Densho Digital Archive - Lois Yuki Interview

<Begin Segment 1>

RP: This is a oral history interview for the Manzanar National Historic Site. And this afternoon we're talking with Lois Asahara Yuki. And our interview is taking place at the Sacramento Japanese United Methodist Church on 6929 Franklin Boulevard in Sacramento. Our interviewer is Richard Potashin and our videographer is Kirk Peterson. And we'll be talking about Lois' experiences at Tule Lake, also going back to Japan with her family, and returning to the United States in 1957. Our interview will be archived in the Park's library. And Lois, do I have permission to go ahead and record our interview?

LY: Yes.

RP: Thank you very much for coming today and sharing your story which seems to be getting larger and larger all the time. First of all, we're gonna talk a little bit about your family background, but let's start with you. Can you give us your date of birth and where you were born?

LY: I was born on September 13, 1944.

RP: And where was that?

LY: In Newell, California, Tule Lake, internment camp.

RP: Let's go back and talk about your family background a little. Who's the first member of your family to come from Japan to the United States?

LY: My mother's side would be my great-great-grandfather. He came in 1900 and went to Pocatello, Idaho, to work on the railroad.

RP: And what was his name?

LY: His name is Jusuke Kuwabara.

RP: And how long did he stay in the United States? Did he...

LY: Well, unfortunately he passed away November, 1900.

RP: In the United States?

LY: Right. If I remember right, I think he arrived in June.

RP: Do you know what happened to him?

LY: Well, I understand that you know, they had an accident on the railroad. So, but many years after, they sent the ash to Japan, to Hiroshima.

RP: Where, that's where he was from?

LY: Right.

RP: And who sent the ashes? Was it the railroad company?

LY: Well, minister, Reverend Tsuda, helped our grandparents which, I mean, would be my grandma Hisa Seno's father. So Florin Methodist minister, Japanese minister, Reverend Tsuda, he helped them to get their ash and then send it back to Japan.

RP: And were there other members of the Seno family that came later?

LY: Yes. My, my grandfather, Tokumatsu Seno, came to Florin, California in 19-, excuse me, 1899, he came to Florin. Then ten years later he went back to Hiroshima, Japan, to find his wife. So my grandmother, Hisa Kuwabara, married on September 10, 1910. So...

RP: Were they married in Japan?

LY: Right, in Hiroshima.

RP: Hiroshima.

LY: So Grandfather was there about one year, so, nineteen... let's see, 1899 to 1910. So, nineteen... let's see... soon after, oh, if I remember right maybe went back 1909, excuse me. And...

RP: So he spent a year...

LY: -- came back. Right, one year and then he came back --

RP: Came back with his wife.

LY: -- for one year after he got married. Then Grandmother Hisa Seno came back nineteen... I mean, came to United States 1913. It was February 13th. And then moved to Florin, California.

RP: So your grandfather Seno had a, what was, what type of farming work did he do in Florin?

LY: He was raising strawberries and Tokay grapes. And then before he went back (to Hiroshime, Japan, in 1909), he built the house. And his neighbor helped him, Mr. Hara.

RP: Did he own his own land at that point, at that time?

LY: At that, I'm sure he did but I don't know when he purchased... oh, I know what. I'm, if I remember right, he leased. Then after children came he purchased the lands under children's name.

RP: Did either of your grandparents on your mother's side, Seno family, did they ever...

LY: The oldest is my mother, Masako Frances Seno. And then second oldest is Florence, I mean Fusaye Florence Seno. Then third one is Yukie Elsie Seno. And then fourth one is Misayo Nellie Seno, then my uncle, Masashi Alvin Seno. And then Auntie is, oh Shigeko Josephine Seno. And then very last one is Mary Seno, and she didn't have a Japanese name.

RP: She didn't?

LY: I don't know why. [Laughs]

<Begin Segment 2>

RP: What was your Japanese name?

LY: Oh, my Japanese name is Sakiko Asahara.

RP: And do, do you...

LY: I mean, Lois supposed to be a middle name.

RP: Right. Do you know what your Japanese name means?

LY: Means? Flower blossoms, bloom, child of flower blossom. And my father named all of the Japanese names.

RP: And why don't you share with us your siblings.

LY: Oh, all right.

RP: Starting at, with the oldest first.

LY: Oldest. My oldest sister is Tomoko Carol Asahara. And then my oldest brother is Seiichi David Asahara. And third one is Naoya Francis Asahara, and fourth one is Kazuyoshi Paul Asahara. And (fifth) one is Junko Joan Asahara. And I'm the next to the youngest, Sakiko Lois Asahara. And then we did have a little brother. His name was Ken Daniel Asahara, but unfortunately he passed away when he was seven month old, take back, is ten month old, in Japan.

RP: In Japan?

LY: Uh-huh, because of malnutrition.

RP: Did the Seno side of your family share any stories about, about the farm in Florin and what that was like?

LY: Yes. I didn't really ask grandparents but my mom always said it was very, very hard life, working in the field, trying to raise the strawberries and grapes. And then my mother was the oldest of seven children and she has to be responsible for many things. And because her brother was the fourth one... no, fifth one. So she had big responsibilities and having many sisters and only one brother.

RP: So she kind of had to look over, look after the rest of the kids?

LY: Right.

RP: Uh-huh. As well as maybe helping out her mother and...

LY: She said until eleven years old it was a very nice life 'cause she didn't know any hardship. But after that she sees and hear it so she felt very responsible to helping in the farm.

RP: Uh-huh.

LY: And then she said when she was eleven years old she has to learn how to drive and drive the tractor.

RP: So she worked out in the fields...

LY: Right, so she said soon as everyone, the children came home they had to go out to the field and help with the strawberries and grapes.

RP: Anything else that...

LY: To add?

RP: That she shared with you?

LY: Oh, about the farming?

RP: Yeah. How about her background of the family, the religious background of the family? What was that?

LY: I didn't quite get it.

RP: What was the, what were their religious backgrounds?

LY: Oh, when she was twelve years old she said she became Christian. And then when she was growing up she said the church had a revival and very, I guess, I don't know how to say it, but anyway they had a revival and then Reverend Baba was leading the group and visited, so one year they had, thirty-seven people received the Christ. Anyway, when she was eleven years old, I think my grandfather, Tokumatsu Seno, became Christian. So when she was growing up my mother told us that her neighbors gave her a ride, Yamadas, Sakakiharas. They were older and they were the boys. They can't drive and so they were, and that's how she was able to go to church.

RP: Did, did her parents ever send any of the kids back to Japan?

LY: You mean my parents?

RP: Your, your grandparents.

LY: Oh, no. She didn't send anybody back to Japan.

RP: They didn't send anybody. Okay.

LY: 'Cause they were both here and...

RP: Uh-huh. Did she --

LY: And I'm sure, because the condition in Japan was not that well those days.

<Begin Segment 3>

RP: Did she, did your mother talk at all about the Depression years on the farm?

LY: Yes. She said something about keeping the money in a bank, bank called, it's Bank of Italy. If you had money in a bank, people has to line up and hoping to get the money out. So she always remembered that. But our grandparents and my aunties and uncles and my mom, they were not well-to-do. They were, you know, very, very, what do you call, just meeting everyday needs. So they didn't have any extra money. I found out lately more I talk to the older people and people with many, well, any number of boys in the family, they were well-to-do compared to the other families. So I said wow, no wonder Sakakiharas and Yamadas were a lot well... and then Taharas, who is Grandma's relatives. And I said no wonder. [Laughs]

RP: Of the seven kids, your mom being one of them...

LY: Yeah, she was the oldest and the youngest auntie, she's fifteen years younger than my mother. So there was several years' gap.

RP: And is Aunt Mary the only one still alive? Is Aunt Mary still alive?

