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TI: So let's go back to your father and his sermons and what you know about that.

MT: Yeah, see, he's one of the best, I think. I'm not bragging about my father, but one of the best lecturer in Buddhist, I think so. Lot of people said that. He's able to speak to children, kindergarten classes, youchen, and Sunday school, young people. He would talk to them in Japanese, they can speak English. And he's so into, in the level where kids understood him. It's amazing. And all the little kids, they don't know any Japanese, but he'd listen to 'em and they'd understand. And he's good at that. Then when he started talking to a younger group like junior high or high school, he would speak differently. I could tell by listening to his level, his language. And then when he'd talk to Issei people like doctors or lawyers or that, another level he can speak. So now the question is, like you see a samurai movie, can you understand it? But if you understand it, there are other kind of Japanese movie, you understand, right? It's because they speak a different level, you see. My father speaks at the highest level to bottom level, so when he had the lecture, he'd look at the audience and decide what level he's gonna talk, so that everybody would understand. He was a, he was a good actor, too. He was very, you know, motion and voice. He could talk like a woman and talk like a man. Like he made this Japanese movie film called Kuon no Hikari, it's about a Buddhist family, and he also made a movie about Japanese soldier, Munemura, that guy. He made... and he did all the voices. With a camera he'd have, he'd put the voice in every one of 'em. Woman's voice, man's voice, kid's voice. He was good. Just like Walt Disney, you know. One guy could talk like a woman or talk like a man. He was good at that.

TI: And he was able to do this during his sermons, too, so he was very entertaining, people enjoyed...

MT: Yeah, people, he could make people laugh, and one minute later they'd be crying. But that takes lot of good, you know. He'll be speaking, I go to all his sermons, and I was going to the Issei one, but I could see this, he'll make everybody laugh. Then the next thing I know, all the ladies are wiping their eyes. [Laughs] That's what makes it interesting. It's not boring. God, I used to enjoy it. I mean, I went to every one of his church, I had to drive him around to the services. But yeah, he was something else. In fact, the Bishop Masunaga, I can't remember his name now. He used to say he was... anytime they got special thing going on, they want him to speak, 'cause he knew how to make people relax. He was good.

TI: And when he, did he retire in Salt Lake City, then? Was that his last place?

MT: No, that's what I mean. See, that's why... he retired the Buddhist thing, then they needed a good minister in the, opening up in Annabella, Utah, so he asked him to come out of retirement. So for another two years, he came out of retirement and went to Utah and retired from there. He started a church, I guess. But he's... I hate to brag, but he was really one of the best I heard. I listen to a lot of these Issei talking, and I used to go to Bukkyokai here and there, and reverend speaking. But I don't enjoy it as much. Maybe that's my excuse for maybe not going to church. [Laughs]

TI: Well, thank you for sharing that.

<End Segment 17> - Copyright © 2010 Densho. All Rights Reserved.