Densho Digital Archive - Eiichi Edward Sakauye Interview I (denshovh-seiichi-02-0020)

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ES: This is some of the activities in camp. They had a class making paper flowers, and some were so beautiful, so realistic, that you couldn't tell from the actual true one and an artificial one. There's a bonsai class, and these were made by paper. They're beautiful.

WH: For the first time, did the Isseis have some time on their hands to do these things?

ES: Well, after they settled, got their apartments fixed and arranged, because we had only potbelly stove and an iron bed and a mattress and blanket. So we had to get shades, make shades, make provisions for a chair or something, and scrounge around for lumber to make our furniture. After that was all settled, then they became interested in some activities or something to do. This is the Heart Mountain swimming hole. Here's my dad, hobby, carving rocks. This is my garden again.

WH: What was your dad's name?

ES: Yuwakichi Sakauye.

WH: And your mom?

ES: Tamaye Sakauye. These are some Oriental poppies, that's some zinnias, some more zinnias. This is one of my friends at the end of my barrack, he has got some coffee for his mother. His mother was quite old. These are the girls that went by. This is my dad. He had a slight stroke, so he retired from work. These, on the right is my girlfriend, and my sister. Here they come back from a little walk. My oldest sister on the left, her friend, and my other sister on the right. Of course, they're all no longer with us anymore. Well, this is one of the scenes that I have to take. She ran that way, no, no, she says. [Laughs]

WH: Was it a fun time for boys and girls?

ES: Well, there were fun times in there. Within the block, we'd do, chat a little bit and get together. This is, shows that second year, our flowers grew clear to the roof, especially the morning glory. We had, here's a bumble bee now. People requested flowers for the funeral service and we supplied them. Not commercially, but as a friend.