Densho Digital Archive - Shigeo Kihara Interview (denshovh-kshigeo-01-0011)

<Begin Segment 11>

RP: We're going to move into the war now, talk a little bit about the war and how it originally affected your life and your family's life. Let's start, do you have any recollection at all about December 7, 1941?

SK: No. No, I don't remember anything about it.

RP: Do you recall any changes or... that occurred after that time, before you were removed?

SK: No.

RP: Any sense that there was something unusual that happened?

SK: Well, it could have been, but it seemed like it just all happened at one time. I mean, the time spent between the time that the war started, I mean, 1941 and the time we were told that we were going to camp, it seems like it was just instantaneous as far as I was concerned. I mean, I don't remember any time spent between that. The only thing I remember was like Dad telling... I don't know if he told my grandparents or what, but you can't have any gun, can't have Japanese symbols or anything else, and so I do remember them saying, I mean, Dad burying the guns. I don't think my grandparents had any Japanese flags or anything, or even Japanese swords. But as far as the timespan goes from '41 to '42, it seemed like it all happened instantaneously to me.

RP: Like a flash.

SK: Right, I just don't remember how long it took.

RP: And what arrangements were made for the farm? How did you deal with your farm?

SK: Well, as far as I know about the farm, it was just left there. But some of our personal things like a car was kept by a neighbor of ours, a Caucasian family, and they agreed to keep the car for us, and also keep the guns that Dad had. I said that he buried them, but I think he let them handle that. But as far as the farm itself, I think they just left it there, I'm not sure.

RP: When we talked earlier this week you mentioned that you thought they might have sold the farm maybe later on?

SK: Yes, later on when, or during that time, as far as the timespan goes, I'm not sure. There was a proclamation that says you can't have it anymore, then they probably sold it right then and there. Somebody just said, "Well give you x number of money and we'll buy it from you." And I don't know if that was right away after the proclamation or what.