Densho Digital Archive - Mary Iwasaki Interview (denshovh-imary

<Begin Segment 19>

LL: So getting back to college, you mentioned that you went to Baldwin Wallace College in Ohio, or excuse me, Baldwin College in Wallace, Ohio. What was your degree in?

MI: It was in English. Absolutely worthless degree, but it was in English and a minor in music.

LL: So did you use either of those?

MI: No, come to think of it, I did not use any of it for anything.

LL: And then children from your marriage with Ike and your family. How many children did you have?

MI: Three.

LL: And their names?

MI: Rich, Roger, and Ellen.

LL: In that order?

MI: No, it was Roger, Rich and Ellen.

LL: And how was family life with your family and children growing up?

MI: Oh, it was fun. I must say that I didn't think that I would be so involved in family so much, because I'm not the type to get involved. I'm kind of a loner to begin with. But kids were the best thing I'd ever had.

LL: And did you parent, follow your parents' parenting style?

MI: I think they did. I think they did, now that I think about it at length, they were strict to a point that I think I was more strict, 'cause I didn't want to have another kid like me. I didn't want a spoiled brat on my hands, and so I wanted my kids to be able to do everything, so they did learn to do everything. [Laughs]

LL: So did you talk to your family about your experience during the war?

MI: Not voluntarily. I didn't say, "Okay, I'm going to talk to about my experience during the war." It would come at different times when something, some subject came up and we'd talk about it, but nothing specifically that had anything to do with the incarceration or anything like that. When I was asked, or it had something to do with circumstances at the time, I can't even tell you. I don't even sound like I'm making sense, but that's true, I just didn't have any specific thing to relate to when I talk with them about the incarceration camps.

LL: How do you think that experience changed you if at all?

MI: I don't think it did. I can't think of anything that would say, okay, it changed me this way and that way, for the good or the bad, I can't remember. Maybe it's because I can't remember anything anyway, but I just don't, I don't realize it if it did change me, because life seems to have gone on regardless of where it led. Perfectly happy. [Laughs]

LL: What do you think we can learn from what happened to the Japanese Americans during World War II, or what should the lesson be?

MI: Well, I think tolerance is a terrible word for the whole point, but I think if people had a little bit more feeling towards other people, I can't tell you how that would go, but there must be a good starting point at the beginning of any crisis that will make it easier for those who come later. I just don't think there's anything that would equate justifying whatever happened. It's just one of those things that never should have happened, but did.

LL: What do you think is most important in life?

MI: Oh, my children, I guess. It's the only thing I can think of right at the moment.

LL: And was there anything that we didn't include or that you weren't, that you didn't share that you'd like to share during this interview?

MI: I wish I knew enough about stuff like that that I could share it, but I don't, I'm a blank. I just can't remember.

LL: Well, if you think of anything, let us know. We just wanted to go back and ask a couple of questions. You mentioned that you thought that you were more like your father. How, in what way were you like your dad?

MI: Well, he was kind of a loner, too. He didn't like crowds, and he wasn't real keen on big dinners with a lot of people. I'm exactly like that. And that's just one of the things, but he had a... well, he had a philosophy that I think encompassed a lot of what I feel, that material things don't really count too much. You can have so much of whatever you want, but I think the fact that if you have a good basic life with all the good things intermingled with the bad things that you learn, I think that's very important.

LL: Wonderful sentiment. And that's interesting that you mentioned you didn't like big crowds or big gatherings, and yet you married into a family of eight.

MI: Eight, and that was a real eye-opener. [Laughs]

LL: That probably was, was that a big adjustment for you?

MI: It was. It was terrific, 'cause I didn't think there would be a family that big that could hold so many people together, and yet, they're all very close, and they're very supportive, which I'm so thankful for. And they're just a great family. I'm just very lucky.