<Begin Segment 5>
KL: We're back after a little break, and these guys were talking about the kanji of uji.
UN: That's because our family originated from the 55th emperor, we're the direct line of the emperor at one time. Here in America, we don't believe in that kind of thing. We believe that we're evaluated according to what we do as a person. And I believe that, too. I told that, it doesn't matter who we're, who we come from, or where we come from, it's just what we do and how we conduct ourselves that we're evaluated, and that's what I preach to my son.
KL: How did your parents feel about that idea?
UN: Same way.
KL: Same as you?
UN: Yes. It doesn't matter whether our ancestors were from the emperor's family. In Japan, my grandfather was invited by the emperor to all the festivals. And whenever there's a tea or something, he was invited. But because my father came to America, he's been cut off, as if he no longer lived... they don't even have... you become an immigrant. In Japan, until after the war, we didn't hear from anybody in Japan.
KL: Even family?
UN: Nobody. I didn't know I had a family in Japan. But after the war and Japan's defeated, all of a sudden we have a lot of relatives. [Laughs]
KL: Was that communication troubles because of the war or because of their immigrant status?
UN: Well, it's custom. Before the war, they would say you're an immigrant, and that had a nasty taste. So there's a... and all the fairy tales are that way, too, that whoever immigrates, they always come back to Japan in their stories.
KL: Was it unusual then for your grandfather to come visit? Oh, go ahead, I'm sorry.
UN: But, you know, here we have a pilgrim story, they immigrated here and they flourished. And they're proud of being part of the immigrants, the pilgrims' family line. That becomes something nice. A story like... the Japanese story is like they immigrate, they conquer, and they bring the traitor back to Japan.
[Interruption]
KL: She said there's a special place called Tanba that she sees in there, and she wonders if your ancestors were from there or connected.
UN: I wish my father was still alive.
KL: Yeah, I mean, this is a long time ago.
UN: Yeah. But she would know... our family was, the Tokugawas had three armies, and one of the armies was a Niwa, and we're part of that. See? And whenever they had peace, they drew up a Japanese script, and our Niwa is on the script. But so my mother used to tell us that although her family was a banker, and they'd finance the war for the samurai class, that she would never be able to marry my father.
KL: Because of the divide?
UN: Yes, the class.
KL: Was your grandfather --
UN: Yeah.
KL: You said your grandfather came to visit his son in the United States at UC Berkeley.
UN: Yes.
KL: Was he supportive of his son leaving Japan?
UN: He was a banker.
KL: Did he support his son's decision to come to education outside of Japan?
UN: Well, by then, all the money was paid by the family.
KL: But I mean culturally, you talked about how in the stories, come back home and stay home.
UN: I don't know what made my uncle want to come to America, but in those days, they were wanting to have, the emperor of Japan wanted educated people that could speak English so that they could communicate with Americans. And to get that kind of education, my uncle came over here. But my uncle was a very bright person. I mean, to be used by Tojo, Tojo had, could have used anybody in Japan, and he chose my uncle. And my uncle went to Manchuria and just by, he was able to close all the Manchurian banks owned by Japan and bring all the money back before Japan invaded Manchuria. And then he was able to take that money and take it to Singapore, and by money exchange, made enough money to finance the war with China. He did things like that. So I would say he was pretty bright.
KL: Yeah, I'd say so, too.
UN: And my mother was very bright, too.
<End Segment 5> - Copyright © 2013 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.