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SG: You mentioned you did judo too?

BO: Yeah, we did judo, and I think that judo is a good defense. Well of course, we used that in grade school, judo on some kids. And then kendo, we kind of, I don't know dangerous too. You have a weapon. But if you don't have that kendo and you're able to stand up, straight up and give a kiai or yell, I think the combination of the two make a good team for defense which you'll find out later on because this accident happened, but it comes out automatically.

SG: How long did you do kendo and judo for?

BO: Judo, I almost got the, I didn't get the black belt in judo because I got hurt. But the kendo, you stand straight up and do it. I almost black belt. Then I used to sneak out to Tacoma, bukkyokai. They said they have the kendo, so I say, "Okay, I'll come to kendo." I was doing kendo at Tacoma. He says, "I want you to come out for the instructor." I said, "I can't." Why? You know, when you have a physical inspection, you're all black and blue. There are no white black and blue, you know. You get pounded by the amateurs. It was pretty sore, but I didn't say nothing, when I go back to service. That was before the war. I used to go out there, and they like to see me come, and they all start laughing. Hey, this guy is not beginner, to pound more. Oh, they hurt.

SG: You competed around here in kendo and judo?

BO: Yeah, we did. We did, but I didn't too much. I didn't do judo too much because I was injured anyway. But kendo, we did have, we had Nakamura Sensei that came from Japan. Somehow we were related to that man, Nakamura, and then Shimozono was his helper, and he came to service. He came in as a mainland group. Mainland group is boys that's in service and then came in. He came in, Nishimura, he was a staff, and he said he will take over that one platoon, and I said, "No. Just stay calm and we don't know each other and just let this hakujin with a sergeant stripe handle it." So we left there. And then finally, he, Shimozono got shipped out. But Shimozono turned out that, was a boyfriend for Ted Hachiya's wife or boyfriend, but they didn't get married. Ted Hachiya got married to her because he was coming up through here, but I don't know where he went. But if we mention kendo, they didn't like it at the school. They shipped them out, someplace else. But judo was all right, so I didn't tell them that, but I kept my mouth shut. I said, "Just keep quiet and be able to get through," so he went through. And I didn't mention that. This part, I was mentioned it. They didn't like kendo. The one sergeant went to staff, he was kendo. They sent him Mississippi. And later on, he come back up to visiting, first sergeant, good. People with kendo is more shanto. They stand straight up and, approach you, but the judo, hunch over a little bit. So that's what I tell my dad too. I says, "The kendo is good because they straighten you up and command everything is sharp." The judo, you hunch over. You grab a hold of each other. But actually, when it comes to defense and stuff, you don't touch each other. You just, quickly move his feet and let him go down by himself, he tells you that. But it comes out automatically.

SG: So was kendo popular among the Japanese community?

BO: Yeah, it was. It was because, but the only thing, too much pounding, pound your head or jab your throat or wrist on the side, especially on this side. It was just black and blue. They miss the armor. They get above it, you know. It's all black and blue. But it makes you stand up like a man and face it, but that's what that is, you know. It's you or I, just like fencing, you know.

SG: So did, when you had the tournaments, how often did you have kendo tournaments?

BO: About once a year. Once a year, they would come out, you know. But you don't, the only time you practice is when you're there. But other times, you don't do that at home. Judo sometime, you go home and you take a scrap with your brother, poor kids, be kind of a big brother. Yeah, Dad, he always used to say, "Hey, you better quit. You might get hurt."

SG: Did people come from, where did people come from to come to do judo or kendo, when you had the tournaments?

BO: Oh, it's in our community, the counties. They get together and have a competition, of each other, see who get it. Sumo too, yeah. They had a sumo in downtown. They had sumo in, sure enough you can tell, you know. You start in, boom. Well, that guy is doing judo. You can tell right away. It's not like the old time sumo, out there big and grab a hold. It ain't like that.

SG: Sounds like the sporting events was, helped bring the Japanese community from different areas together?

BO: Yeah, yeah, it did. Yeah, it really did bring them back, and my dad used to support them. He was, so he'd forget about the farm and pay more attention to the kendo and judo. He invited those big shots, Nakamura.

SG: Were there any other type of activities that brought the Japanese communities from different parts of Oregon and Washington together?

BO: No, I don't think so. I don't think, they had baseball, but I don't know how far they got on baseball or boxing or anything like that. Judo and kendo was the most popular one. Of course, the Buddhist church too, they had get together. Kendo, you got hit in the head and get the brains knocked out.

SG: So it sounds like it wasn't too often that you would interact with other Japanese or Japanese American communities?

BO: No, not really, stayed home. The only thing they did have, they had a picnic. You know, different areas have picnic. You say let's go do that, no let's go this. But still on the other hand, we didn't go to the Milwaukie picnic or, mostly G/T, Gresham/Troutdale picnic. There they have all kinds of prizes, you do this and do that. A race or anything like that, you get prizes which is quite a thrill too.

SG: What kind of prizes did you get?

BO: Oh, they even give a sack of rice, a sack of rice, I don't know whether the distant run or something like that. Yeah, they have a sack of rice or shoyu or all kind stuff. I don't know. To me, it's like lots of work. I like the easy street, go down that and boy, eat those sushis and stuff that the mom makes, you know.

<End Segment 12> - Copyright © 2004 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.