Densho Digital Archive
Preserving California's Japantowns Collection
Title: Rose Nakagawa Interview
Narrator: Rose Nakagawa
Interviewers: Jill Shiraki (primary); Kerry Nakagawa (secondary)
Location: Fresno, California
Date: March 9, 2010
Densho ID: denshovh-nrose-01-0030

<Begin Segment 30>

TI: Okay. So I think we're getting a little tired here. [Laughs] So I think we're gonna, I think this is a pretty good place to stop. This has been really interesting. Really, I appreciate the time. Jill, is there anything that you wanted to follow up before...

KN: Any last thoughts?

RN: No, nothing.

KN: What would you like to leave for Kale and Jenna to remember your legacy by? Nakagawas, Fujimuras, Fukudas?

RN: They all like Fowler.

TI: [Laughs] They like Fowler?

KN: No, but down the road, long time from now, what would you hope that Jenna and Kale remember about you and our family?

RN: They knew we were happy people living in Fowler.

JS: So it was good to come back?

RN: Huh?

JS: It was hard to be in camp, so it was good to come back to Fowler, start a new life, start over.

TI: And when you say, remember that you were a happy family, what is it that helps you to be happy? When I think about your life and all the difficult times that you had with your mother dying, both young, and then later on, another mother dying in camp, going through all your journey, what is it that makes you think that, that allows you to be happy?

RN: Gee, I don't know.

JS: Can you tell us about this one? He was part of the happy life, wasn't he? Was he part of Fowler?

KN: I came after the war, right, Mama?

RN: Uh-huh.

KN: So why was I born fourteen years later after Janie? What did the doctor tell you when you were pregnant with me?

RN: I don't know. I don't remember.

KN: He said that, wasn't I the menopause baby?

RN: Oh. Uh-huh.

KN: But why did you wait so long to have me? Janie was fourteen years older than me.

RN: I don't know.

KN: I wasn't planned, though, right? You and Dad didn't plan to have me. So I was a moment of weakness?

RN: Could be.

TI: [Laughs] I think that's the perfect way to end.

KN: I'm glad I'm here, though. Thank you.

TI: Rose, thank you so much for the interview. This has been wonderful, thank you.

<End Segment 30> - Copyright © 2010 Densho and Preserving California's Japantowns. All Rights Reserved.