he told the principal that I could sing. And then Mr. Light started to arrange for me to sing at luncheons and dinners outside the camp.

AI: And Mr. Light was the principal?

SO: Uh-huh. Jerome Light, I believe. Jerome T. Light, I believe his name was.

AI: So tell me about some of these situations where you would go outside the camp?

SO: For the most part, they were pretty nice. Twin Falls was nice. Blackfoot was pretty nice. The farthest that I recall, Idaho Falls, I had a little trouble. Boise was kind of far, and I had trouble there, where the people would yell, "Why -- what is she doing here?" or "What's the Jap doing here?"

AI: What kind of a, an event would that be where you -- in Boise? Were you going to a --

SO: I don't know. It was mostly like Lions or Rotary or -- I remember things like that. They had emblems.

AI: And then how did that end up, that, that time in Boise where people were not too welcoming?

SO: In performing, you learn two things: There is no room for vanity, if you're going to perform. And the other thing is, have no expectations from the audience. So I was -- I learned early that you, you can ignore it. It hurts, but you don't show it. And you could ignore it.

AI: So even at that young age, you went on with your performance?

SO: Oh, yes. Oh, yes. You learn that almost from day one of taking lessons in singing, that actually, you don't count. It's what you're delivering that counts.

AI: Well, can you tell me a little bit more about some of these trips outside the camp? Who would take you? Were you often going --

SO: You know, there was trucks. They wen -- we went by truck couple times. We went by car once. I have no idea who was driving. I have no recollection who was driving.

AI: Did you ever go with your parents or was -- ?

SO: No, never.

AI: And so it --

SO: Just Mich. Mich played.

AI: Just Mich and you. And what adult would go along with you? Someone from --

SO: Well, whoever the hakujin was that was assigned.

AI: Was it sometimes your teacher?

SO: Uh-uh.

AI: No.

SO: No, never the teacher. Mr. Light went with us once to Twin Falls. We went to Twin Falls about three times. Once Mr. Light went with us. But other than that, no. I really didn't pay any attention.

AI: Well, you've said a little bit about the difficulties of those trips. Was there any positive side?

SO: Oh, yes. They were warm and friendly. For the most part, they were very, very kind. And the food was good compared to camp.

AI: What do you remember of those times?

SO: Fried chicken. Really good fried chicken with gravy.

AI: So that would be something you'd never have in camp?

SO: Not that well made. [Laughs] I'm sure we had fried chicken. I'm sure. But I remember the, the gravy and things. And I remember scalloped potatoes. But for the most part, I would say they were very, very cordial, which is surprisingly in Idaho. When you -- when I look back... it's not an area of our country that's conducive to minorities.

AI: Right. I would think that very few people in Idaho had much experience with Japanese Americans at that time.

SO: Decidedly, not. I don't think anyone did. But they were, for the most part, they were quite warm and very cordial.

<End Segment 6> - Copyright © 1999 Densho. All Rights Reserved.