<Begin Segment 5>

DG: What was the land like when your parents came back from the war?

AS: Oh, that was in a mess. Really a mess. Yeah, it was really a mess. See, what happens in farming is, if you take care of the land, it'll take care of you. You know what I mean? Because after we left, nobody would take care of it. They took care of it, but they didn't take care of it like we did. They let the weeds go up, go in seeds, drops down, weed comes up. You know what I mean? Well, that's what happened. So it took probably ten years before we got it back in shape again. I'm not trying to brag or anything, but today, the way I farm, it's richer than it was twenty years ago. I mean, I, I do a lot of turnover. You know, like manure, I get all the horse manure on Bainbridge Island, almost. What do I do with it? I put it back out in the field. Work it up, and... so my land, farming, is better now than it was twenty years ago. It's hard to say that, but most people run it down, right? They keep farming it and then they have nothin' at the end. Not mine. Mine I, I keep mine in nice shape, I mean. But a lotta work.

DG: Where did you learn to do that?

AS: [Laughs] Do what?

DG: Where did, how did you learn to get more out of your land?

AS: Well, I don't know. You learn the hard way. I do things... hey, I'm eighty-five years old. And you know something about farming? I'm still learning things. Don't tell me I know everything, no way. I'm still learning at eighty-five years old. Get it? So, my knowledge is -- I'm not trying to brag -- but I know quite a bit more knowledge than the guys that are beginning. Well, they do a lot of... they come and ask a lot of questions, but I tell them the truth. Don't be afraid to work. If you can't work, forget it, just stay at home. I tell 'em, "You've gotta work hard. You're gonna live long, too, if you work hard." You know thing as overwork? You ever hear of that? Not on a farm. They work their butt off, right? I don't know. Is that all of it now?

DG: No, no... [Laughs] That's great, though. Because a lot of what we want to hear about is, is agriculture on Bainbridge Island. And I think the Japanese Americans really started agriculture on Bainbridge Island. And now, it's come full circle and it's pretty much only you. Right? I mean, it's...

AS: Yeah, you're right... I mean...

DG: So, I, we'd like to hear about how the Japanese started the farms and then what happened because of the war. Can you tell us about the Japanese American farming community before the war compared to what happened because of the war? Like what happened after?

AS: Uh-huh. If I had to do it over again, I don't know, see. I, I like farming, but I don't like to be a mechanic, an auto mechanic. Work inside a garage and fumes and gas... no, I'm glad I went this way. Because I like the other way, too, but this was a better route for me, I mean, at the end. I mean, I probably wouldn't even be living if I was a mechanic. Most of them don't, they don't... most mechanics, auto mechanics that work in a cheap place, they don't live very long. You notice that? I notice that. Because... they just gotta retire early. Painting, painting same department. You know, body shop, painting... I know one guy that died, he was only fifty-two years old. And I says, "I bet you it was painting." And then Sakuma brothers? One brother did all the spraying. Where is he? He, he died when he was young. I mean, all these things I keep comprehending. Maybe I'm wrong, I don't know.

<End Segment 5> - Copyright © 2006 Densho. All Rights Reserved.