Densho Digital Archive
Manzanar National Historic Site Collection
Title: Lois Yuki Interview
Narrator: Lois Yuki
Interviewer: Richard Potashin
Location: Sacramento, California
Date: December 17, 2009
Densho ID: denshovh-ylois-01-0011

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RP: Is there any other stories you can share with us about your time in Japan that you...

LY: Sorry, but can you...

RP: Your personal stories about your experience of living in Japan?

LY: Experience in Japan?

RP: Uh-huh.

LY: Since I was, I mean...

RP: From, you know, getting there in 1946 and leaving in 1957.

LY: Experience... I'm trying to recall. Oh, things that I liked?

RP: Yes. What, what attracted you to the culture of Japan?

LY: To Japan? Food, people, and some customs.

RP: Like what?

LY: Not every one of 'em, but...

RP: Which ones?

LY: Like cooking, let's see... I'm talking about the food. And if I were in Japan, what else?

RP: So did you personally get into some of the crafts and the arts?

LY: Well, I learned ikebana when we came back to U.S. When I was in high school my mother, my sister, and I took one of the flower arrangement. And I really still like it. But, you know, I haven't done very much but when I get enough flowers in my yard, I like to start doing again. And I like to travel and see and then now I'm becoming to be, wanted to learn more about the history of Japan. Yeah.

RP: How about music? Was music a part of your life?

LY: Music, I like it very much.

RP: In Japan did you take up an instrument?

LY: I like Japanese songs and traditional. No... well, traditional music. I like to listen to it a lot.

RP: Did you play an instrument in Japan?

LY: Not in Japan. But in here I learned how to play flute. But it was hard for me.

RP: Shakuhachi?

LY: No, flute. you know, regular flute, not shakuhachi. It would be nice.

RP: Yeah.

LY: Maybe I might take up after I finish my genealogy and my writing family legacy.

RP: Yeah. Celebrate and learn, learn how to play the shakuhachi.

LY: And learn how to take digital pictures.

RP: Were you involved at all in learning the tea ceremony in Japan?

LY: No. You had to take a special lessons. And I heard those days if you are getting married then you go take a lessons. But nowadays, you know, as a hobby you can go and take a lessons. It would be nice.

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 2009 Manzanar National Historic Site and Densho. All Rights Reserved.