LY: Oh yes. Uh-huh, she's --

RP: Is she the only one of the seven kids?

LY: Well, she's alive and you know, (...) we do have uncle, only uncle we have. But he has Alzheimer's and the next to the youngest who is right above my Auntie Mary Shimazu, Josephine (Fukushima), but she also has Alzheimer and then we cannot communicate, unfortunately. And then we do, I do have one more. She's the third one from top. She, her name is Elsie, Yukie Elsie Matsumoto. She's I think, let's see, ninety-two? I think she's gonna go ninety-three. But she had an aneurism but when we go and see her at nursing home, she'll recognize us and she'll remember things. But, you know, as she age she's forgetting. But she has very good memory so we're very grateful.

RP: Let's talk a little bit about your father's family. And, maybe you can start in sharing with us that your dad's father was the first one to come over to the United States?

LY: Okay, so, talk about Tomojiro later? Grandfather?

RP: No. We can talk about him now.

LY: Okay. So it will be in the order?

RP: So we're kind of, tell us about his journey to America and what he did when he got here.

LY: Okay. And I discovered before he came to Honolulu, Hawaii, on 1903, August, and then he went over to Helper, Utah, on 1905. So I said, "Wow, two years' gap that which no one knew about that." Just recently I found on ancestors.com and so excited about that.

RP: Did Tomojiro also come from the Hiroshima area?

LY: No. He's from Yamaguchi-ken. Natajima, Yamaguchi-shi, and Yamaguchi-ken now.

RP: And why did he settle in Helper, Utah?

LY: Well, we don't know. 'Cause we never discussed with our parents. So, we do... it said why he went there. I guess he went to look for his friend. And it said O. Sekimori and we don't know anything about Mr. Sekimori. So I wonder whether he made a friend in Honolulu, Hawaii. Probably, I imagine. And anyway, I forgot to go back. Before he came to Honolulu, Hawaii, we found that he went to Korea. And this is before my father was born. And then 1898 or whatever it was, I have to see the note, his wife, who is Yasu Fukishima Asahara, is, applied for a, what is, permission to go to Korea. It's Pusan, they call Pusan, or Fusan, oh that's the Japanese, Pusan, Korea. It's South Korea. And then so she was trying to get permission to get on the ship. So I have that little records here.

RP: Your father ended up working... or your grandfather ended up working in Helper for the railroad.

LY: Right. And he went to Helper, Utah, very first time on August in 1905. And then he left the Yokohama, Japan, and then went to... oh, sorry, that one is I made a mistake. That was the second trip. The first one he went to Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1903. Then we found out that 1905 he went to, what do you call, Helper, Utah. So from Honolulu to Helper, Utah, I don't have a record yet. So I'm hoping to get it from San Francisco archives to get the passenger list and immigration. 'Cause they didn't have it at the L.A. Japanese American National Museum. They only had the second trip information.

RP: How long did he stay in Helper, Utah?

LY: He stayed in Helper, Utah, for fourteen years, 'til 1919. oh, that part is, because there is a record about nineteen... January, let's see, 1920. He started work in San Francisco Southern Pacific. So, I'm not too sure when he moved over. So I figure maybe December or, he moved to San Francisco or maybe early January. 'Cause the little notebook said he started to work on Southern Pacific from January 14, (1920). But he went back to Japan, January 1919. So nineteen... and then let's see, (August) he came back again to Helper, Utah, with my father and then that was the first trip for my father, which we didn't know anything about that 'til I start to, you know, search for information.

RP: Uh-huh. And your, what was your father's name?

LY: My father's name is Teruo Asahara. But he had a nickname in the camp. It's called John. So that record of Manzanar, you know, family record, it said John Teruo Asahara.

<Begin Segment 4>

RP: Your, your grandfather, while he was in Helper, Utah, the first time, had a hobby. What was that?

LY: His hobby was photography. And he must have enjoyed. And according to my other brother, he said when he went back to Japan he saw many pictures. And it's very interesting.

RP: Do you, and you've seen some of those pictures?

LY: Yes.

RP: What did he take pictures of?

LY: He took a pictures of, let's see, in Helper, Utah, when you come in from highway there's a mountain. And the tip of it you'll see a little (rock), looks like a flag to me, but it's called Balanced Rock because it has never been, I mean, always been there for many, I guess, hundreds or thousand year, we don't know. But it's still there. And he has picture of that with his living quarter where he had a Asahara Studio, photography. So it's very, very interesting and he also has taken the pictures of many trains and what else did I see? I have to see that...

RP: Did he take pictures of other Isseis, you know who worked on the railroad?

LY: Right, workers, too.

RP: you know, other Japanese that were in the town?

LY: No, I didn't see any Japanese people, you know, other nationalities. Yeah.

RP: Is it possible that --

LY: He may have, but we, I never seen because I was little and... so, it's hard to say.

RP: Is this the hobby that he might have started in Japan and brought with him to the United States or...

LY: We don't know but I imagine he must have learned here. Because think that photography and video things, visual technology, probably started from here, I imagine.

RP: He was kind of on the ground floor of it. Did, and so he had a studio? So he must have taken pictures for other people, possibly, you know, portraits?

LY: In town too, you know, Helper, Utah, picture of the towns and vehicles and what else did I see? Anyway, I'm trying to remember. But I have to see the pictures. And it's in a book now. One of the museum director, she published a book on May 2007.

RP: So your grandfather went back to Japan and then came back with your father. And they were in Helper, Utah, for a little while. And then they... where did they go after that?

LY: My father only stayed... let's see, August 'til October, 1919. Then my grandfather, Tomojiro, stayed 'til I imagine December 1919 or January 1920.

RP: Then he moves, he goes to San Francisco.

LY: Right.

RP: And your father goes back to Japan?

LY: (...) Yes, my father went back (October 1919).

RP: And you said that your grandfather worked on the --

LY: Sorry.

RP: Oh.

LY: That's not correct. My father came to Helper, Utah, first time on August 1919 with my grandfather. And my father went back to Japan 1919, October. And when he came, he was only seventeen and eight month. So he has to finish school, equivalent of a present day high school.

<Begin Segment 5>

RP: And then when does your father return to the United States?

LY: He came back March 6, 1921. He was eighteen and nine month.

RP: With a high school graduate...

LY: Then he met my grandfather in San Francisco and they stayed at Bocho Hotel, traveling hotel. And I also have the book on that too. I purchased in, last year when I went to a Asian craft fair, they had a booth selling the particular book and I said, it's a Japanese town in San Francisco. So I said, "Wow, I got to look at that." And then looking through and I found the Bocho Hotel and the picture. And I said, "Wow, that's the place my grandfather living there." So, quite few years.

RP: Do you, you said that your grandfather worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad?

LY: Right by the Bay Bridge road. That's what it says on...

RP: Do you have any idea what your father was doing when he came back in 1921?

LY: My father?

RP: Yes. Was he employed.

LY: Oh, okay. I know. let's see, 1921 he has worked at the American Fish in that particular place that's the Japanese town. And his owner is a classmate from Japan. So, he worked there and I haven't figured out how... I think he worked there for half a year. And then he went to L.A. And I don't know what he did 'cause we never asked or we don't know. But my grandfather had all the records and he moved and he had such and such a address so that's how I found out, oh, this is the place where he lived. So my father moved from San Francisco and went to L.A., Little Tokyo, and then it said 211 East First Street. That's where they have a 366 is a present day Japanese National American Museum. So, one block from there, he was there. But today I think it's a civic center, where he was living. And...

RP: Now, did your father return to the Bay Area later on? Or did he stay in Los Angeles?

LY: Yes. He went to San Jose, Menlo Park, Palo Alto. So...

RP: Do we know what he did there?

