Densho Digital Archive - Ayako Tsurutani Interview (denshovh-tayako-01-0013)

<Begin Segment 13>

RP: You had a visit, I believe he showed up in camp in 1943, that was Ansel Adams.

AT: Did I...

RP: The photographer.

AT: Did I what?

RP: Ansel Adams showed up in Manzanar in 1943?

AT: Yeah.

RP: Uh-huh. And, how did he end up coming to your barrack?

AT: Well this lady that we knew lived in another camp, I mean, another block. She came over to tell us that Adams would want to come to take our picture. She arranged it, and she had two of her daughters' pictures taken by him.

RP: And do you remember her name?

AT: Yes, Yae Nakamura. Her husband, he was, I think he, he wasn't an architect. Anyway, they were good friends of ours.

RP: And, and so tell us about, about how, how that photograph took place. Mr. Adams came into your room?

AT: Yeah, our room, he just looked around. Just took the picture right away. Yeah. And then, as I say, his wife took his picture standing on the door, doorway, Bruce.

RP: I was gonna go ahead and have her show the photograph.

AT: Yeah, I say, gee he's gotten old. [Holds up photo album]

RP: So did it take him a while to get you positioned where he wanted you?

AT: No, not, not very much.

KP: Okay, thank you.

RP: Can you get this one too?

[Close-up of smaller photo.]

RP: That's Bruce.

KP: Okay. Can you tilt that a little bit more toward me? There you go. Right there. And who took that picture of Bruce?

RP: Aya?

AT: Huh?

RP: This picture of Bruce, who took that one?

AT: If I remember, it was Mrs... I don't think he took it. I know he took this picture, the family picture, but I'm pretty sure it was Mrs. Adams.

RP: And one of the reasons he took that picture was, picture was...

AT: I don't know anything about it. All I know is my husband took care of all that so I was really surprised to get a copy.

RP: And your son had a --

AT: Would have what?

RP: -- special day. Wasn't that a special day for your son?

AT: Yeah, it was day, uh-huh. I don't know if we did anything. In camp I guess it was pretty hard to... he was too young to know what birthday means.

RP: So he, when he, he took that picture on his third birthday?

AT: Yeah. Third. And then we left camp fairly, oh, that same year we left.

RP: What did you think of Mr. Adams?

AT: Well, I didn't really... he was very friendly. And he sure know, knew his business. 'Cause, 'cause it didn't take him very long to seat us and take the picture. I guess he's more used to taking scenery pictures rather than...

RP: Did he send you a copy of his book or did you purchase a copy of it?

AT: We, I think my daughter purchased it for us. I know other people that have purchased it too. And that picture has been in so many, in the Times, New York Times, it was in there. And it was in this, what is it, well I know Rafu Shimpo and in San Francisco it was in the San Francisco paper. And then this one, gee, I don't remember it, it was some other religious paper I think. Then, anyway, people have been, would send us copies.

RP: Whenever they see it, see it they send it.

AT: Yeah. I was surprised that it was in the New York Times.

RP: So you got around?

AT: Yeah. [Laughs] I did.

RP: So when you look at that picture now, what does it, what do you think about or what do you feel?

AT: I don't know. It looks so different. But, to me, camp wasn't a real bad place, you know, where you... I know there's some people that just can't forget it. But I never think about it unless someone brings it up. 'Cause it just doesn't, you know, occur to me to think about things like that. I'm just happy with... maybe that's why I live so long. And here I thought I, if I lived to be eighty I though gee, that's about the limit. I don't, I hope I don't live to be much over a hundred. [Laughs]