<Begin Segment 11>

LL: What did you notice about your mother when she was in Japan? Was there anything noticeable with her being back in Japan?

MI: Oh, she was, I remember she was very relaxed and was so glad to be there, but I don't remember any particular incident that showed that. She was just there, and seemed very happy.

LL: Did it seem or appear difficult for her to leave when you were going back to the United States?

MI: Oh, I was making such a fuss, I don't think anybody took any attention to anybody else because I was the star attraction with this yelling all and going on.

LL: So did you notice, or were there reactions of the Japanese to you being born in America, and were you treated...

MI: At that time, you mean?

LL: Yes, did they seem to treat you differently, maybe from Japanese children there?

MI: I don't remember that at all. I remember my family, but I don't remember any particular instances that were any different.

LL: So let's move on to Pearl Harbor. Do you remember where you were, what you learned about it, when you heard about it?

MI: Oh, yeah. I was in a dorm, and someone had the radio going, and that's when I first heard about it.

LL: Where were you in your dorm, what school?

MI: The University of Oregon.

LL: Do you remember how you, how you felt when, what was your reaction, how did you feel when you heard that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor?

MI: Well, of course, none of us, we were in a room together, and we were listening to the radio after we'd heard that this had happened. And it was more than shock, it was just something unbelievable.

LL: So were the people that you were with Japanese American like you, or were there...

MI: They were both, and they were very sympathetic.

LL: So did you ever feel, after that point, did that change how people seemed to be treating you?

MI: You mean on campus?

LL: On campus?

MI: No, they were exceptionally wonderful. I think they went out of their way to make sure that we were fine.

LL: Did you ever feel nervous or afraid?

MI: Not a bit.

LL: And what was the reaction from your family? Did they want you to come home?

MI: Oh, yeah. My father, I'm the one that wanted to come home, but he said, "No, just stay there until you actually get kicked out." He said, "There will come a time when you won't be able to stay," and so he just said to, "just stay there 'til someone tells you that you can no longer be a student." Well that day never came, actually. I think all of us eventually moved out as time went on, because I don't remember a specific instant where the administration said we had to leave.

LL: What were your reasons for wanting to come home?

MI: Because I was scared, I guess. I just wanted to be home with my family. But my dad was smarter than I, of course, and he just decided that, "You can always come home, but why don't you just stay until you are actually dismissed?"

LL: What were you afraid of? What were those feelings of...

MI: Oh, I just wanted to be with my family, I guess, not anything...

LL: Together.

MI: Yeah, together.

LL: So how did your parents react to that, do you remember? I know you were at the University of Oregon, but when you spoke with your family, what was their reaction?

MI: Well, my mother said she was support me if I wanted to come home, but she said that, "I think your father knows better, and it might be better if you did stay, so at least you could get a year in before you're dismissed." I could not quite see that myself, but, of course, I was kind of a chicken. I was not one of these aggressive people, so I could never do anything that would be out of the ordinary. That would have been out of the ordinary.

LL: There was a letter that was written by Japanese American students at the University of Oregon, and it was sent to the president trying to talk about their, stressing their loyalty to the United States. Do you remember hearing about that, or did you...

MI: It was a letter sent by who to who?

LL: The Japanese American students at the University of Oregon. I was just curious if you remember hearing about it?

MI: I do not remember anything about that.

LL: Did your family talk about the war, what happened when, of course, the United States declared war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor?

MI: I don't remember anything particular that they talked about, other than the usual shock and all that.

LL: Were there any discussions about what, or did you hear about what you thought might happen as a result of...

MI: No, we didn't come across anything like that, although I've read of other areas that had problems, but nothing like that at home.

LL: Were there worries or fears about what might happen, there were probably discussions or rumors going around about what might happen to the Japanese Americans?

MI: I never heard anything like that.

LL: You mentioned that your, you took cues from your mother and that she was the solid rock?

MI: Really was, considering that she didn't know any English at all, and yet she was able to handle everything. That was after my dad passed away, of course.

<End Segment 11> - Copyright © 2013 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.