LY: I only know by, let's see, census. That's one place he lived and then I know he mentioned something about Menlo Park before he got married. So when my mother married to my father they lived in Menlo Park. But before that, you know, he has lived in San Jose area and Menlo Park and Palo Alto.

RP: He got involved in working at nurseries didn't he?

LY: Yes. Because he was working at the nursery. So when he got married he already had a florist. So when my mother married to him, they had a florist business right by the Stanford University. So my mom used to say that, oh, they had a lot of Stanford students come and buy the corsages and different arrangement.

RP: That's a good, yeah, that's a good location.

LY: Oh, right.

<Begin Segment 6>

RP: How did your parents meet?

LY: Oh, by baishakunin, means go-between. So he has a go-between, I mean a person who helps him find somebody. And then my mom had it and just like when in Japan, arranged marriage.

RP: Right. So some of those customs from Japan were transferred over to America.

LY: Right.

RP: What, and you said that your father would hire the baishakunin?

LY: Uh-huh. No, not hire. Someone, he knew this Mr. Matsushima who was a officer for Salvation Army, in that area. And then my mother's side she had a family friend from Hiroshima who, you know, friends of grandparents. They, I guess, talked to each other and said, "Oh, here's a lady. Here's a man." And they...

RP: So they both had baishakunins.

LY: Right.

RP: Ah, and they came to an agreement that that was gonna be a...

LY: Right.

RP: ... a sound marriage.

LY: So they married in Florin Methodist Church, Japanese Methodist Church, in November 4, 1934. And my father was, I guess thirty-two, and then my mom was almost twenty-one.

RP: Quite a difference.

LY: And then they moved. That's why my mother went to Menlo Park and had Carol, David, Francis, and then Paul. Then war came. I mean, so they decided to go back to Florin so they can go to camp with her parents and siblings. So they already went back there, March 27th.

RP: They, they went back to Florin in March 27th?

LY: Uh-huh. And then they have to leave the Florin, May 28, 1942. And then, looking at the tag I found for each one of them, and on my parents' it said May 28th, they left the two p.m. on the train. And I asked my aunt, "Who took you people?" And she said, "Oh, neighbors." I forgot the name, but the neighbors helped them to go (to Elk Grove train station).

RP: Do you know what happened to the Seno farm when they had to go to Manzanar?

LY: Oh, they have to leave and exactly, I do not know. Because I asked aunt and she wasn't sure. But what happened was my grandma, grandparents bought it with children's name so when they came back, you know, no one really took care so they lost because you have to have money to pay the tax, property tax, and they didn't have money to pay property tax. So they lost.

RP: They lost the property.

LY: So, before they left the camp my grandparents and my aunties... let's see, Auntie Nellie and Auntie Josephine, they left the Manzanar December 1944 and went to Washington, D.C. and worked at office, in the office.

RP: Office of...

LY: I guess government office, yeah, if I remember right. Excuse me. And then they came back 1948, no, excuse me, 1944, so 1946 they came back.

RP: So the...

LY: And just the old two. And then my uncle, meantime, he was in Manzanar. But he volunteered for army.

RP: I think we'll get to that in a little while. Tell us about what happened to your grandfather on your father's side, Tomojiro, he was in San Francisco?

LY: Oh, get back to grandfather.

RP: Yeah, we'll just jump to him and...

LY: Uh-huh. Well, nineteen... around '23 it says he's gonna work on the land house and I'm not sure what that means. So I figured okay, it must be taking care of the property for some well-to-do family or something. And then he lived at, it said Bayshore Road on 1930 census. And then, anyway, going back to little notebook he kept up, journal, it says January, no, I take that, that was the Southern Pacific. It said his beginning salary is thirty-five cents an hour. And then from, that's 1920. In August, 1920, he will be getting forty-five cents an hour. So land part I'm not, I don't recall so I had to re-read it again. But 1930 census it said, you know, he was still here. But November, 1930, he started to break the ground, groundbreaking for building the house. So that's in Japan. So sometime between that April and maybe October or way before that, he went back to Japan. But that part I have to check it. But I found out that it's very, they don't have any record for going back to Japan. Coming in they have so unfortunately. But somehow if I can find it from Archives. I'm looking for it.

RP: So he's, he sounds like one of those, one of the Isseis who came to America, earned some money, and went back to Japan and perhaps helped 'em build a, build a house there.

LY: Anyway, he has been sending the money to his, I mean, our grandma and my father so many (times), so often. Because it says, "I have sent so much to Japan," and it has a date. And every two weeks he was getting paid. So he has a record of how much was paid, how much he spent for food and then health insurance and so forth. So it's quite a record that I found.

RP: That's great. How about your, what do you remember about your parents?

LY: My parents?

RP: Yeah. What, what words come to your mind or what picture comes to your mind when you think about your mom?

LY: My mother, she has worked very, very hard 'til the end. And my father, too. And when he came back from Japan he became gardener. But while he was in Japan after the Tule Lake, they had that dry goods store as well as farming raising the.. growing the rice and wheat and soy beans, and vegetable garden to feed us.

RP: What did your parents share with you... I mean you, you weren't in Manzanar. You were born in Tule Lake, but can you share with us any experiences that they talked about at Manzanar?

LY: Well, I remember a lot about being honest and studying hard, work hard, and be nice to other people. And be helpful.

RP: Those are the lessons that you got from your parents?

LY: 'Cause my mother said she wanted to go to school but she has to quit when she was in, junior. So she had one more year left but because of the farm she needed the help so she quit and helped in the farm, then she got married. So when she came back to United States in 1957 she attended night school and finished so she got her diploma in 1958, June.

RP: Where did she graduate from?

LY: Sacramento Adult Evening, Adult Education, down on 18th and K Street. But now in the building is also the, what do you call?

RP: Is no longer there?

LY: Moved and right now I don't know what they have. But no school there either.

<Begin Segment 7>

RP: If we could go back to Manzanar. And do you have any stories or anything that your parents shared with you about their time at Manzanar?

LY: Well, they left us pictures, photos, and we know when we were growing up we were still young and now I'm retired and maybe last ten years, I became more interested in what went on when we were little or before us. So we started to think about our grandparents and then our parents and now I'm really interested and want to know more. So I'm trying to read more and get whatever, whatever I can get hold of it. And talking to the older people who are like in eighties (and nineties), and tried to get the information from them. And Bill Taketa is one of the person who share about the Manzanar Block 30, whole picture. And he said the only person who I'm missing is those people who has to work at the time they took the pictures. And he said there, there were three hundred people living there. So I forgot to bring today but we made it in two section because it's very long. And it's taken by Toyo Miyatake. It's a beautiful black and white. And then he also wrote me a name of the families who were living in Block 30, especially people from Florin, Elk Grove, and let's see, Mayhew area, and the Rancho Cordova.

RP: One of your aunts that went to Manzanar had an interest in photography.

LY: Yes.

RP: And who was that?

LY: Pardon?

RP: Who was that?

LY: Oh, that's Auntie Nellie Sakakihara.

RP: And she took pictures at Manzanar?

LY: Very interesting. And I say if it wasn't for her, I don't think we'd have that many pictures.

RP: Do you know if she, how did she get a camera into camp?

LY: It was a Kodak and then she took a photography class in Elk Grove (High School). That's what it says in the album. And then she had a tour in Stanford University.

RP: She had a...

LY: The, I guess club, visited the Stanford University when she was in camera club. So I'm very, very thankful. That's why I think she was the one person always as we were growing up takes the picture and develop and give it to the families. Now I can really appreciate. And then fortunately our cousin, her son, one of their son, has all of these photos and he is very willing to share the pictures. 'Cause in August this year we had a family reunion of the Senos and this is our fourth year. And then my daughter asked, "Can we borrow your albums?" Because we are looking for old pictures of our grandparents, our parents, and her siblings, and then when we're younger. But anyway, that's why my older sister and my oldest brother and Francis and Paul's picture up to four years old, up to Manzanar, she's the one that took so many of 'em. So they were so cute.

