<Begin Segment 24>

RP: Tell us what you remember about the riot.

RK: We went up there, we... what was that about? I think it was something about food. The food wasn't good enough.

RP: Did you ever hear about a shortage of sugar?

RK: No. I really don't know, but I think it was something to do with food. And then, things... it's the sort of thing, I think it was sort of, we sort of made a lot of noise. And somebody got a little trigger happy I guess. But then, and the sister of the one boy that got killed?

RP: James Ito?

RK: James Ito. He's the brother of Florence Ito, who was a good friend of mine. We went to school together.

RP: Here in Glendale?

RK: No, in camp.

RP: In camp.

RK: Uh-huh. And she married a friend of mine. Name was Okamuro. They live in Torrance now.

RP: We just interviewed a gentleman yesterday who said he was right there at the side of James Ito when the shots were fired. And one of the other, the other daughter of James was Martha Ito. And so -- yeah sister -- so her, her daughter was there yesterday and they were talking about James and the whole situation. So you were actually down there at...

RK: Yeah, we were actually down there. They were get... you gotta do something. So you go down there and see what's going on. [Laughs]

RP: So do you remember a lot of yelling or people singing or...

RK: Well, we heard the shots and we took off, man. That's what I remember. [Laughs]

RP: Where were you in the crowd? Were you in the back or the side or...

RK: Oh, we were in the back. We were in the back. Yeah, if I remember, I think it had something to do with the food. That's all I remember.

RP: And you took off. And what, headed back to your, to your barrack?

RK: Yeah, sure. Yeah.

RP: And what was the camp like after the riot? Do you remember any changes?

RK: I don't remember any changes, I really don't. I don't remember any changes. I don't think it got any stricter or anything else. In our graduation even, graduation was a great time because the whole camp was there. It wasn't just the school, the whole camp was at graduation.

RP: The whole auditorium was full.

RK: Yeah, sure it was full.

RP: How did you feel walking in there with your cap and gown and...

RK: Finally made it. Other than that, same old thing.

RP: Did you have a party afterward or...

RK: I don't recall.

RP: What else do you remember doing in the auditorium? Besides the graduation, did you go in there for other events or activities?

RK: Well, they had dances in there. Yeah. They had movies in there. They had, usually had movies in the firebreaks, but they had them in there, too. Other than that, no.

RP: So you, you didn't know James Ito personally, did you?

RK: No, no I didn't. But I know his sister real well. 'Cause she married a friend of mine.

RP: You knew her later on or did you...

RK: Yeah, later on.

RP: Okay. So how do you see your camp experience as you look back now?

RK: As I look back, quite fondly. I was a kid and I didn't lose anything. And I met a lot of people that I wouldn't have, and we sort of had fun. Well, it's sort of harsh, you had to go out for your bathroom and things like... but other than that it was, it was an experience.

RP: And you have attended some of the school, high school reunions over the years?

RK: Oh, yeah. Well, most of 'em I have. And that too, huh? That bond is still there. How many schools have a reunion every year like we do?

RP: Good point.

RK: Yeah.

RP: Kirk, do you have any questions?

KP: No.

RP: Do you have anything else you'd like to add to our interview, Rok?

RK: Yeah, I could say that camp experience was not as bad as everybody say it is. For us, the younger generation at that time, it was a good experience. It really, we sort of broadened ourselves. And it certainly dispersed the people, too. We were just along the coast and then Japanese were all over, all over the United States. So in that respect it was good. We had more opportunity after that, for sure. That's about it.

RP: Thank you, Rok...

RK: Oh yeah, sure.

RP: ...for participating in our interview today and we appreciate your time.

<End Segment 24> - Copyright © 2010 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.