<Begin Segment 12>

RM: Do you remember going to social events in Manzanar?

GO: Yeah, that's where I took my wife now and then, dance.

RM: Oh, okay. So tell me, maybe I should ask about the social events after I ask a little bit about how you met your wife.

GO: I met her in the same block. She lived in the same block. Well, actually, Block 16, she was across the way. So I didn't know her that good. But when we went to Block 23, I was in the next block, she was in the next building. I was in 6-4, she was in 5-3.

RM: So you guys were next door neighbors.

GO: Yeah, next door neighbors.

RM: So how did you... did you know her before Manzanar?

GO: No, she was from West Los Angeles. So if we didn't go to camp, like somebody was saying, my kids won't be here.

RM: That's right. So tell me a little bit about, first of all, what's her name?

GO: When I met her? Gradually we've been doing things in a group, and then slowly we got together. You know how it is.

RM: Yeah, I know how it is. What was your wife's name?

GO: Fujiko.

RM: And her maiden name?

GO: Nomura.

RM: So what kind of social events did you go to?

GO: You mean in camp?

RM: Yeah.

GO: Well, when they dance, mostly dance, dancing... yeah, that's about it. Dance, get together.

RM: Was it live music?

GO: They had a small band, yeah. Well, some of 'em were, got the phonograph there.

RM: So did you... I'm curious about all the different social things that went on in camp. I've read a lot about sports, did you play any sports in Manzanar?

GO: Yeah, I was looking at one of your articles in your museum over there, it's got my name and it's got basketball. It's got my name, and I got two points. So Dorothy and Grace were looking at that and said, "You played basketball?" "No, I don't think so." Said, "Your name's here, you made two points." So I guess I must have played basketball.

RM: Did you ever play baseball?

GO: Yeah, we played baseball, kitchen baseball.

RM: What is that?

GO: All the kitchens had our own baseball, and we played against each other.

RM: Oh. So like Block 16 kitchen would play against Block 20?

GO: Yeah.

RM: Wow. Okay, can you tell me a little bit about the fields? Where did you play?

GO: Well, they had a baseball field, so we played there, certain kitchen teams going to play here certain day. So we played baseball. Then after baseball's over we, just [inaudible] football.

RM: Okay. Do you remember where the football field was?

GO: Well, same thing, same place. Only thing is they just mark it off.

RM: Just out in the firebreaks?

GO: Yeah.

RM: Who did your team play? It was, you said the North Hollywood Huskies, who did you play in football?

GO: Well, in camp they formed their own group. So they all get together and play each other.

KL: Who were the tough kitchen teams?

GO: Who were top?

RM: In the kitchen teams, who were the toughest?

GO: I don't know who the toughest was.

RM: Were you guys good?

GO: We were so-so.

RM: [Laughs] Somewhere in the middle. What about in football, do you remember who the toughest teams were to beat?

GO: No.

<End Segment 12> - Copyright © 2014 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.