<Begin Segment 11>

DG: So can you tell me about what happened, or describe what it was like for the island and the community when these Japanese American farmers started to come back after the war?

DR: Oh, it was a good thing. They were just glad that they were home, they were coming back, because they shouldn't have been there in the first place, they didn't feel. And by that time, the Filipino farmers, too, you know, like I said, during the war, they got their, they got their trade by working down at the Hall Brothers shipyard and stuff, and they were raising their berries, too.

DG: So, did the... was the war, did the war good for -- well, I shouldn't say good -- what opportunities did the World War II have for the Filipino farmers?

DR: Well, as caregivers, caretakers and stuff for the Japanese farms and stuff, it gave them a stake to go ahead and buy their own farm and things, instead of just leasing it or whatever. It helped them in a big way.

Lucy Ostrander: Just to follow up on that, Debra, were there any laws preventing them from purchasing the land? Did they have any problems...

DR: Well, the one thing my dad had to do before he bought his property is he had to become an American citizen. Because if you weren't American citizen, you could not own property. So, my dad became an American citizen and he bought his property then. And some of them, too, that like... they're, they wanted to buy land but they weren't American citizen, but their brother was American citizen so they put the land in his name, 'til he can become American citizen.

DG: And so how were they able to secure loans? Was that a problem to secure loans for land?

DR: Pretty much so. Land was so cheap in those days, too. But I don't know, I think actually what my dad did is he saved, saved his money and just, just made a promissory. It's not as complicated as it is now. You have to go through so much. Before it was just a handshake, almost. But, yeah, my dad did pay cash for the property he bought, that 5 acres, going off...

DG: So again, because of the war and the opportunities that the Filipinos had, they were... explain that again. What opportunities they were given...

DR: Oh, yeah. When they were caretakers, a lot of them were caretakers, because they were working for the certain Japanese farmers to begin with, you know, through the winter months and stuff, so they, they worked on their farms or just took care of their farms during the war. And were able, then gave what money they could to the... gave the money to the Japanese farmers from the land, you know, and things like that. So, yeah, that's pretty much how it went. Then after the war, they, a lot of them, like I say, bought their own property, too, and their farms.

LO: How was that done in terms of getting the money to the Japanese American farmers who were interned? Did they just send it in the mail or did they have to go deliver it in person?

DR: From what I understand, a lot of them just went over there to where the Japanese were and brought them the money.

DG: Do you remember any stories people told about what it was like to see the camps and see the Japanese in the camps?

DR: No. No, I didn't. I just knew it wasn't very good, though, so I've heard.

DG: Did your mother ever share any stories about the Japanese returning and getting to know them?

DR: Well, yeah, yeah. It's pretty much so. 'Cause, just like I say, that Mom knew the Takemotos and she knew Mrs. Kitamoto and she knew Suyematsu, Mrs. Suyematsu. They, we used to pick on, pick at Akio's too, Suyematsu's, pick berries there, too, when we weren't workin' on our farm. My dad didn't let us be lazy. [Laughs]

DG: So was it a difficult life for you growing up to work on the farms?

DR: Yeah, that's why we, I don't have a berry farm anymore. [Laughs] I don't even want to garden. My dad was always gardening, we always had fresh vegetables, we always strawberries to harvest and different things. But, it's a hard work. It is hard work.

DG: All right. Is there anything else? I think, I think that was great. [Laughs] Okay. Anything else you would like to add?

DR: I think I'm all talked out. [Laughs]

DG: Okay. You did great.

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 2007 Densho. All Rights Reserved.