Densho Digital Archive - Helen Mori Interview (denshovh-mhelen

<Begin Segment 26>

RP: How about pilgrimages?

HM: About what?

RP: Pilgrimages and reunions?

HM: Pilgrimages, we went to one, the fiftieth anniversary. We drove down to Manzanar. And, and my cousin that I was talking to you about, that, one of the twins, we met her family there. We didn't know she was gonna be there but we met her and the kids there, and my cousin. It was a nice service and everything. But that's the only one we went to as far as, you know... and we went to the Manzanar reunion in Las Vegas last year. But that was --

RP: First time?

HM: -- different. First time we went. First time they opened it to grammar school kids.

RP: That's right.

HM: Before it was a high school reunion so we never went. But grammar school kids... it was an all-camp reunion. So we went.

RP: How'd that feel to see people?

HM: Well you know to tell you the truth, we saw a few good friends and, and two of 'em are best friends, it was planned so we were all together. But other than that... and the Marukis, Gracie and Rosie, we only saw one or two people that we knew. Oh, and Mary, Mary Nomura. We only saw, you could count on your fingers how many people that we knew that we saw there. Everyone else, we didn't know. And poor Gracie couldn't even remember me because I had changed so, I turned in from eight and a half to a gray haired old lady, you know. She still couldn't picture me. Rosie's younger so she remembered me but Gracie still couldn't figure me. [Laughs] Isn't that funny? But she was older so I, you know, I recognized her right away, she and Rosie both.

RP: just a few more questions about...

KP: You have five minutes of tape.

RP: Okay. A couple more questions about camp. Do you remember Mr. and Mrs. Wakita in camp?

HM: Oh yes, oh yes. Mrs. Wakita taught koto, you know. And Mr. Wakita taught shakuhachi. And in fact he's my brother's teacher. My brother learned shakuhachi from Wakita sensei. And now he's teaching. He has students. He makes, my brother makes the shakuhachi. He makes the yokobue. Tanaka sensei from San Francisco dojo asked him to make him one and he made him one, yokobue, side flute.

RP: Is there a memorable person that sticks out in your mind from your time in Manzanar? Somebody you met there that made an impression on you?

HM: Gosh, I don't know. Maybe the only one I could think of was Shi Nomura. He was my girlfriend's uncle too. But he was athletic. He was good looking, tall and good looking, and very nice, you know. Other than that I can't think of anybody specifically.

RP: How about a sight, sound, or smell that you will always associate with Manzanar?

HM: Oh, sight is the mountains, Mount Williamson and the range, the whole range. So beautiful. We were lucky we had good scenery. Although the winters and summers were so cold and you know, extreme. But we had good scenery.

RP: And finally, do you have any advice or insights that you could share with young people about your experience?

HM: About our experience?

RP: Based on your experience?

HM: Oh, based on our experience. I guess the only advice I feel like giving is be aware of what's going on, not just in your own life, but things that's going on in the world. A lot of us forget what's going on in the world which causes a lot of things to happen here in the U.S. you know. They should be more aware. I don't think they have to be that proactive but be aware of what's happening, and in our, everything here too. Does that sound okay?

RP: Okay, any questions?

KP: No, that's great.

RP: Thank you so much.

HM: You haven't had time to...

RP: Okay, thank you on behalf of Kirk and me and the National Park Service.

HM: Oh, you're welcome.

RP: We appreciate your interview.