Densho Digital Archive - Aya Fujii - Taka Mizote Interview (denshovh-faya

<Begin Segment 1>

RP: Manzanar National Historic Site. This morning we're talking with Aya Fujii and Taka Mizote and our interview is taking place at the Residence Inn at the Portland airport. The date of the interview is July 22, 2010. The interviewer is Richard Potashin and our videographer is Mark Hatchmann. We'll be talking with Taka and Aya about their experiences being removed from their communities during World War II and sent briefly to the Portland Assembly Center and then later on to the Farm Labor Security Administration Camp in Eastern Oregon. Our interview will be archived in the Park's Library. And do I have both of your permission to go ahead and conduct our interview?

TM: Yes.

RP: Thank you both so much. We're really honored to have you here this morning to share your stories. Like to start out the interview acquiring a little family background, first of all can you, both of you give us your date of birth and where you were born?

TM: I was born on May 30, 1924.

RP: And where?

TM: In Hillsboro, Oregon.

AF: I was born March 31, 1927, in Hillsboro.

RP: And what were your given names at birth?

TM: Taka.

AF: Mine was Aya and I think we're out of the five girls we're the only ones with Japanese names.

RP: Why would that be?

AF: We have no idea because the rest have English names.

RP: Why don't we go over your other brothers and sisters maybe starting the oldest first, give us their name and maybe just a little bit of what you remember most about them or what sticks out in your mind about --

TM: The eldest was George, we all just had one... none of us have middle names. George was the eldest and of course he was born in Washington, Sumner, Washington, and the rest of the family, they were all born in Hillsboro. And being the eldest he always took on the responsibility of taking care of the rest of us. And then Akira, we call him Ike was, well, he was a big part of the success of the farm too because he... before he went into service. And then Arthur, well, in a way the three brothers were the ones that really held, you know, took care of the economics of the family and farm. And then Kate, and she being the eldest of the girls was like a second mother to all of us. And myself and then Aya and Dorothy and Rose.

RP: Were you born at the farm or did your mom have to go to a hospital to deliver you?

TM: We were all born at home I think.

AF: I know my youngest sister was born at home. That's what I remember.

TM: I think we were all born at home.

RP: Would a midwife --

AF: Probably a midwife.

RP: And how about your, both of your names, since you're the only two that had Japanese names. Are you familiar with the meaning of your Japanese first and last names?

TM: People ask but... well, actually my name is, you know, a lot of men in Japan are named Taka, it should be Takako but I don't like the K-O on it so I've been you know.

AF: And I think my name is derived from iris. Ayame is an iris. I'm not called Ayame but then....

RP: And your maiden name?

TM: Our maiden name was Iwasaki.