<Begin Segment 8>

TL: What do you remember about starting school?

AT: In Japan?

TL: Uh-huh.

AT: Starting school... like any other children. Yes. We had to wear uniform. See, this... Japanese were going toward more militarism, so it was very strict. And every morning before we had our classes, we had to go through all this exercise and marching. And then the war with Manchuria started. And so everybody was off for this war. Especially boys that had, in their grade school, they had to have similar training as a soldier.

TL: Did you have any favorite teachers or were there favorite subjects for you?

AT: I was bigger than my classmates, and I'm still a little bigger than average Niseis. So I was very good in athletic, running and jumping and all that. So, I was sort of special. I get special treatment for being a hero of the school because I used to bring home big flags to the school, competing with other schools.

TL: So you enjoyed the sports part.

AT: Yes, very much so.

<End Segment 8> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.