<Begin Segment 14>

MK: It was in September, right?

RM: Yes. When we got there at that night, wind was blowing sand into the barracks. Everyone thought, "What a place."

MK: Futon mattresses and blankets.

RM: Yes.

MK: Did you get them right away?

RM: The rooms were furnished for sleeping. Every family had only one room. Even families with five or six people had to share one room. That was how it was.

MK: Did you eat in the cafeteria?

RM: We had a cafeteria, and they banged something when the meal was ready. We all went there.

MK: How about bathrooms?

RM: Yes.

MK: Were they separate? Not in your unit.

RM: Bathrooms were separate. Units did not have any, but each section had bathrooms and a laundry area.

MK: Did you have any hardships to make ends meet?

RM: No, no. We got together at the laundry area and talked to each other. [Laughs] Doing laundry.

MK: What did your husband do? Was he working as a cook?

RM: Yes, he was working as a cook for a while. He wanted to work as a farmer later, and started in the farm and worked there.

MK: Did they grow beets?

RM: Huh?

MK: Beets. Red daikon radish?

RM: I don't know. I don't know if they grew beets, but they grew some produce we would eat.

MK: Did you work in the field? Did you grow vegetables?

RM: No, I didn't work in the field. People were growing flowers, and I got some and planted them myself. Those who were good at knitting were teaching us how to knit, and those who knew how to sew in the American style were offering classes. I learned calligraphy there. Some people learned Japanese dancing. Everybody had some spare time. We had instructors in many different areas, and we all learned new skills.

MK: What were the children doing? Did they go to school?

RM: Yes, we had schools there. Everyone went to school.

MK: Did any of your friends pass away at the camp?

RM: Yes, I had some friends who died at the camp. We had a Buddhist priest and also a pastor. There were several sections in the camp, but we worked together when someone passed away.

MK: Did you have any issues or disputes like "no-no boys"?

RM: No, it was pretty good in Minidoka. I didn't notice any issues. The leaders guided us with vision. Yes. I heard that we didn't have any "no-no boys." Where was it? People somewhere over in California. There was a time that some people were sent back to Japan even after the war was over.

MK: Did you get transferred to Tule Lake?

RM: Tule Lake. I heard that was a horrible place.

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