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TL: What were the circumstances of your mother and father immigrating to the United States?

AT: I cannot remember exact date, but in those days it was my grandfather -- my mother's father -- who went to war and came back, and first time he saw outside of Japan. And then after he returned, then he start hearing people going to America and he wanted to go too. So I think he came and settled in Los Angeles area. And so many Japanese Isseis were doing landscaping, gardener, landscaping because it's, it was the easiest thing to do.

TL: So your mother, though, she was born in Japan?

AT: Yes.

TL: Okay. And although... well, did she have the intent of returning to Japan, or once she got to California and Los Angeles, she saw herself staying here?

AT: I'm sure she never thought of going back and living in Japan.

TL: Why?

AT: Because life in America is so much easier. You drive your own car, you have your own big house, and you have your own business. I think it was much easier.

TL: Would it have been difficult for her to be a business person if she had returned to Japan?

AT: Oh, yes. The Japanese ladies, they have a hard time starting her own business.

<End Segment 2> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.