Densho Digital Archive - George Kikuta Interview (denshovh-kgeorge

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RP: And so some of this is just speculation, but you mentioned the bitterness that your father had in losing his business that he was just starting to get up. Do you think that was the main reason why he chose to go back to Japan, answered the questionnaires...

GK: That's, that's my understanding.

RP: George, do you have any memories at all of your time at Tule Lake?

GK: I don't know exactly if that was my memory or just my created memory. I have just a vague memory about the water and the birds flying over and that type of... and playing with other kids. I understand I was notoriously bad in my block. And so any time when kid cries, "it must be George that caused the problem." [Laughs] Anyway, I remember a little bit about the ship, was sent by U.S., I guess, Navy ship, went back to Japan, and landed in Yokosuka, and took a train to Fukushima. I remember those experiences.

RP: Just going back a little bit, do you remember what block your family lived in in Manzanar?

GK: I was told it was Block 13, but that came from my mother.

RP: Tell us a little bit about your mother. You said that she was a "picture bride" and came over here. What type of person was she?

GK: She was truly a Japanese wife, you know, obedient, and she spoke very little English. And just basically did the domestic chores and raised four boys, four children. But she is the one that caused us to move back. She wanted our boys, my siblings, to have U.S. education. So for that, I'm very thankful. [Laughs]

RP: All moved back to the United States?

GK: To the United States, right. She pretty much listened to whatever my dad wanted to do, but this issue, she really forced all of us to move back.

RP: So your father kind of had the, "We're going to move back to Japan," and your mom...

GK: Yeah. I guess she, I guess he had a pride enough to say, "Let's go back." I guess he didn't...

RP: He didn't feel like there was any future in staying in America?

GK: Yeah, I think he had to start all over again here. And I'm sure he was not confident enough to rebuild his business here.

RP: And he had an inheritance in Japan?

GK: Right.

RP: And would that same reasoning that your mother used in wanting to take the kids and give them a Japanese education been part of your dad's reasoning as well?

GK: Well, that I don't know. That I don't know. Maybe, yes. But when we're, you know, in school back then, Japan was still backward and way behind the United States. So I, myself, I enjoy coming back and going through U.S. lifestyle and education.

RP: Do you remember, you said you remember the ship going back to Japan. Any other memories about the trip back?

GK: Yes. I remember the train was so, so crowded, people need to climb into the train from the window, and really have to pack into the train itself.