RP: So your parents, there was a "loyalty questionnaire" that went around at Manzanar. And your parents answered, "no-no." And what, you told me that they, what was their reason for wanting to go back to Japan? Why did they want to go...

LY: Reason for going back?

RP: Yeah.

LY: My parents, my father had his mother who was seventy -- let's see -- three. So, she needed, or she's the only one alive along with her oldest daughter. And anyway, she's married, and she has her own children. So, they felt they are, you know, very responsible to take care of her life.

RP: And, and your father was, was he the only son?

LY: Right. And then he's the really only one son and then needed to be with her.

<Begin Segment 8>

RP: So they go to, they went to Tule Lake?

LY: That's right, they moved to Tule Lake in February, 1944.

RP: Do you, did they share any stories about that camp with you? You were born there and obviously don't have...

LY: I was born, but you know we really didn't say too much. Well, we're too young. Well, not really there to ask question. So my parents really didn't say much about the camp. And only through what I found out from my aunt, youngest aunt, and then reading and talking to other families who are still here. And that's how I found out.

RP: When did you, when did you sail for Japan?

LY: Our family left December 26, 1945. Around nineteen... yeah. Date might be a little off but I think but I think it was twenty-six. It's Gordon, SS Gordon.

RP: USS General Gordon? Uh-huh. You were...

LY: And then we arrived in Uraga, let's see, 1946, January I think sixteenth.

RP: And you went where?

LY: From there they went to, you know, we all went to Yamaguchi-ken, Natajima. Then my mother said, "Oh it was so unfortunate." You know, after the bomb was dropped so she saw many beggars and...

RP: You said the bomb was dropped, you're talking about the atomic bomb or just...

LY: Yeah, atomic, atomic bomb was dropped, dropped in August, 1946? Oh, no, no, not '46. Before that, '45?

RP: '45.

LY: Uh-huh.

RP: So Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi-ken...

LY: Is that one more prefecture south of it.

RP: From Hiroshima?

LY: And we're the very last prefecture of Honshu, is the biggest island. And then right below that is Kyushu. And then my grandparents came from Hiroshima and then I just recently, when we went to, my daughter and I went to Japan spring, March, April this year, 2009, then I saw a cousin, a second cousin, two of 'em. And the one the cousin's grandma and the grandfather passed away. And then his uncle and his wife and a baby, so which would be cousin, his cousin. And then the second cousin is already seventy-five years old. And he said he was not affected 'cause they're out in the country. And I said, "Did you have any kind of warning?" And he said so they were practicing, you know, if the bomb is dropped. That's what he told us. And then...

RP: So you lived, you lived with your father's, your grandfather's, at your grandfather's house? Where, where...

LY: Oh, when we went back to Japan?

RP: When you went back to Japan?

LY: Yes.

RP: Was that the house that he was building?

LY: That he built?

RP: In 1931?

LY: Uh-huh. But they had to rebuild. So my father built the house by the time he went back. So, anyway, my grandfather -- going back to my (grandma) -- when he went back to Japan in (1930), November, as so 1930... oh, excuse me, that's 1930 start the ground break so 1931, November, May, excuse me, they moved into a new house. It's a two-story house. And then he had a special roof. And had a glass on it. So when he takes a picture he gets a lot of lights. So when he went back he was still continued to take photos. And then my (neighbor) who is seventy-nine years old today, he remember a lot. And his family must have talked to him many things too about our grandfather, Tomojiro. So I have a picture of him when we visited him 2000. He said, "Here is a picture of Grandfather," which he took. And here is a glass, what do you call, negatives, those days. And then this is not his copy but because they had a flood they lost the real picture. But he said he made a picture with a negative, glass negative. And he showed it. And he said he was only one year old. And then there's another picture we took when we visited, my daughters and my niece and nephew and myself, in 2000. He show us what Grandfather was making beside taking photos. He made a rice container with a handle and then a wood put together and then tied with the bamboo. Somehow they curled the bamboo around and he said this container, rice container been, never been used. He said he was selling so he bought it for him. And he said never been used, brand new. And if it was smaller I said I wanted to bring back. And at that time he show us his little leather like a suitcase like or carry, carry case or whatever. It's rectangle. And he had a little negative clip holder or whatever. And then he showed us wrench. He said when he came back, Japan did not have a wrench. And then he had a hammer and then he has a canvas and on that little carrying whatever it's, to put things in there, maybe camera or whatever, and he always had a T.A., Tomojjiro Asahara. And then we have a what, big trunk, he has a T.A. So I have that one now. And then had also sew, you know, hand sew, T.A.

<Begin Segment 9>

RP: Lois, what are your earliest memories of living in Japan?

LY: Our family?

RP: You.

LY: Oh, what did I do?

RP: What do you remember about --

LY: Oh, Japan? Oh...

RP: -- your early years growing up in Japan? 'Cause that's kind of where you...

LY: Many things I enjoy 'cause I was there 'til twelve years old.

RP: Uh-huh, twelve.

LY: And I have a friends and then I really loved Japanese culture. And I still continue to contact or correspond. Mostly, nowadays, telephone. But and then when I went back to Japan, was it 1982, sixth grade reunion, from sixth grade.

RP: Sixth grade in Japan?

LY: And three months before I was supposed to graduate we moved back to Sacramento. So I didn't finish but they remembered me so they always have a get-together. If I let them know ahead of time we get together. So we had another one. It was 2000, year 2000.

RP: Did you, so you went to Japanese school?

LY: Oh, first grade. 'Cause I was only year and like three month when we left Tule Lake.

RP: Right. So, you really, you grew up --

LY: Right.

RP: -- in Japanese culture, with the language and everything. You really didn't identify as an American, you were too young.

LY: And I feel like, I still feel like, Japan, is a great part of my life. love Japanese food. I like Japan, beautiful place to visit. And so, well, Americanized but they still carry the Japanese culture.

RP: How were you accepted by your schoolmates in, in school?

LY: Well, I don't really remember the emotional or feeling. But I remember, 'cause we were born in America, so they say, "Amerikajin." America and then "jin" is a people. But it didn't bother us. And, no hard feelings. Because I guess they know that our grandparents were born there and they know the neighbors and my father was, he grew up there in Natajima. So, we were very well accepted.

RP: You had strong connections.

LY: So I didn't see any strange feelings.

RP: What about your other, your brothers and sisters? Did they experience any of that, being a little older and having come from America?

LY: Yeah, I'm sure they had a hard time because they didn't know the English. 'Cause when my parents went back my mother said in school, like junior high on, they teach British English. So she said no use trying to teach English from U.S. 'cause iit's gonna confuse the children. So I know talking to Francis, he said when he went to Japan he was already eight years old. So he was very, it was very difficult for him to get in school and be with the rest of the Japanese and not knowing really Japanese. And then when he came back he was already eighteen years old, and has to be adjusted to English. So I think he had a most difficult time.

RP: He had...

LY: And for us too, it wasn't bad as he did, but when we came back here we didn't know any English. All I knew was the alphabet. So it was very, very difficult, especially first year. But I still think, oh, I wish I know more Japanese and more English. I feel like I'm in between.

<Begin Segment 10>

RP: This is tape two of a continuing interview with Lois Asahara Yuki. And, Lois, we were talking about your transition to living in Japan. Did any of your brothers and sisters who are a little older than you, did they, did they work the occupational government in Japan doing any interpretive work or work with the army or any, any of that that you know of?

LY: Not in Japan.

RP: Not in Japan. Another question, you mentioned about the devastation that you came into when you went back to Japan. Was that evident as you grew up? Were there still areas of the country that were...

