<Begin Segment 2>

RP: And you said that your father went back to find a bride.

FY: Yes.

RP: Do you know if they exchanged pictures early on?

FY: No. He went back, and then they came from the same city, and so they, it was arranged marriage.

RP: The baishakunin.

FY: The baishakunin, yes.

RP: And did they get married in Japan?

FY: Yes, they did.

RP: And you mentioned that your... well, tell us a little about your mother's background.

FY: Oh, my mother's background. In her generation, it was rare for women to be a high school graduate, but she was. And so when she came to the U.S., she became a teacher at a Japanese school in Sacramento.

RP: You mentioned that she had kind of a tough time early on adjusting to America? What did she tell you about that?

FY: Oh, she said that the shoe, suddenly had to wear shoes, and that was torture to her. And to come to a strange country and not have any friends was hard on her at first, but then another friend was living in West Sacramento, and so she became friends with her. And she decided that, well, this is not so bad with the friend, very good friend.

RP: You said also that your father had plans to return to Japan and the kids sort of vetoed that plan.

FY: Yes, that's right.

RP: Was your mother also adamant about staying in America?

FY: She adjusted to U.S. very well, but my father felt as though he had to go back to Japan. But, so he said, "Will one of you like to go back to Japan?" At least one child they thought would be nice. But we all said, "No, no, we are Americans." [Laughs]

RP: "And this is where we stay."

FY: Yes.

RP: You really drew a line in the sand.

FY: Yes, that's true.

<End Segment 2> - Copyright © 2008 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.