<Begin Segment 14>

KO: What do you think has been your greatest rewards of having a business in Japantown?

RO: The greatest reward? I think you get satisfaction out of owning your own business and serving the community.

KO: Are you involved with any community organizations?

RO: I was on the Fuji Tower Board for fourteen years, I'm on the JACL advisory board, I'm president of the Hiroshima Kenjinkai, and then we used to do a fundraiser for Yu-Ai Kai, we used to call it the Friends of Yu-Ai Kai, when they had that car raffle, I think we did it for about four years, and then, well, we used to be on the Nikkei Matsuri Committee. My wife's been head of arts and crafts for about fifteen years on that thing. And then I belonged to this odori group, Bando Misutakai, for about twenty years. I had two of my daughters in classical Japanese dancing. I wanted them to get some Japanese culture, so put 'em into that odori.

KO: Do you think participating in all these organizations has helped your business?

RO: It helps to be active in the community, definitely.

KO: And supportive. What do you think the future holds for Japantown and the Japanese in the businesses they own?

RO: Well, you know, the Japanese, we are becoming a very small minority, so I wish they could maintain Japanese town, Japanese town, 'cause that's the only identity we're gonna have pretty soon. Because I feel we're gonna be assimilated in about three, four generations.

KO: Do you think your daughters will go into the business when you decide to retire?

RO: No. All three of 'em went to college and they have their own careers, so they wouldn't come in the flower business.

KO: So what would happen to Onishi Florist?

RO: I have a person that told me that he would buy my business if I ever quit, so I have somebody who will buy my business if I ever quit.

KO: Would it still be called Onishi Florist, or a different name?

RO: No, I'd take my name off.

KO: Oh, okay. So you've had some, many rewarding experiences throughout your career in the florist business?

RO: Yeah, you can look back and be gratified at some of the things you've done.

KO: Okay, is there anything else you'd like to say about your life or business and share with us today?

RO: I think it was a good experience, my being in Japanese town, and hopefully Japanese town will prevail.

KO: Okay.

RO: It's getting to be like... what do you call that? Endangered species. [Laughs]

KO: [Laughs] Right.

RO: Yeah, really. Who's to say if Japantown will be here four generations from now?

KO: That's true.

RO: So we have, it's our duty to instill in our young people the desire to keep this place alive.

KO: I agree. Okay, well, we'd like to thank you, Mr. Onishi, for helping us with this project and to preserve the Japanese American history in the Santa Clara Valley. Your contribution will help future generations understand and appreciate the role of the Japanese Americans in California's history, especially here in Japantown. Thank you very much.

RO: Thank you.

[Interruption]

<End Segment 14> - Copyright © 2004 Densho and The Japanese American Museum of San Jose. All Rights Reserved.