<Begin Segment 6>

DG: So when you lived in Courtland, there wasn't a language school in Courtland?

TS: They did, but we didn't go to it.

DG: Where was that school?

TS: It was in, right in Courtland. There wasn't many people, I heard, not many students there. And some of 'em that lived in Courtland used to come to Clarksburg, Holland Japanese School.

DG: Did the one in Courtland have its own building, or was it at a church or somebody's house?

TS: No, I think they had a building by itself. I'm not too sure about Courtland. Yeah.

JS: So when you were living in Courtland, you still came to the Clarksburg Japanese school?

TS: Yeah, 'cause it was, we always went to Clarksburg, so... yeah, they were more active over there.

JS: And would you go into Sacramento for dinner or business?

TS: Well, we used to go shopping in Sacramento, yeah, groceries and...

DG: Did you ever go to the movies?

TS: Not very much, no. Lot of 'em couldn't afford it, anyway, so we didn't go.

DG: And were you part of a church?

TS: No, we didn't get to go to church. It was just too far and couldn't afford it, I guess.

DG: So your main community activity was to go to the Japanese school, where you saw other...

TS: Yeah, I guess so.

DG: Janet talks about picnics at the Japanese school. Did you used to --

TS: Yeah, they had that once a year.

DG: Once a year.

TS: Where everybody brings your own lunch, and get together and run or have races and all that. Yeah.

DG: And what about New Year's? Was there a New Year's party?

TS: I don't think so. I don't think so. I don't remember.

JS: Did you do mochitsuki?

TS: At home, yeah.

JS: At home.

TS: Well, like my cousins and I, our, us, we used to get together.

DG: So you would get together with your family, extended family.

TS: Yeah.

DG: Would you visit other people's houses?

TS: No, we didn't go.

JS: Did you take any, like odori or other...

TS: No.

JS: Nothing like that.

TS: No.

JS: How about sewing? Did you take a sewing class?

TS: No, I was too young then. I didn't, no interest then.

JS: I see. Okay.

DG: Did they teach odori at the language school?

TS: No, they didn't teach that. It was strictly reading and writing. So people that, students that graduated Holland Japanese School, they're pretty good in speaking Japanese. They used to be, like me too, I can't write no more 'cause I don't have to write it. And before, when my sister was over there, once in a while I used to write. But not no more, so you forget it. But I watch, on the tapes, I watch Japanese movies. I can understand it.

DG: Did you speak Japanese at home?

TS: Now?

DG: No, when you were growing up?

TS: Yeah, to our parents. But to my brothers, it was all English.

JS: Do your brothers understand Japanese as well?

TS: Oh yeah. We all understand.

DG: So the Japanese instruction was very strong, it was very good.

TS: Yeah. So I can still, I go to Japan and talk, be able to make conversation over there.

<End Segment 6> - Copyright © 2012 Densho and Preserving California's Japantowns. All Rights Reserved.