<Begin Segment 30>

AI: And at that time, was your father still alive, or...

KO: He was still alive, but his health was failing. And in those days, people sixty years old were considered pretty old. And I think all that boozing and running around that he did finally caught up with him. I hate to say that about my dad, but it was the truth. So, he ended up having an operation, and eventually dying because he was a poor patient. He wouldn't do what they told him to do. That's part of his being a hard-headed individual.

AI: Right. So when he passed away, that pretty much left you as the head of the family then.

KO: That's correct. Uh huh. So, life went on from there, and then we worked at Columbia for ten years or so, and decided that that was as far as we could go there. So we decided to take a fling, and see if we could do it on our own.

AI: Well now, along the way there -- before we get into that part of your work life -- becoming the head of the family, and your father being gone, that must have changed your responsibilities again. And, was just wondering, it seems like you were, in the traditional sense you were left with the responsibility for your mother.

KO: That's right. And that is the last thing my dad told me, asked me to do before he died. He said, "Promise me you'll take care of my mother." [Cries]

<End Segment 30> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.