<Begin Segment 30>

BK: Well, more than fifty years have gone by since the end of the war. As you think back, on your internment experience, what were some of the best outcomes associated with internment?

SU: Well, in that when we were forced to leave home, away from that close, provincial kind of a community that we grew up in, which is all right for us, but we were able to go out, not afraid, into strange places. And I think our children have gotten a lot out of it, because from the very beginning, they've had to be among the other parts of the country, and not Japanese only. Although, they should retain that Japanese roots, which I have been very poor in instilling into my children. They're not interested in community things, or -- I don't know, they just, I'm very poor a model.

BK: However, I think that there are some family values that they've certainly inherited, and that you have instilled in them which are just as valuable.

SU: Well, unconsciously. I haven't had to press it on them. Of course, it's like, once you're all raised, the saying, "If you do something bad, it doesn't concern only your family, but your whole community. It's gonna be a haji, shame, to the Japanese people. So you'd better be careful." I was brought up that way. And it seems like our children, I don't remember saying it to them, but they must have gotten it from us, that we do make a difference in what we do, everyday life.

BK: Right, right. Again, as part of the reflections here, what were the worst long-term affects of internment?

SU: Being away from home, from Seattle. Despite its rain. But I think most of us long for home. Furusato, they call it, don't they? It's nothing like home. I've always wanted to come home. Of course, the church meant a lot.

BK: Right.

SU: And this is where our roots were. Oddly, I never think of going back to Japan, 'cause that's not home. But the West Coast has, oh, I wanted to come home so badly a lot of times. I was tearful, because I was left alone with all those children. The people were kind, but nothing like the friends that you went to school with, started out in kindergarten. And it's strange, during the times that we live in Seattle, we don't see each other much. But when we get together, oh, we can talk all night, it seems like, talking about old times.

BK: Right.

SU: And so, I guess there is that pull, where you want to be surrounded by friends that you've known a long time.

BK: That comfort, that comfortable feeling.

SU: But I'm not really sorry for what happened. We had no time. People have asked me, "Did you feel angry? Were you sad? Were you upset?" I think temporarily we were, but carrying on your life every day, like taking care of the babies and going to a new place and new situation, you just didn't have time. All the women, I think, were able to cry much easier than men. I think it was harder on the men, the uncertainty of being able to provide for their family. But they never expressed themselves.

BK: Right.

SU: Chick never, we never talked about how sad life is or, we were so busy.

BK: Right.

SU: Busy taking care of family.

BK: And just meeting the daily challenges.

SU: Oh, yes. Because I remember when I came back to Seattle, sure it was good to come home. But to start a new business, get into debt. We had to go to the bank to borrow money, and then to be able to pay that off. That was, night after night I used to worry, constantly, "How are we going to make a living?" In fact, I even thought, "I wonder how much my, wedding ring or engagement ring, would bring in a pawn shop, so I can borrow a few dollars." It was that bad. But see? Somehow, got through it.

BK: Right. Right. Indeed.

SU: Got through it.

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