<Begin Segment 2>

RP: Tell us what you can about your father, his background in Japan...

SI: That's one thing I really don't know too much about. My younger brother did know... he did a little research. But all I know is he was... see, in Japan they have what they call a yoshi. Yoshi means one family, if this family don't have a, a male person, will take his name. So my, actually, my father's name was Shiba. And then he went to Iwasaki, you know. And then my mother was Iwasaki, okay? And then she went to Yoshida. Okay, so her, actually her registered name is Yoshida. My, mother's name, Wakaye Iwasaki... Yoshida, actually. And then so my father and mother, from... since Father went from Shiba to Iwasaki, you know, he took the Iwasaki name. So that's how come he and my mother married and came to United States.

RP: Where was he from in Japan?

SI: Wakayama.

RP: And that's, that's right on the coast?

SI: Right. Most, most people from Terminal Island, they were from the coastal area in Wakayama. And there were a few from other places like Hiroshima, Mie-ken, but most of the other people were from... since they were from the coast and most of 'em was fisherman. So...

RP: So we can assume that your father's family were fisherman?

SI: My father?

RP: Your father's family?

SI: Oh, no, no. My father was a barber on Terminal Island.

RP: But, in Japan, his family, were they, were they fisherman?

SI: That I don't know. My uncle was a contractor, my mother's brother. And my grandfather, he was on Terminal Island, too. And he was a fisherman.

RP: That'd be the grandfather on your mother's or father's side?

SI: It'd be my mother's side. See, my mother went from Iwasaki to Yoshida. And my grandfather and grandmother were, they were Yoshida. So...

RP: Do you know roughly when your father came over to the United States?

SI: That I don't know. That I don't know.

RP: And give us his name.

SI: Pardon?

RP: Your father's name?

SI: Masutaro.

RP: Spell that?

SI: M-A-S-U-T-A-R-O, first name.

RP: And what brought your father to the United States?

SI: Well, as far as I can see, from what I can remember is that they just came here to make a better for themselves. And, and I don't know how he ever got to be a barber, but he became a barber. I think he came... one time, if I can recall, he came once by himself and he was in San Francisco and then went back and then got married and then came back and brought my mother and then they settled in Terminal Island. And how he ever got to be a barber, I don't know.

RP: And you say that your mother's parents also came over to...

SI: Yes, uh-huh.

RP: Were there any other family members that came to the United States?

SI: Yeah, my cousin came over. So he was my father's side. And on my mother's side, nobody came. Except on my father's side, a fellow named Shiba, one of the Shiba... so he's my cousin, actually. And then he had a daughter that lives in San Juan? San Juan Capistrano, I think. I have never met her. And when my cousin died I had, I had to go, so I was away someplace and I didn't get to meet them, you know. But that was the only family that I know that came, came from Japan.

RP: Do you know, roughly, the time that your father and mother settled in Terminal Island?

SI: No. I know it's before 1924 because that's when my brother was born.

RP: And your father worked as a, as a barber.

SI: Yeah, right.

RP: Where was the barbershop located in Terminal Island?

SI: Well, same address. 617 Tuna Street.

<End Segment 2> - Copyright © 2009 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.