<Begin Segment 14>

HU: You know, my life, I'm a fortunate one. Wherever I go, I have surround by good people, good friends. Back in Japan in hometown, I was warmly accepted. And the reason I'm saying this hometown is it's a beautiful town, and even, I left there age of fourteen. But every time I go Japan, I go visit my hometown and, of course, seeing the relatives and sisters and their children. But somehow, I'm anxious to see my classmate. And when they, I usually tell them when I'm coming that they organize the old classmate of the elementary school. They organize a class reunion for me, and we have a wonderful gatherings. And some of, we are losing for, many classmate because of the age, but we have just a wonderful, wonderful time and act like children. We sing the school song, and we talk about the old days, that type of things, including teachers and all that. And it's, I'm really fortunate that my old classmate will do this for me. And some classmate live long distance, and they send the committee for the telegrams, and they send money for the big parties, that type of thing. And when I moved to Osaka, just the same thing, everybody just so nice to me. And the biggest impact I have is when I came back from military service, I was really well accepted.

And at that time, I get to know a lot of Issei people, and I find out they have some, the Isseis have a communication problem with their own daughters and son. And it's not, if it's just a daily life it's not so much, but sometime they have a complicate discussions, type of things, then I try to help them out. And for one time, of course, the Issei people cannot communicate with their own, sons and daughters. They have a lot of complaint, so they call me, call sometime just day and night, then I listen to them and just make them happy, just somebody listen to them, and it takes just many hours sometimes. I never interrupted their talk; I listened to them. Sometime I just add a few words and comforting them. And I get really deep satisfactions from this activities. And the reason behind this, or not intentionally, but I felt guilty not able to live with my mother. So, mingling with the Issei people, somehow they give me satisfactions and comfort that making up for my association with my mother. And some cases, they have a problem with a property dispute with families in Japan, that type of thing, I help them out. And for business connections, I even consult with the lawyers in Japan type of thing.

And when I decided to live here in Portland, I have a mission. Later I just categorize that way, but I just want to be a bridge between Issei and the Nisei. And I joined the Nikkeijinkai, call for Japanese Ancestral Society of Portland, those days, Nikkeijinkai, 1953, that's a long time ago. And somehow just get to know the community is one thing, just want to be a member, I repeatedly say this, want to be accepted member. And on top of that, those days, we have only just a few handful Nisei for members. And at the meeting -- then I didn't take an active role in Nikkeijinkai until 1976, and I think going to become board member of Japanese Ancestral Society. And meetings took place all Japanese. It's basically, it's Issei group, and I know that Mr. Azumano was a board member. But we have a little, sometimes a little heated argument. I don't know whether I should mention the person's name. Sometime, Nisei cannot express their opinions in Japanese, so they use English, and some Issei don't understand English. It's not just daily conversation, just complicated matter, so they get upset. In some heated moment, they say, "This is a Nikkeijinkai, Japanese Ancestral Society. You speak Japanese." Then Niseis kind of counter that, "You've been living here for, forty, fifty years, you should be able to speak English," that type of thing. So at point, I... Issei speak Japanese, and I'm the interpreter, interpret to English so the Nisei understand what's going on, then vice versa. I just do, when Nisei speak, I have to translate it to Japanese. So that's, that is a time, I guess, I could be helpful for this community, and that was back in 1976. I'm still a member of the same organizations, and I'm glad, in a way, I existed. On top of that, I become a liaison for Japanese American community and the Japanese government official, I still continue to do that. But that's the one thing that I was kind of glad that I'm here to helping out particularly Issei people. And again I feel guilty for not taking care of my mother from close distance. But helping, especially Issei ladies, when I'm just driving by that I see the Issei ladies I know waiting at the bus station, I stop and give a ride, then just thinking that they are my mother. So ever since I'm serving Japanese community organizations, and I really think this is just showing that my appreciation to community, especially Issei people, that what we are today, what we are today is because of those Issei people. So again, I'm just grateful to be a member of this community.

SG: Thanks. Well, just for my own... how, so there's Issei, Nisei, and what are your feelings about the next generation of Japanese Americans in the community?

HU: You know, I serve as a board member of a different group. But I totally, I mean, respect for the young generations. They are smarter, they have a lot of experience like the rest of their, age, and I really feel that they are smarter than we are. And as they get little older, their interest in the community activities, and many organization I serve is filled with the Nisei and the Sansei. And for, at this stage, I don't say much. I just watch those young folks take actions, and I really feel that our community is safe and in good hands with those young people taking our place.

SG: Are there any words, some word or insight or some words that you would like to tell to the younger generation of Japanese Americans?

HU: Oh, not really. Then I said earlier that I feel that they are smarter than I am, and they have a good education, and time is different than our days, so I have just complete trust in their judgment. So I don't really worry about, I don't have any advice or tell more my insight. They are their own, they're smarter, and I really believe that this community is in good hand.

SG: Thank you. So this is a little change of topic, but can you tell us what your thoughts are on the secret of a long marriage?

HU: Just being honest, then help others just unconditionally. And I don't really believe in, marriage is 50/50 propositions, and one has to totally dedicate himself or herself to spouse. I say hundred percent. Both do this, then you can't go wrong. You are start weighing or you do this percentage, I did this percentage, that's the rest of yours, that type of propositions never works. You just put, give yourself hundred percent. That's my belief. I don't know, other people think differently, but that's my belief. And then my wife will share the same, and I don't, the fact is that my wife probably do maybe seventy-five percent or more than I do for her. But the point is just both sides are trying to give himself or herself to others, hundred percent and hundred percent devotion to others. That's what I believe.

SG: That's good advice. [Laughs] Is there anything more, Mr. Ueno, that we might have left out previously that you wanted to mention?

HU: No. This, coverage, I just want to convey my thoughts, the feelings to this community. Right or wrong, it's my belief. Again, appreciative you for giving me this opportunity. This is really first time I feel like I'm speaking to Nisei people of my experience. Without this opportunity, I probably never reveal my experience in Japan and then the United States, so thanks.

SG: Thank you.

<End Segment 14> - Copyright © 2003 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.