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TI: Okay, so we're 1934 and you graduate from high school. So what did you do next?

HU: When I was going to high school, my mother passed away. And I was dependent on my oldest brother to look after me, I was about fourteen years old. My mother died with a cerebral hemorrhage. We took her to the hospital for five days, she made it, but that was the end of it.

TI: And how difficult was that for you at fourteen to lose your mother?

HU: I think that was the worst experience because we had a wonderful relationship, mother and son, being the last one. I told you about crying. Even today, I know what I went through. But she was the one that told me about making friends. Today, I have many, many friends yet. Some have gone, but she left me that.

TI: Back in those days, when an Issei would die, what kind of, what kind of service, funeral service would they have for your mother?

HU: Yeah, for five days of mourning. And her casket was brought to our house and people came. It was a long, drawn-out affair. It was a Buddhist funeral. She had many friends, they all came. That was her life.

TI: And so did they have the service at your house, the Buddhist minister came to your house?

HU: Yes. Yeah, that was a big loss, big loss for me. And I used to cry, hide and cry... [cries] my oldest brother caught me crying, and he told me, "Mother's gone. Don't cry anymore. I'll look after you." I'll never forget that. It's a terrible thing. But I woke up, I remember all the things my mother told me. Here I am today, ninety-four and all this. So after I finished high school...

TI: Well, Harry, before we go on, I just want to make a comment that in many ways, your mother still lives with you. Your stories, your feelings for her, so I'm so happy that you shared that. So thank you. I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate your sharing that, that was very powerful.

<End Segment 5> - Copyright ©2009 Densho and the Twin Cities JACL. All Rights Reserved.