LY: Can you repeat that again?

RP: What did the, what did Japan... were the scars of the war in Japan still evident to you as you grew up? Did you see areas that were still bombed out?

LY: Oh, no. It's completely... it's very, very, what do you call? I mean, it's like black and white. The place was all, what do you call, rebuilt, especially the Hiroshima and Nagasaki. And then technology and you know these things... the history, fifty, well, over sixty-five years now, really taking place and it, such a nice place to visit. And so clean. You don't even see piece of paper on the street even in the city. And then... I'm very fascinated how they keep up the place.

RP: Was, was getting enough food a problem for the family when they came back to Japan? You mentioned that one of your, your youngest brother passed away as a result of malnutrition or...

LY: Oh, that's in Japan.

RP: In Japan.

LY: Yeah. When they went back, they didn't have, what do you call, basic needs. So, they struggled. They had money, but no food. So they had to, you know, grow your own. Everybody's growing their own food. And they very sufficient in their own family but I guess they didn't really have other things to really share with other people at that time, after the war. So it was very, very difficult. And then well... my, oh was it? Oh yeah, neighbor is the one told us my father side relative... no, no, my grandma side, of my father side, relative in place called Sudenji, had a, what do you call it, rice and then not ash, but charcoals to use when he arrived in Japan. You know, we need these items so they had rice and charcoal given to us. But, it was with my father's older sister's place and her family. So when they came back... neighbor, oh yeah, neighbors too gave them something to, for our family. But they never saw it. So I guess one of the neighbors said, "You don't even say thank you." But they didn't know. It was, they, relatives ate the rice, used the charcoal. And maybe other things too.

RP: So these were items that were supposed to go to them when they got back to Japan?

LY: I mean, to, you know, our parents and my family.

RP: Oh, that's how difficult things were.

LY: They were trying to, you know, help. Which was a cousin's family. My father's cousin did that. So, and he, at the time they went back, I mean, the food was not, you know, not enough to eat and then my mother said reason I survive is that I was able to say, "I'm hungry." And my little brother, when he left the Tule Lake, he was only two month old. And that's why he, because of malnutrition. And my mother said everybody was so sick. So, that's how it was. You know, economy was bad and whole situation was, after the war. So they said like school, they had a statue of very famous person and they even took that down and made a bullet.

RP: Made a what out of it?

LY: Bullets. You know...

RP: Oh, oh.

LY: Anyway, that's what I've been told. So they re-made. It was a man named what was it, Noguchi is the last name. Was it Hideo Noguchi, famous, I guess, physician. And then they took that down and made the bullets.

RP: Did you say that your father built an American style home?

LY: Yes. My father built the American style home in Japan, two stories. And then, this is where he learned how to build the house. When he was in Tule Lake, he changed from ground cleaning to construction. So he was able to learn how to build the buildings or the houses. So he, not only not he built his, our own house, but he also helped my mom's cousin's husband in Hiroshima. So he was able to build the apartments. And he made six total. And when I went back in 2000, his wife, who was about eighty, she said, "I want to thank you for your father," for showing her husband how to build the apartments and the house. So that's why he, she said, "That's why we were able to make some more units and then here we are living in the city." And now his son has the property 'cause his father passed away. And then he said, Oh, this is about six times they have rebuilt in the last sixty-five years. So, it was very interesting. And the same place, so I'm very happy that he was able to do that and...

RP: Your father...

LY: This is my grandma Hisa Kuwabara Seno's younger sister's family I'm talking about.

RP: So your father would have built these six apartments in Hiroshima just after, during the redevelopment of the, of the city?

LY: He didn't, I think he probably helped just one, to show him how to do it.

RP: Show him how to do it.

LY: Right.

RP: That would have been just, you know, in the time after the dropping of the bomb and the rebuilding of the city.

LY: Uh-huh, right. I think it was in '60s, if I remember right.

RP: Oh, in the '60s.

LY: Uh-huh.

RP: Okay.

<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.

<Begin Segment 12>

RP: Do you recall what your father, your father did in Japan? Did he, did he have a job in addition to his construction work? Did he do anything else in Japan?

LY: When he went to, back to Japan, they did farming and raising the rice and planting the soybean along the aisle and raising the vegetables and I remember they had a, I think as a pig, cow, duck, what else did we have? Ducks and cat. My sister loved the cat very much. And then that's, oh, that's about it. Maybe Francis knows. I don't remember, but I know we have some picture with all those animals. 'Cause I never really liked the animals that much. My sister who was right above me, just loved it. And then besides farming, oh, dry goods store. That was --

RP: Your, dad...

LY: -- you know, we had a uniforms, every day wear work clothes, uniform for school, and then what else? That's about it. Everyday thing that we need.

RP: Your dad ran that store?

LY: Pardon me?

RP: Your dad ran the dry goods store?

LY: Oh, my mom and he did. Uh-huh. So that's how we made a living. And then talking to my brother, (Paul) said when he went back to Japan and my mom too, if he ran the... oh no, he ran the business like what he did in Menlo Park. You make a promise, you do it. You don't have to write anything. So he took that and applied and it didn't work well because what happened was -- my (brother Paul) told me just recently -- he said when my parents were in the Menlo Park and Palo Alto area with the florist, that's how he operated the business. And then he applied that and then my, let's see, grandfather's younger brother, which would be my mother's uncle in Hiroshima said, "Do not lend or let the product go without getting paid. Exchange money, otherwise you won't be able to do the business well." So, my brother said that Mom was doing okay. My mom listened to Uncle. But my father was still thinking about what went on in U.S. So they had a very hard time trying to do the business. It didn't... you know, when you purchase something you have to pay them, wholesale people. And here, in Japan, those days you have to wait 'til the rice is harvested or wheat is harvested. And they'll exchange, you know, with that and they get the money and they pay you. No, can't do that. So, we had a very difficult time at the time. And when we came back we had to still pay back to the people our parents owed. So that's what we did one whole year, pay back whoever we still have it, owe. But when we were leaving they knew we're leaving so they didn't pay it purposely. 'Cause they're not gonna be here. So my mother said, be honest, pay whatever you owed to other people first. So, we're okay. If we didn't do it, we won't be able to go back to where we live. People talk about it.

RP: So everything was, got cleared up.

LY: Because in Japan many times they stay at the same place, many generation.

RP: You want to always go back.

LY: So pay all the debt and we're okay and be honest and pay back so I'm sure that my brothers and my sister and my parents have to really work hard in trying to make a living here too. And go to school. Most of 'em, us, we still need to go to school.

<Begin Segment 13>

RP: Lois, tell us what a typical day in Japanese school was like.

LY: we started, I don't remember the exact time, but maybe around eight-thirty and we have an assembly out in the yard or if weather's bad then in the hall. And then all the teachers there and the principal is there and the announcement and then go to the classroom. And then as I was growing up we had two grades, two, not grades... two classrooms for each grade. So we had like about thirty in each class. So, it was quite interesting. And then anyway what I really, I remember is at the time that I was there each year we have a field trip in April. And then I think we had one in the fall. Then October, we always have... undoukai means inter-colleague... anyway, you have a race between the grades. And all the family comes and watch, bring the lunch and they have a lunch together. And even the older people, grandparents, participate at one time, you know different time for different age group. Then of course children are most busiest participants on race or different things we did. And they usually have a red group and a white group. And then they have a little cotton ball that you make it with a string and then see which team has the most ball in a basket. It's almost like a basketball net, whatever it's called. And they have to put it in. And it, those days, they used a bamboo basket on each side. And then we have a dance, folk dance, performance for the audience to see. And children does most of the thing and then we race, then we get a certificate for first place, second, third. And they have pencils. It was fun 'cause we didn't have anything fancy. But and then they make osushi to bring to the, for the lunch.

