<Begin Segment 21>

RP: Now, how soon after you got to camp did he start working on re-establishing, or establishing a judodojo at Manzanar?

RM: Oh, I guess right away because the guys were there. Just, they just started settling down. And that's when they started settling down... and then they got the idea I guess.

RP: First thing they had there from what I've heard was a large canvas stretched over sawdust or something like that?

RM: Yeah.

RP: And did...

RM: That was near the tree.

RP: Near Block 10?

RM: Yeah, above, between 10 and 11.

RP: Uh-huh.

RM: I think later it came, became kendo. I'm not sure of that.

RP: Oh. Do you remember that kendo area?

RM: No, I don't.

RP: No?

RM: Only I ever heard about it that there was a ghost. [Laughs]

RP: What's... tell us about that.

RM: Indian ghost. Some guys found, they say if you walk by there some nights you see the guy that is an Indian ghost.

RP: Around the kendo area?

RM: [Nods] I guess that was a battlefield one time.

RP: Uh-huh, there was this... yeah, there were some.

RM: Because a lot of arrowheads and stuff there.

RP: You found arrowheads there?

RM: Yeah, once in a while wind blows it up, the dust would come out and be...

KP: Can I ask a question? So your dad is working at establishing a dojo there. Was that with the approval of the camp at that time?

RM: Yeah.

KP: Were they, were they okay with that idea?

RM: Yeah, yeah.

KP: Were they? Okay.

<End Segment 21> - Copyright © 2009 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.