<Begin Segment 16>

DG: So, let's move on then, you came back to Seattle when?

KS: In 1945. Toru came back to Seattle.

DG: What month was that?

KS: (August).

DG: So before the war ended.

KS: Yes. I think the, it had to be after Japan surrendered.

TS: I think the war ended in August, didn't it?

KS: So was it in Aug, yes, maybe it was in August that you came to Seattle.

TS: Well I stayed with the Itois. No, I stayed with the Itois, and then when you were able to come, you came to join me at James Hotel.

KS: That's right.

TS: Where we had a one-room apartment, for I think about $25 or $30 a month.

DG: So, tell me a little bit about coming back to Seattle. The atmosphere that you faced, or did you have any problems finding a place or?

TS: Well, we just lived in James Hotel for a while and then one of our friends...

DG: That's right downtown?

TS: Sixth and James. And then we moved to the, oh, it's Eddie Otsuka's.

KS: The Kenyon Apartments.

TS: Kenyon Apartments up on the hill next to the Yesler housing project.

KS: But housing was almost impossible. Very difficult to find if you... most...

TS: You had to have friends to.

KS: And if you didn't, landlords would take money from you for just even letting you look at a place, let alone getting the place. And I say we were fortunate to have friends who had a apartment house and we were able to get an apartment with a stipulation that I paint it and wallpaper it and clean it up with no pay, not even a reduction in the first month's rent. So, things were very tight.

DG: You left your job at the U&I Sugar Company?

KS: Yes, yes. Well, no. The Sugar Company only ran until about February or March. 'Cause the Sugar Company, I mean the sugar plants only processed the sugar beets and it was a seasonal job. It started about in, I think September and lasted 'til about the end of February.

<End Segment 16> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.