<Begin Segment 21>

SG: And what was it like for you to return to Portland after being gone for so long?

GA: Well, it felt very good. I didn't see, feel any discrimination with the exception of one time when a couple of my friends went to a restaurant downtown Portland and we were denied the service. I think that was the only time that we were denied service because we were Japanese. That was 1946, yeah, '46.

SG: What happened to the Caucasian friends you left when you were evacuated originally? Were you able to connect with them when you came back to Portland?

GA: I'm sure I did. I'm sure I did connect with some people. I can't remember who I did now, but most of my contacts at that time were with Japanese Americans after I came back; whereas before I left, during the war, most of my contacts were Caucasians. I'm speaking about the grocery customers. But most of my social friends even before the war were Japanese Americans, yeah. So when I came back, those that came back, those Japanese Americans who came back to Portland did get together.

SG: I'll just go back to right before you left. Did your Caucasian customers when they knew you're being evacuated, how were you treated by them?

GA: Well, one of them offered to take us to the assembly center. We either had to assemble at a certain spot to be picked up by army trucks or be taken there by friends, and in our case, our Caucasian friend did take us to the assembly center.

SG: So in general, were you treated well by your former customers?

GA: Oh, yeah. There's no incidence that I can recall.

SG: So once you returned to Portland, what was it like for you to have to make a new life here again?

GA: Well, it was very difficult. We had very little money. Except for the money that I had saved working at the ordinance depot, we had to start life all over again. Since it was a different business, I didn't contact my Caucasian friends. I don't think I solicited their business. Most of my clients at that time were Japanese Americans.

SG: Was there a reason you didn't contact your Caucasian friends?

GA: I must have been a little reluctant to. I didn't try it, but, I mean didn't try to sell insurance to them. I don't know why I didn't, but I didn't. It's easier to sell to Japanese Americans, I think.

SG: Just out of curiosity, is, why do you feel, is it because of similar culture you think?

GA: I think so. I think so. Well, most of the Japanese Americans that I solicited were close to my age. It was very easy to sell, approach, easy to approach them; whereas, the customers in the grocery store are varied ages. Most of them were in upper bracket I would say. I was early twenties then, twenty, twenty-five, and most of my grocery store customers at that time were middle age and above, so maybe that's why I didn't try to approach them, I didn't. I don't think it was a case of discrimination. I didn't try to find out even.

SG: How had Portland changed for Japanese Americans compared to before and after the war?

GA: You're saying how did the community change?

SG: How did Portland change for Japanese Americans?

GA: Well, I think the community was more acceptable. They accepted the Japanese Americans better than during, than before the war. Before the war, there was still this animosity or feeling of the Japanese war against China. And of course, when the war was going on, there's lots of stories about the Japanese against the Americans. But after the war, there was some publicity about Japanese American soldiers participating to help the war effort, especially the 442 unit, and I think that helped with a lot of publicity given to them in the manner they fought against enemies. So I feel that there was not that much animosity towards Japanese Americans at that time.

SG: How did the Japanese community change after the war coming back? I know there was some, there used to be Japantown and there wasn't a Japantown, so I'm curious how going into internment camps and World War II affected the Japanese community itself?

GA: Affected the Japanese community?

SG: How did the Japanese community change after or did you see a slight change or any changes within?

GA: Well, they didn't have the centralization of a Japantown. In other words when Japantown existed, all kinds of businesses were in there, so the Japanese didn't have to leave the community to make their, to buy things. But after the war, since the Japanese town was not there, naturally they had to spread their business all over town, you might say; therefore, I don't think there was that central feeling of Japantown. In fact, in other words, what I'm trying to say is they felt that they could go anywhere to make their purchases rather than confining their activities in Japantown. Does that answer your question?

SG: Did the war affect how Japanese, the internment camp, how Japanese Americans interacted with the larger population in Portland?

GA: Oh, I'm sure it did. Just how it did, I can't answer, but I'm sure it made a difference. I think more Japanese Americans have Caucasian friends than ever before, and I know they get along much better. That's all I can say about that.

SG: How do you think you were a changed person after having gone through such a difficult experience that you were describing being evacuated and spending time in the different camps?

GA: What is the question?

SG: How do you think that experience that, the terrible experience you were describing changed you personally?

GA: Well, I'm an easygoing guy, and I don't know whether it has changed. I make friends fairly easily with the Caucasians, I always have and I continue to do so, so I really don't think it has changed me much. I've had good friends among Caucasians and I still do.

SG: Did you see the world any differently after having been through evacuation and the camps?

GA: Oh, I don't think so. I don't think I see the world any different. Having gone through many of the countries of the world, I feel that people are the same all over. They all are very friendly once you get to know them. They want to be friends with you.

<End Segment 21> - Copyright © 2003 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.