And then, anyway, because those days we didn't have a individual family to go places our own. So it was school function. They took us to different cities and different places. As you get older you get farther away from home. And like high school, they have overnight. And that was most memorable events that I had. And then we also had a contest with music, singing contest as a group from each school. And represent and then we have a contest with the other elementary schools in other cities. And it was a lot of fun. And then also had a contest for abacus, soroban, you know, you figure out? And then it started with fifth level, no, no, sixth, sorry, sixth level, fifth, and as you get down lower it's faster and then you have to be really fast. And that was a very memorable thing that I remember. And then when I was in fifth grade I did a sixth. And then sixth grade, fifth. And then I had to come back so and some of my classmate, if you go up to third level then you'll be able to work in a bank. And then working in a bank is different from here. It's a very honorable position. So I said, "Oh, I want to be real good at it." And then everyday we have to walk to school, rain or shine.

RP: How far was it?

LY: How far was it, Francis? Maybe --

RP: A mile?

LY: -- half an hour. I don't know the mileage while we walked. Especially when we had a flood, we had to walk. And anyway, and getting back to schedule, you said, what was the school's schedule like? Then we had a, you know, I don't remember the exact order but we had a kokugo, reading, and then writing. We have science, and then we have a special teacher for club, like cooking, a lady who taught us. And then one teacher teaches all the subject, just like here, except the special thing. Music we had a special teacher. And then cooking and P.E. was the regular teacher, taught us P.E. But a very competitive and every day we have to do the exercises as a group when we were in school. That's the time that we assemble. So very, what do you call, athletic...

RP: Athletic?

LY: Uh-huh. Nowadays they have a swimming pool in school and then they have more clubs. But at the time that we were growing up... oh yes, I remember, even we have a spring vacation or winter vacation, we always had a, assignments. Reading, math, science. And like summertime, about July, last week of July 'til end of August, we always have exercises, we have to go meet at somebody's house and the radio is on and everybody does it together. And if you attend they give you a little card and they stamp for you that you were there. And then we have a summer project, like a science, we have to do special project. Depends on the grade level.

RP: So try to --

LY: Keep you busy.

RP: -- keep you engaged in activities and so your brain doesn't get too mushy.

LY: So even winter vacation. So, you know, here, no school work. But there, every day. And then we, we're still going school on Saturdays for half a day. Now, they changed. Nowadays it's almost like here. So, before, for a long, long time they were going school on Saturdays, every Saturday.

RP: Did you have a favorite subject in school?

LY: Pardon me?

RP: Did you have a favorite subject in school?

LY: Oh, I liked science. What else? Science... arts and craft. But I didn't like drawing. I couldn't draw. My mom, mother and my sisters and rest of the family, I think they were very artistic except me. Just dislike. And then in Japan they go to field trip and then they go painting. You sit down and you have watercolor. And you have to paint the scenery or something and I just dread it. But I could cut things and make things but I just didn't have any talent on the drawing. But I liked the singing and...

RP: Were there clubs to join in school?

LY: Were there like... well I was sixth grade... we didn't, it was all done in what do you call, in school hour. It was not like a special day that we have certain activity. So, I remember that I was doing the abacus.

RP: Did your family have any type of a social life at all? Did you...

LY: Only place we went was church on Sunday. And we had to take a bus or ride a bicycle. And then we only had I think two bicycles, or was it one? And Frances always took us. If we had to ride on the, say like they have a strike on the bus, so we get on back of his bike. 'Cause we didn't have our own. So maybe we have two bicycle in the house, but I can't remember.

RP: So automobiles at that time were a real luxury item?

LY: No, no... so later on when I was coming to U.S. they started to have, no... that was my high school age year, so... until, really bus, for area that we lived, that's it. Or bicycle. Or walk. So, in a way it was good 'cause we walked every day. So it was very nice. We didn't mind. Except that when we were walking and as we were growing up and the wheat gets higher, or the rice field gets higher, and there was some stranger there and then we were scared. You know, might get kidnapped. So that was the only thing that sort of bothered me. I mean, we were scared 'cause we were still young. So we always walked together, whoever lived close to you. So it was very nice. And then, oh, you said social life? Sometimes they have a movie. So we go to school at nighttime and we take a little hibachi because that was the only means of keeping us half warm. And then what else? We just...

RP: What type of movies did you watch?

LY: Pardon?

RP: What type of movies did they show?

LY: Oh, I don't know, tell you the truth, because I never really care about the movie. Only thing that I remember is when we see very popular, what do you call, sentimental movie, that kind of thing that I liked. But I never, I mean, I never somehow don't really care about any other movie. So...

RP: Were they, were they some of them American movies that had subtitles or samurai movies?

LY: I'm sorry, I don't even recall. Because when I go in and see a movie, a lot of time I'm sleeping. I fell asleep. [Laughs] I wish I can help... maybe Francis knows. And my sister, who was right above me, fourteen month older, she loved the movies, she loved to read. So, but you know, she is not here so, I'm sorry that I don't have an answer to that.

<Begin Segment 14>

RP: So, (1956) is, was that the year that your family began the process of coming back to America? When did, when did...

LY: We left Japan December, I think 27th on the Wilson, the ship, big ship. And it, and that was the only way to travel.

RP: Your, who was the first member of your family to come back to the United States?

LY: 1952, I think it was March, my oldest brother, David, and then my older sister, Carol came back to stay with grandparents and uncle and a few aunties who were not married yet. So they stayed in Florin. And this was the house that was purchased after the internment camp.

RP: Oh, after the war.

LY: 'Cause the first house they didn't, they weren't allowed to go back to. They lost the house.

RP: Can you tell us about the process involved in trying to get back to the United States from Japan?What did you have to do?

LY: My uncle, Uncle Alvin, he became our sponsor. And then of course grandparents and other aunties helped too. But mainly Uncle Alvin is the one became sponsor and send the money to us so we can come back. And it's surprising, those days, six hundred something. It was, I was really shocked to see that. And I still have it.

RP: That's for one person?

LY: Uh-huh. One person. So it's very, very expensive ship, right. And it took Yokohama, Japan, to Honolulu was five, seven days. And then five days from Honolulu to San Francisco.

RP: Can you tell us why the family decided to come back to the United States and leave Japan?

LY: Well, economy was so bad in Japan. And then of course our grandparents, my mother's side, are all here. And then they help us. And in getting back to what my grandparents said, who are my mom's parents and siblings, according to my aunt they stop, they said, "Don't go to Japan," you know, when they were in Manzanar. That's what my auntie told me about a year ago.

RP: They tried to convince them not to go to Japan.

LY: Not to go. But, I guess my father and my mom was very determined to take care of the mother, especially you know, he was away for so long. So...

RP: Now your mother was a citizen.

LY: Yes.

RP: And did she have, did she have to reinstate her citizenship after being in Japan?

LY: Right, she has to lose a citizenship.

RP: She lost her citizenship?

LY: Uh-huh, right. So when she decided to come back she has to reapply and I think Mr. Collins is the one that helped. In the, I guess a lawyer in San Francisco those days?

RP: Oh, Wayne Collins?

LY: Yes.

RP: Oh.

LY: And I still have the letter.

RP: The letter that he wrote?

LY: Wrote.

RP: Oh, do you have it with you?

LY: [Nods] And anyway, what else?

RP: Who came next after...

LY: My father, March, 1956 he came back. 'Cause if he comes back he can go work and earn money and send the money to come back for rest of us.

RP: So that's what he did?

LY: Uh-huh. And then, you know, of course my oldest brother and sister growing up and they need a father or mother, the family, so that's the reason he came. And the same year my brother, Francis and Paul came back in September. 'Cause my mother said, "Oh, the sooner they go back they can go to school." Then very last my mother and my sister, Joan, and I came back in, we left Japan December, 1956, and arrive January 2, 1957.

