<Begin Segment 9>

LL: So what are your... I'm going to continue on to your connection to culture, since we started with that. What are your memories of Japanese community events?

MI: Oh, there were a lot of them, all of which I was not really too interested in, but because of my parents, I had to go. And these were gatherings of families with their particular, they have what they call a ken, K-E-N, which is a, must be a part of Japan where you come from. And those people would gather together and have their own little assembly. That had a lot to do with how we learned about Japanese culture.

LL: So what would they do at the gatherings?

MI: Well, not only would we be eating all their wonderful Japanese food, but they would tell us these different... let's see, what was it? They would tell us what these different things meant as far as Japanese went. None of it really stuck to me, 'cause I remember not really being interested enough to find out more. Some of my friends did find out more about things, but I don't remember that myself.

LL: So you mentioned earlier that your mother, you mentioned something about Japanese dance.

MI: Oh, yes, she wanted me to take Japanese dance. Well, just the mere thought of it made me shudder, but I talked her out of that. She also wanted me to go to Japan and stay there a couple of years to learn the culture, and I didn't do that either. So I think that was two big disappointments for my mom, because those are some of the things I just didn't do. I couldn't see myself in that predicament.

LL: So how did your mother react, react to that?

MI: Well, she just decided, there's a saying called shikata ga nai, meaning you have to put up with it whether you like it or not. And that's the attitude she had, so she was pretty broad-minded in that respect, because I know some of my friends had to go to Japan and stay at least a couple of years.

LL: So how do you think the Japanese culture affected your everyday lives back then? You mentioned gatherings, were there holidays that were celebrated or some traditions that your family...

MI: Yeah, they were celebrated then, and by these gatherings, and I went to them, but I don't remember whether it had a lasting, particularly lasting impression.

LL: Did your family certain Japanese traditions that they followed within the home?

MI: Not that I remember.

LL: And where -- you mentioned the gatherings of the kens. Where would those gatherings take place?

MI: At different Japanese restaurants. There were a few that were big enough to hold these gatherings, but it'd have to be a pretty good sized place for everyone to come. I remember it being very crowded.

LL: How many people would you guess would attend these get-togethers?

MI: Oh, I'd say fifty.

LL: Wow. So how did you find, was it a challenge to try and balance being American and Japanese growing up?

MI: No, it never occurred to me one way or the other. It was just there. No, I can't remember having any... it isn't a conflict, but I don't remember having any difficulty aligning the two.

[Interruption]

LL: Let's talk about Nihonmachi a little bit more. What was your, what was the hotel like where you lived, your living quarters in the hotel?

MI: They were pretty roomy considering it was a hotel that my dad decided that we would have this and this and this room. Not what normal residents would have, but we just were able to stretch out a little more than usual. It was very nice.

LL: So was it on the main floor or upstairs?

MI: Yeah, it was... the main floor was the lobby, so I imagine the living quarters were upstairs, first floor. There were two levels as I remember, yeah, two floors.

LL: And what do you remember most about Japantown?

MI: The restaurants, I guess, it was a real big treat to have the food, and it just so happened that the people who ran these restaurants were very good cooks themselves. But I remember the food was attractive.

LL: So did you eat out a lot at the restaurants then?

MI: Yeah, my folks must have taken us, because I remember going out a lot to restaurants even though my mom was a very good cook. It was more than just a treat, I guess it was a treat for her too not to have to cook that night. [Laughs]

<End Segment 9> - Copyright © 2013 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.