Densho Digital Archive - Mary Iwasaki Interview (denshovh-imary

<Begin Segment 4>

LL: So your father, you mentioned that they owned hotels? That was his business after he left working on the railroad? And what did your mother do then for work?

MI: Well, that's what she did when my dad bought these hotels, she would be the chambermaid, she'd change the sheets and clean the place before each new tenant came in, I remember that.

LL: And so your father ran the hotels and managed the hotel?

MI: Right.

LL: And what was your father's personality like?

MI: Well, he was very strict as far as raising his kids were concerned, but he was very approachable regardless. It seemed that he was strict in his dealings with the kids, and wanted to make sure that there were no extenuating circumstances that he'd have to reprimand them for something. I can't remember him really doing anything like that, although I remember him being very careful as to what us kids were doing in everyday life. I know there was an incident about... oh, I wish I could remember. Maybe I'll remember a little later on, but I remember him being very strict about touching things that didn't belong to me. But that's all I can remember right now.

LL: I think you had mentioned something about going, in the pre-interview, about going into a store with your dad?

MI: Oh, yes. Is that what I said before? That was true. We went to a store called... you guys are too young for that, but I think it was called Cress's or something like that, five-and-dime store. And they had stacks of toffee wrapped individually, and they were stacked high, and I just happened to put my hand on top of it, just to run my hand through, and I got the most painful pinch I'd ever had. I was not supposed to do that, and I was supposed to know that I wasn't supposed to do that, but I didn't know what I was doing. That was my first lesson in discipline from him.

LL: It made a lasting impression on you.

MI: It sure did.

LL: So he was, sounds like he might have been kind of like the classic Issei where the father, the disciplinarian, and strict.

MI: He was a classic Issei, right.

LL: How about your mother? What was her personality like?

MI: She was much more easygoing. She also was a disciplinarian to an extent, but nothing like my dad. But she was, turned out to be just a perfect foil for him, because she did everything and they got along beautifully.

LL: Was she independent? You think of the classic Issei...

MI: No, she wasn't independent. Oh, independent in the way of thought, maybe, of things, but nothing obvious that I can remember.

LL: Would you say you're more like your mother or your father?

MI: Oh, I was more like my dad. [Laughs]

LL: Getting back to your mom and dad, what was their relationship like?

MI: Oh, they were amazing. They didn't have too much to say to each other normally in everyday life, but if issues had to be brought up, they were there together for different reasons, I remember that. But I can't tell you specifically any particular episodes. I should remember that, but I don't right now.

LL: How did they deal with difficult situations if they arose?

MI: Well, one difficult situation was when my brother got divorced. And you'd think that would be a horrendous thing, but I remember my mother having a hard time dealing with it because Japanese just don't get divorced. They, I don't know what the word is... they do the best they can, but you just stick with your partner. You don't get divorced, but my brother did. And yet, he was an amazing young man. I can't tell you any more about it, other than the fact that I was glad he got divorced, because he needed someone better. Isn't that terrible to say? [Laughs]

LL: So I'm just curious, like with the Issei, so often they didn't show emotion or affection. Was that how it was with your parents?

MI: Yeah, they didn't show affection to each other in public or anything like that, but I remember they had a real good respect for each other and for their thoughts. I remembered that, but I can't tell you specifically.

LL: That's wonderful. So how long, do you remember how long they were married?

MI: Well, my father was seventy-four when he passed away, and let's see... my mother was eighty-one when she passed away, but I can't tell you how long they were married. I mean, there must be some way you can figure that out, but I can't figure it out right now.

LL: So did they speak English at all?

MI: Very little. That's why it always amazes me that they were able to deal with business like they did. More my father than my mother, but after my father had died, she went ahead and ran the apartment house that they had bought. I still don't know how she did it, but she didn't know very much English.

LL: So then you spoke Japanese at home?

MI: Yes, I spoke Japanese.

LL: And then did they ever become U.S. citizens?

MI: My mother did. She took this elaborate class on citizenship, but I don't think my father did.