<Begin Segment 15>

RP: You started the new year in the United States. Did you want to come back?

LY: Sure, because, yes, because when we're in Japan, we didn't have any relatives. All my mother's side are here, cousins are here, grandparents are here. So whenever we have Christmas or, you know, holidays, New Year, we have no one to really go, go to. So we felt, we were very happy when we heard oh yes, we're going back and then at that time no one had television in Japan, really, you know, place where we lived. Then we heard, oh yeah, if you go to Japan, I mean, back to U.S., we have television, black and white. [Laughs] But we were very happy about that. But, nothing was really, you know, extra ordinary. Just took us where it comes.

RP: Uh-huh. You just kind of dribbled back.

LY: Uh-huh. Just kind of fit into whatever the situation.

RP: Uh-huh. Do you remember much about your trip back from Japan on the, on the boat?

LY: Oh yes. It was quite experience, scary one. Because on the ocean we had a storms. So my mother... and then our room was a very special room. Normally they put all the luggages. So they put a temporary beds and it was two levels. And then when weather was so bad the ship shifted and the bed collapsed. But, you know, we didn't get hurt. But it was scary. And then I think we were on the bottom. And so my mother took us to the deck and then they have a nice, what do you call it, I don't know what you call that. Where you can lay and rest? But made out of wood. So when we have a storm, very strong storm, it goes from one end to the next. That was a experience. But, you know, when we, before we rode the ship, we all had a cold. But when we stay in the ship we overcame the cold that we had. But Japan was so cold those days I had a frost burn here. So when I got on the boat it healed. But now it's almost fading away. I had a, you know, big mark from the infection. But when we arrived after seven days to Honolulu, we had like a half day to go sightseeing. Oh, that was a joy. It was so nice to be off the boat and then go sightseeing and beautiful weather in Honolulu. So, that, that's very good memory. But food wise, because you get seasick. They had plenty of food to eat, but it wasn't so exciting on the, traveling on the ship on the bad weather, especially winter. So I never thought of going to cruise. Nowadays people say, "Oh, let's go to cruise. We'll have such a time," you know, good time they have. But I said, "No, I don't want to go." But more I hear now after oh, how many years later? Fifty-two years later, I said, "Oh, maybe I should go." But my husband says he likes to go to Alaska.

RP: You could take a cruise there.

LY: And my mother-in-law says she likes to go Alaska too so I'm thinking maybe we should take her.

RP: So tell us, you, did you come in to San Francisco or which port did you enter?

LY: We arrived in San Francisco.

RP: Uh-huh. So you're, you're...

LY: On President Wilson.

RP: The Wilson. And so you're coming into San Francisco Bay there and you're going under the Golden Gate, and you see the United States for the first time in, well what, eleven years or so. So, what was your feeling about that?

LY: Feeling about that? Tell you the truth, I don't remember that much that part. But I was so excited to see cousins and uncles and aunties. And then finally we arrive in... and of course my father and my brothers and sister. So that was the most exciting thing about I remember. Not so much Golden Gate or the port. But we had trunks that we have to wait on it. And my brothers have to load them to the truck and take them home.

<Begin Segment 16>

RP: So your, your Florin family was waiting for you there in San Francisco?

LY: Oh yes. And my grandfather, Tokumatsu Seno, had a stroke, so my grandparents, grandma couldn't come. They had to wait there. And then that year my uncle's wife was expecting, first (baby), so she stayed too. But, it was so nice.

RP: So you went back to Florin?

LY: No, we lived in, at that time already my father had a... and then my brother and a sister had apartment, yeah, two story apartment on the Sacramento, downtown, where Fifteenth Street and U, between U and V. So we lived there 'til we purchased the house in 1959.

RP: Now, that two-story apartment house, was that part of Sacramento's Japanese Town?

LY: No. Those days I think the few Japanese and right next door neighbor was a Chinese family, right next to the alley. And, mixed, not just Japanese but oh, not... I should say diversified.

RP: So you, you had the family...

LY: And then we had a Mexican family upstairs. And this side was apartments.

RP: The family purchased the home in 1959.

LY: '59, May we moved to the house on the Rio Lane. And then it's about oh, how many miles from downtown? Maybe, let's see, three miles.

RP: Some Japanese Americans who tried to purchase homes in certain areas were not welcomed by their neighbors.

LY: Uh-huh.

RP: And was your situation different or the same?

LY: No, not that time. Of course we had a Japanese realtor, Japanese American realtor --

RP: That helps.

LY: -- and he helped us find a house. And my father always wanted a big property. So we had a house, half acre, old house with a half acre. And right in front of us that time we had a, a empty lot and then William Land Park, the ponies were living there. So our street was kind of like a suburb.

RP: So was that a diversified neighborhood too in terms of ethnics?

LY: Oh, we had our Japanese American family across the street. And Italian and another Caucasian family and then couple more other side of our house on the other side of the street. But now apartment buildings. And a nursing home on that street.

RP: And so you went to Sacramento High School?

LY: I went to (McClatchy) High School, I mean, from (William Land) elementary school. Even though I was twelve years old, I went to first grade for half a year or so and then I went fifth grade next year. Then from there I went to seventh grade to the middle school, (Sutter) junior high. Then I skipped the eighth and went to ninth. Then I went high school for two and a half years. Then I went to (Sacramento) city college. Then from there I went to Sacramento State University and became teacher.

RP: How long, so you had to spend some time in first grade and fifth grade getting your language skills back?

LY: Right. Because I didn't know any English. And I felt one incident because I didn't understand and it's outside, crosswalk. I didn't know so I went across and they, you're supposed to have a flag person waiting for you. So I guess I must have crossed without him, maybe he was still on the edge or something. So they punish me, kept me after school. Oh, that was the saddest thing I ever have to put up with. Maybe a couple days. That was really, I mean, I didn't expect that. So other than that I enjoyed the fifth grade teacher and yeah, I still keep in touch and she has retired from Sacramento City Unified School District, from teaching. And went back to her home town in Enid, Oklahoma. And she said, "It's about ninety miles from Oklahoma City." So if I ever go there she said fly over or drive over there then anyway, no bus, no train, or any kind of transportation except maybe ride in a car and get over to her place. And I still keep in touch now that, e-mail. And sometime I call her. So I'm very grateful.

RP: Were there, were there other Japanese American kids in that classroom --

LY: Yes.

RP: -- first grade and fifth grade? Same...

LY: Many, many.

RP: Same situation? They'd come back from Japan?

LY: That time, few. Not that many. But the Asian American, there were a lot of children there. But, at the time that I was there I think there were two more families. One was there before us and one came after, I mean, year after I went. So we're still good friend.

<Begin Segment 17>

RP: Where did you, where did you teach? Do you, you came out of Sacramento State?

LY: I started to teach in Blythe, California.

RP: Blythe?

LY: For five, four years, out in the desert.

RP: Why did you decide to take a job down there?

LY: Well, at the time that I graduated they, what do you call, laid off two hundred teachers from our district. So I said well, I'm gonna go somewhere. 'Cause if you're a man you have to go service so said, think of that and get my experiences. So that's why I took that job and after I left and then there was another call in preschool in Tracy but I already accepted so I stay there to, I mean, four years. So 1969 to '73.

RP: What was that like?

LY: Oh, I enjoyed it. what was it like? The school that I went they had like six hundred students. And even out in the country, Blythe, California, they had from elementary to community college, junior college. And then not just one, they had three elementary schools. They were like one six hundred, seven hundred, maybe other one was five fifty. And then they had one middle school, one high school, one community college. And population was like seven thousand. And many of the students rode on the bus from rural area and came to school. And I enjoyed the outdoor, learned how to go, what is it? Ride on the boat but it's not a boat but I forgot the name. I'm sorry, but I can't recall that. (Narr. note: raft).

