Densho Digital Archive
Manzanar National Historic Site Collection
Title: Roy Murakami Interview
Narrator: Roy Murakami
Interviewer: Richard Potashin
Location: North Hollywood, California
Date: January 8, 2009
Densho ID: denshovh-mroy_3-01-0014

<Begin Segment 14>

RP: Well, do you recall, do you recall after December 7th, you know, the community people, anybody who was sort of high up in the community was being rounded up by the FBI?

RM: Oh, there was a few.

RP: judo people?

RM: No, school. School, Japanese school or something like that. They were probably, you call them head of the council or something like that. That kind of place. There's a few of 'em. Not very many because the schoolteachers were coming in from... or maybe some of the schoolteachers, too.

RP: But usually it was just any, any type of connection with Japan ...

RM: Japan.

RP: ...or Japanese culture.

RM: Yeah.

RP: There was some judo instructors that were called away.

RM: Oh yeah, yeah.

RP: Yeah, so what, how did your dad escape?

RM: Well, like I said, all I understand is that he had a friend in the FBI. And vouched for him and so I've been trying to get the records from the FBI, you know, I don't know how to get 'em so I've been lookin' around. But, that's where he got it, I think. He was, he was doing it, a friend with him so he did... a longtime friend, he says, "Sego, don't worry. I'll take, take care of it."

RP: Was this FBI person a judoist possibly?

RM: No, no. He was an elderly guy.

RP: An elderly guy.

RM: Uh-huh.

RP: Were there any LAPD officers that were taking judo before the war?

RM: Yeah. Sergil.

RP: And Sergil, was he involved with any of your father's dojos or was he...

RM: Yeah, he was coming to our dojo, North Hollywood dojo.

RP: There was another gentleman that was mentioned in this book. His name was George Tate, that was also a police officer...

RM: I don't remember.

RP: With Sergil, when he was involved with another dojo I think down in the south, south L.A. area.

RM: Oh, could be.

RP: Uh-huh. So, so the relationship between Sergil and your dad started before the war?

RM: Yeah, he was teaching.

RP: He was a teacher, too?

RM: No, no, he taught Sergil.

RP: Oh, he taught Sergil, your father...

RM: Stars, starter. He, he used to be funny. He would come in, he would stand straight. He's, was over six foot two or something like that. And he would bow a regular bow, you know. "Hello, Sensei." Caucasian, you know? He respected. He shows respect. He always did that. I remember for him. He was a good guy.

RP: Yeah, we'll talk about him a little bit later.

RM: Yeah.

RP: Especially at Manzanar.

<End Segment 14> - Copyright © 2009 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.