<Begin Segment 11>
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.