RP: Oh on, on the Colorado River?

LY: We float... right, Colorado River. And then when I have time I went to community college and took lapidary and then I have a chance to get to know the, the teacher's family and the student's family too. So I made many visit to the homes in mostly outside of Blythe. So we have to go like maybe twenty miles. And I enjoyed the stay but after four years became lonely. And I said, well, I'm gonna be... when I went there I was already twenty-five. So, I was twenty-nine so I said, oh, I want to start seeing somebody. So, I got the job in San Francisco, bilingual programs. So I came back '73 to '74 and first grade. And that's the very first bilingual programs in whole United States. They started. And then I got another job, bilingual programs in resource position in Sacramento. So, I was finally able to come home and enjoy the relatives, friends, and family (in June 1974).

RP: Yeah. And how did you meet your husband?

LY: Pardon me?

RP: How did you meet your husband?

LY: Oh, my husband? His, well, our grandparents were both from Hiroshima. And they were very close friends from I guess Salvation Army. And this was, anyway, I said to my friend, who is a teacher at middle school, I know her, she's a Chinese American, and then somehow Philip's side, little distant relative and then my teacher friend were working at Sutter Middle School. So, my friend said, "Oh, here is Lois Yuki." And other distant relative who knows Philip said oh, here is somebody, get together. So, I told them that, I said I don't want to be put in a situation, somebody's arranging me. I want to be free. So I said to my friend, "Have him call me if he's interested." So he called me. And then when he called me I knew his grandparents. I don't know the grandparents but they, our grandparents, his and mine, knew each other. So I was not really worried. And then his mother and my mother didn't really know each other either, but just the grandparents. And then Francis said sometime he took our grandparents to Philip Yuki's grandparents' place and then my mom took... and sometime Philip's mom took her in-laws to my grandparents, Senos. So, that's how we met. And we were old enough to know so we didn't really... and he loved the movies so only place that I get to go is movies. [Laughs] But it's okay. And it was quite simple because we know the background. So if I didn't know the background, I'm hesitant.

RP: And how long did the, this, your grandparents and your aunts and your uncles stay in Florin? Are any of them still living in Florin?

LY: Yes. So, my grandparents, you know, passed away in Florin. And then my uncle still lives in Florin, and his family, but the children grew up. But, anyway, they're still there. And then aunties, they're all married and went to, some Sacramento, one of the auntie went to San Francisco, but she was in Salvation Army so they moved to different places. And then they're deceased now. So, basically, Sacramento. Then they got married. So our cousin mostly here but some of 'em living in San Diego or one of the cousin lives in let's see, North Carolina, teaching at the University, Duke. And then, and then most of the families are around here or L.A. So, we're very close.

<Begin Segment 18>

RP: So what, what really got you interested... was there something that really fired you up about learning about your history, your family's history --

LY: Well.

RP: -- and the camp histories. Because you weren't really old enough to really know what happened there.

LY: Now, I gain so much information, and you encouraged me to do something. And I said, "Oh, what did I do?" I mean, I don't like to write. So I said to myself, "At least I can do something like this." With the pictures and a description. This is my grandfather's helping the railroad book. That's what it done to me. When you ask me. And then you mentioned that last time I saw you, "Oh I have something for you. And I'm gonna send to you." So I was really excited. And then waited. Then, Grace Seto called me and told me told me about her book. And then she didn't say much so only thing that I could do is get the book and see it. Then she told me it took her ten years but I said to myself, "I'll be too old if I wait for another ten years." So I gotta do it right now while my mind is still fresh and I really wanted to get it done. Because my daughter, Joy, is saying, "Mom, it's already ten years since you started. Get it done." She said, "You don't know when it will be the last day to be here." So, she really encouraged me. And then she also started to help me scan the pictures.

And then, what started was in August we had date set for Senos family reunion. So we have to get something published for our cousin to see. And then we didn't really publish too much because we need latest pictures and all that. But that really started it. So after that family reunion she sat and started to scanning old pictures. And now I know, I have all these pictures almost in order for our grandparents and our parents but when we were growing up that part on I still have to put them in order. So, camp part and pictures in Japan, we don't have that many. But whatever we have I was able to put them in a folders and separate for my grandfather, I mean, father's side. And then my parents and getting there.

So whatever they left for us, like my father and my mom left the flower vases they use in florist and a bench. He had four benches but I only have one left. And then my father had a desk for many years and then we still have it. So I'm gonna get all those pictures and number them and write how we received or left behind for my --and then Grandfather too, trunk and saw and whatever he left for us. And then he left the bowls, four of 'em, Japanese bowls. And one big platter for the, like a big gathering we can use. So there's... and tea (coasters). So I'm hoping to take the pictures and take it back to Japan and see about when it was purchased or made. Yeah, I mean, we don't have that many but the very few we have. And then there's a little sake cup my niece has. 'Cause my sister had it. And my father told us that when he was fifth grade, first time when he went to Miyajima with the class, classmate, he bought it. And, let's see, outside is a shape like daruma. Daruma is the one that Zen Buddhist, how do they say, anyway, you fail seven times and eighth time you succeeded. So you gotta keep trying. Don't give up first time. You got to keep trying. So, that's a very, very important. And there are a few things left.

<Begin Segment 19>

RP: Lois, I want to -- just a couple more questions. Do you remember receiving a letter from the United States government apologizing for the internment of Japanese Americans and also getting a check for $20,000?

LY: You wanted to know...

RP: Did, do you remember that?

LY: Oh yes, uh-huh. I received one.

RP: Did you have... now you were what a year and a half old when you, when you left to go back to Japan. You were born in the camps. But how did you feel about...

LY: Oh, getting it?

RP: The redress, getting that?

LY: Well, didn't think too much. But when I heard that my mom and siblings lost the property because they couldn't pay the tax, I felt really sad. And not only that, when you think of it, without any trials all these 120,000 people has to go and then you have live in the desert, most of the people live in the desert, I said, "Wow." It's hard to believe. So I said, well, compensation for $20,000 would be very helpful. So I said not just for myself but I wanted to share with the people who really needed the help and then not just sitting and waiting, but these workers nowadays I see it, like my husband's workplace, many Mexican people comes to work. They work so hard with minimum pay. So I said I wanted to help these people. And then or somebody who is working hard, very hard. And they don't ask for handout or welfare. I said these are the kind of places I wanted to help. And then of course National Japanese American Museum so they can share the information. And I thought about Manzanar too.

RP: So you, you gave money to...

LY: I didn't give anything yet, but what I have received I can do it now.

RP: I see. You want, you want to share that.

LY: Right. San Jose has a museum. They're trying to build a, build almost last stage. And Manzanar and Tule Lake programs. Tule Lake, they don't have a building but they have organization.

RP: This...

LY: And I been to pilgrimage for 2006 and it was very, very nice. And...

RP: What do you remember most about that pilgrimage?

LY: About the pilgrimage?

RP: Yeah. Are there any particular event or...

LY: Well, at that time I was not really into it. But really, but I can't see whole picture of it. And then it's, I'm really seeing things a lot better now than before. Because I have more information and I'm talking to older people, getting that firsthand information, and I'm reading oral history and I'm reading some more, and DVR, DVD and videos. So, I'm getting really saturated I feel like. Now I feel that I wanted to, what do you call, Remembrance Day, I wanted to participate, help 'cause they need a lot of people. And then many older people are passing away and...

[Interruption]

RP: Lois, I want to thank you on behalf of the National Park Service and Kirk and myself for sharing all this information and knowledge that you acquired, all this enthusiasm too with us in our interview. And we can, we'll be giving you a copy of this to add to your, your archives. So, thank you very much.

LY: You're welcome. Thank you for the time.