<Begin Segment 9>

JN: Well, today, how do you feel about what happened to you and your family during the war? How do you feel about the memorial? What would you like to say to visitors?

NO: Well, that was a very historical event. And many... and before, a lot of people didn't know where Bainbridge was. But now that we get so much publicity, I think this memorial will be really great because it's a history and it should be carried on. So, if it's just books, it would be just hand-me-down things. But if you have some people that really experience this, all this, I think it's, I think it's a wonderful idea. People are more interested about Bainbridge and the, all the memorial... not only the Bainbridge people, but our friends and outsiders.

There's one thing I'd like to share. When I was unable to be with my graduating class in 1942, they had the graduation. I sent telegram and after twelve years I was very sad I couldn't be there, so I just sat and cried. And I heard that there was thirteen empty seats on the stage for us seniors. So, that was very touching. And in 1992, the graduating class of Bainbridge High School gave us, gave Sachi Nakata three days' notice if she could come. She asked me to join and so another lady, Sue Nishimori, Yonemitsu now, we went to this graduation, with the blue caps and gown, and we were the first three to walk down. And they gave us a standing ovation, and then we just marched up like all the seniors. We got our diploma, and I really felt that, "Oh, I did graduate from Bainbridge High School after all." And that will stay with me forever, and my youngest son came and took the video of the whole thing. So, that is very memorable to me.

JN: Do you have anything else you'd like to share?

NO: Well, I want to thank you all for this. I think this video will be a very important part of this whole evacuation and all that. And I think people will really appreciate and enjoy seeing it. Because it's coming out of the person or people that really experienced this, and they're trying to express what they remember. I think I am even looking forward to seeing all the, whole videotape one day. And I do hope that a memorial will at least completed or mostly completed because there aren't very many Niseis left on the island. And they're all, and the rest of them are all scattered throughout the United States. And the Sanseis are all scattered, too, and they don't know too much about evacuation, they only know what they hear. So, so I think this is a wonderful project, Japanese here are doing, and I appreciate it very much.

<End Segment 9> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.