Densho Digital Archive - Jiro Sugidono Interview (denshovh-sjiro-01-0006)

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TI: I'm going to switch gears a little bit now and I want to talk about your, your dad's business. Can you tell me what he did in Watsonville?

JS: Well, my father, he might have been a good mechanic, but it seemed like he wasn't making money. [Laughs] 'Cause I don't know, there was too many credit, you know, people can't afford it or something, but, 'cause I know when the war broke out, there was several families came over and they couldn't pay what they're supposed to pay and so they brought, like Japanese people, they bring gallons of (shoyu) or something, you know, 'cause they can't afford to pay what they owe. So that's how, how it was in those days. And it was in the '30s, it was rough, too, see. So actually, he didn't get rich, anyway. So that's why my mother, right off the bat, she started working.

TI: Yeah, before we talk about your mother, so who were the customers of your father?

JS: Oh, mostly there was Issei farmers and things, they used to bring their old jalopy and their, get it tuned up, oil changed, things like that, fix the tire. But I know a lot of times, later on, that I had to go looking for him when the customer comes. He'll be going to, there's a Japanese grocery store, Sugiyama, and that's where all the Japanese menfolks hang out and play hana in the back. And sure enough, I know where to go, I go over there, he's playing over there, I called and tell him there's a customer. Or else, if I don't find him there, I'll go to Main Street and I go to the pool hall. I see him over there, he's playing pool with Mr. Iwami, he's the barber. And they played pool, and so that's how they passed the time. When he's not busy, he'd just leave the garage.

TI: So it sounds like your father was a very social person.

JS: Well, he was kind of a laid back guy. (Yes), he didn't take life that serious, maybe that's why he didn't get rich. But he was a nice guy, and I know he liked to drink, but I never did see him get drunk. He's one of those types that buy the sake by gallon, he takes little bit and say that's his medicine. He'd just drink one cup and then he'd go back to work or something. But I never saw him drunk. So he was a good natured guy.

TI: Now, when things got busy at the shop, did you and your older brother ever have to help out at the shop?

JS: Well, I, I don't know. I was the second son, and my brother, he was more interested in the garage, he usually helped my father. Like me, I never did like that, I always kind of evaded work. I liked to play basketball and so I would sneak out and go to the church. Our church was right there by First Street, so (yes), that church was open all the time so they got basketball court, I used to practice myself there. I liked sports; I didn't like to work. [Laughs]

TI: So it sounds like your older brother was the one who helped out in the shop.

JS: (Yes), he was the one, that's why he took over the garage later. 'Cause we, later on, we both went to same school in L.A. After the GI Bill of Rights, after the war, (yes). He went there and he graduated first, and then I went there afterward. I graduated, but I didn't, I just lasted about one year working in Salinas, but I just didn't like working in confinement, I liked to farm.

TI: So it sounds like your brother enjoyed doing that, but you didn't enjoy it.

JS: Oh, (yes), he seemed to like it.