<Begin Segment 11>

MH: You also in retirement served the community a lot. What kind of community volunteering did you do?

KK: I was chairman of the Gresham JACL.

MH: What else?

KK: I was on the board for the Nikkeijinkai, and I got into Ikoi no Kai.

MH: You were president of the board of Ikoi no Kai for a good many years.

KK: I worked about a year or so.

MH: Why did you feel compelled to volunteer for these organizations? What made you do that?

KK: I had a lot of time on my hands.

MH: You had time on your hands. Did you feel it was important to do that?

KK: I thought it would be nice to be doing something.

MH: Your father taught you what? What did he always tell you? You had to what?

KK: Be honest.

MH: Be honest. When you're working on the farm, what did he tell you?

KK: I didn't say, he just, well I worked, I've dealt with my duties.

MH: He really taught you that you needed to work hard.

KK: Yeah.

MH: You have some really great achievements. What are some of the achievements that you've been honored for? You're being modest. I understand that you had gotten the emperor's award?

KK: Yeah, I did.

MH: Were you really proud of that? I think so. Also, some of the other organizations have also honored you. Can you tell me what those were?

KK: Gresham JACL gave me an Outstanding Citizen's Award. National JACL gave me a sapphire pen.

MH: I understand the Ikoi no Kai gave you some kind of recognition.

KK: They gave me a plaque.

MH: They gave you a plaque. You were also active at the Oregon Buddhist Temple, and I understand they also honored you with what?

KK: They honored me with the Kunmon.

MH: What is a Kunmon?

KK: An advisory capacity, I guess. I really don't know.

MH: What advice would you give to young people today?

KK: I can't think right offhand.

MH: Okay. Would you tell them to work hard? Do you have anything else to add to what we've been talking about?

KK: I was on the Farmer's Role Administration who I worked for ten years, so I got a certificate for that.

MH: Anything else?

KK: Huh?

MH: Anything else?

KK: Worked Multnomah County Sheriff's Reserve for five years, so I got a certificate for that too.

MH: Seems like you were a busy person.

KK: I sure was.

MH: Kaz, thank you for sharing your story with us.

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 2003 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.