<Begin Segment 30>

AL: Let me just see if there's anything... I don't know, Kristen, if you had anything else to ask? Oh, I know one question I was going to ask if that's okay. Did you know Mike Masaoka?

AN: Yes.

AL: Because he's probably the most famous Japanese American Mormon that I know, I don't know much about him. But just, who was he as a person, because you know he's a very controversial...

AN: I believe he was a lobbyist. He spoke for us in Washington; he was a lobbyist. And do you have my statement on him, the last part of the book? Take a look at it.

AL: Oh, the creed, the JACL creed? Yes, we have that.

AN: That's a wonderful piece of message that he wrote, yeah. I visited him once in Washington, D.C., because I met him, first time I met him was in Salt Lake. I just knew him briefly, but I love the man. He did a lot for the Niseis in California.

AL: You know, the memorial in Washington, D.C., I don't know if you've ever seen the memorial, it's called the National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism During World War II, very long title. It's up by Union Station off of Constitution, I don't remember the cross street. Anyway, it has different inscriptions, it's got names of the guys that were killed in the 442nd. And it is, like all the monuments in Washington, D.C., it falls under the purview of the National Park Service. That creed that Mike Masaoka wrote, is on that memorial.

AN: Oh.

AL: It is extremely controversial, and actually there was a lot of fallout to the National Park Service for putting it on the memorial because some people say he, Mike Masaoka and the JACL, is the one that told everyone to go to camp. He wasn't in a camp himself, his brother was in Manzanar, but that he basically made arrangements for everybody to go peacefully to camp, and that they, there's anger about that on his part. And that quote being on the memorial has been very controversial. Do I don't know if you're aware of that or if you have any feeling towards...

AN: First time I hear about that.

AL: Does that represent your feelings, the creed that he has?

AN: Yes. I love that. Nothing wrong with what he said. That's the reason why I put it in my book, exactly. Nothing wrong with that. His brother was with me, my company, and I'm trying to think whether he got killed or not.

AL: Is that Joe Grant? Joe Grant Masaoka or a different one?

AN: I forgot which one. He had three brothers. I forget some of them.

AL: We have his biography in our library, but I have not read it. Is there anything else that we have not asked you about, or anything else that you want to add? Any stories or advice or anything for us or for Manzanar?

AN: No, not really, nothing. Like I said, I live a very dull life. Nothing that I can think of. I think you covered everything, more than I expected. Anyway, I thank you for coming all this distance as to hear my story. I appreciate that. I don't mind contributing what little I have today to help the future; I really do. I really think about the future generations. Perhaps the reason why I feel that way is because now that I have so many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, I feel that way, I guess. Although all my grandchildren and great-grandchildren have name of Nishimoto, but they're blue-eyed, blond hair, redhead, Hawaiian, not one Oriental.

AL: So they're all hapa?

AN: All hapa, all mixed. We are all "chop suey." I've never seen a family like that. [Laughs] When we had a family reunion last year, so Mom, my wife and I, I said, "Hey, let's find out who belongs to who, okay?" [Laughs] The kids would come up, "Hi, Grandma and Grandpa." We'd say, "Who are you? What's your name? Who's your daddy and mommy? Oh, that? Okay." [Laughs] I can't believe it, not one. All mixed.

AL: What would your father or your grandfather have thought of that? Could they have imagined?

AN: I think they would turn over in their grave right now if they see all that.

AL: Why?

AN: Oh, they never expected that, I guess. But anyway...

AL: You know, I always think it's interesting, I know Nisei women who married hakujin guys, and their parents said, "You're bringing shame on our family." And then the hakujin guys say to their son, "You're bringing shame on our family." But anyway, well, I want to...

AN: Well, the thing that really was a surprise to me many years ago was when the blacks was getting married to whites, and they married, and even Orientals were marrying blacks. I thought that was something different. I don't feel bad about it, I just thought it was different. I thought, hey, this is something different that I'm seeing.

AL: So you ever imagine, we have a President from Hawaii whose parents are interracial, it's... regardless of politics, I think it's a big change from what I would have even expected in my time. Well, you know, it's a real pleasure and honor to meet you because, of course, I only heard your story in a radio earpiece, we didn't get to meet, and Rosie said, "Oh, you've got to talk to this guy, he was really good." So I just want to thank you on behalf of Kristen and myself, the National Park Service, we really appreciate your time.

AN: Well, thank you for coming over and taking your time to do this. I don't mind it at all.

<End Segment 30> - Copyright © 2012 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.