<Begin Segment 12>

LL: So how did your family learn that you would be forced to leave when the order 9066...

MI: How did my family know about it?

LL: How did you find out about it, about the evacuation, the incarceration?

MI: On the radio.

LL: Do you remember flyers?

MI: No, I don't remember flyers, although I've seen movies about 'em, but I don't remember flyers...

LL: That were posted?

MI: I don't remember that at all.

LL: When you did find out that you were going to be forced to leave your home, do you remember how you felt?

MI: Well, I couldn't get over it. I didn't think that that would be legal, but who was I to question the authorities? And for me, it just didn't seem that it was constitutional, which I knew nothing about, although just legally it didn't seem quite right.

LL: How old were you at that time?

MI: Let's see, what year was that?

LL: 1941 is when the...

MI: Okay, I was born in 1923, you do the math. [Laughs]

LL: You were a freshman.

MI: I was a freshman, yeah.

LL: In college. So what preparations, what do you remember, when you heard about and knew you were going to have to leave, what do you recall those days following that and getting ready to leave, and the arrangements being made for home, where you're going to live, what were you going to do?

MI: All I remember is that the hotel that my father had at that time was situated at the same block that this, they call it a transfer and something store, which I guess they moved things or shipped things if people wanted to. I didn't know anything about that part, but I know that somehow my little piano got through all right, because this moving company must have stored it for my dad. I don't know anything about that, it's just hearsay that I learned from my dad a long time ago. And there must be a lot more attached to that, but I don't know the details.

LL: So you mentioned piano, did you play the piano? I just want go to back because you mentioned that, sorry.

MI: Yeah. My mother bought this piano, little one, and I remember that was very important to her that I continued piano lessons. And to me it just seemed like I'd rather deal with this evacuation before we do anything else. And so for me it was one of those decisions I had to make as to what to take other than one suitcase. And it was traumatic, I remember that.

LL: Having to leave the piano?

MI: No, having to make up my mind what I was going to take.

LL: What did you take?

MI: A suitcase full of clothes, evidently, I don't remember. My mother did it all. And she didn't, she must have had something in mind because everything was very orderly, and I don't remember anything else.

LL: So she packed your things for you?

MI: Must have. I don't remember doing it myself. Remember, I said I was a spoiled brat. [Laughs]

LL: Do you remember when you went to unpack and were there things that you, looking back, wish that your mother would have packed for you?

MI: No, there wasn't anything like that. She must have packed everything that I felt I needed, but it was kind of a low priority as far as something like that was concerned. I wasn't too involved in household goods and things that some other families I know put a lot of thought into what they could take with them, but I don't remember doing that.

LL: And how did you leave and how did you get transported to the assembly center?

MI: You know, I don't remember that. We had a car, so my dad must have asked someone to take us, but I don't remember the particulars.

LL: Is there anything that stands out that your remember when you were leaving your home or Nihonmachi, did people come to say goodbye to you?

MI: No, we were pretty low-key. We had our stuff and we got into the car and we left.

LL: You mentioned something about the desk clerk at the hotel when you left?

MI: I remember him because he was a longtime employee, and he seemed very sympathetic toward this whole thing, but not much he could really do, other than ask if he could do something to help us, which there was nothing that he could really do.

LL: Do you remember what time of the year, the date that you left and went to the assembly center?

MI: You know, I don't remember. I wish I could relate it to something, I just can't right now.

<End Segment 12> - Copyright © 2013 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.