<Begin Segment 17>

RP: Can you, do you recall anything, any perceptions or images that you remember about that incident, that event, that kind of rocked the camp. I mean, it was, it was a violent confrontation out there.

MS: Uh-huh. Yes, because a group of us had walked down toward the administration building on that day, not knowing anything was going to happen. And, and then, and then we did hear the commotion and all and didn't know what was happening. It was only when they threw that tear gas that we decided better go into the, well, the bathrooms, I guess. It was the, yes, where they have the latrines and the showers and things. So we stayed there until most of the commotion finished. And then...

RP: So you were, you were close by in a latrine building?

MS: We were close by, uh-huh.

RP: Do you, do you remember hearing shots or did you know that people had been shot?

MS: Well, we did hear the commotion. And we did know that there was a shot. But I think we tried to leave also. And we were affected a little bit by the tear gas, but, and then we just left.

RP: Who were you with?

MS: Well, I know I was with George but there was a little group of about five of us at that time. Now, when we returned, that was a very interesting thing, because I was very aware then of the importance of the atmosphere. The moment the riots started, this intense energy started to pervade the camp, which grew, which actually kept growing and became, I felt it was like a strong, you could cut it with a knife. It was just very powerful. And so that kind of energy difference, there's a qualitative change in the energy significantly when that happened. And we had many friends in all places. And I remember one night this one friend came and he was all covered up and hooded at night. And he knocked on the door and kind of, and we asked, "Who's there?" And so we tried... "Who's, who's there?" And then we recognized... I can't remember his name now. But he was one that was being taken out of camp because of threats on his life. And remember they were, it must have been Fred Tayama or somebody that they were gonna take out in the ambulance or whatever. And I think they were taking out a few people. And, and he had known George. Like I say, George had been more active in the Japanese community with the drama group and they knew. And his father, because his father had legal knowledge, was very helpful in the Japanese community in the early days. This is not during evacuation time. So, he knew many people in terms of Japanese community that I did not know and so I do remember this one man that came and had to leave.

RP: He was taken away.

MS: Very suddenly. Uh-huh.

RP: That would have been after the riot or during the riot?

MS: Right after. Well, kind of like immediately after, well whenever Fred Tayama left. I think that was the time they were taking them all out.

RP: Right. Fred was beaten up in his, in his barrack.

MS: Yeah. That was... uh-huh.

RP: Did you have any thoughts or did you wonder why this might have happened?

MS: Well, you know, because we all heard, in terms of... and we also heard that there was this person that had been killed while he was going out to the river, you know. And I was wondering now, had that been, they keep saying that, well, someone had died, what, staying out too long or something? But, I know there was, I think, I think there might have been one that was shot. But then of course the riot, of course had that. And, and then the sugar, the...

RP: Shortages of sugar?

MS: Yes. The shortages of the sugar, I know they were very upset about that and some of the, I'm sure some of the cooks were saying, "We are not getting the rations that we're supposed to." And things had been building up. And it's when you get the building up and you get it concentrated into that powerful force, that you, it will erupt. Uh-huh.

RP: So, you stopped teaching because of the riot, or was there another personal reason for that?

MS: Oh, no. No, it was, it was the riot. And then I just decided I wouldn't teach after that because... but I did have a class, in terms of the woodcarving after that, yes.

RP: How did that come about?

MS: So, it, it is a form of teaching but you don't really have to teach. [Laughs] And so then we scrounged wood from the kitchen, because the ends of the boxes, they were still made out of wood. I don't know what they were, apple boxes or whatever they were. So we used all those pieces of wood and had to make something that was fairly small. And I think probably for my demonstration when I just made that leaf, you know, a little leaf. And...

RP: Was this a high school class or an adult education class?

MS: Just open, just the adult education type.

RP: And what, and you said you made leaves, or?

MS: Uh-huh. Yeah, little carved out little leaves. I still have mine.

RP: You do?

MS: Uh-huh. My daughter has it. [Laughs]

RP: Did you put your work on display?

MS: Oh, no.

RP: No?

<End Segment 17> - Copyright © 2009 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.