<Begin Segment 16>

VO: And coming back to Portland, what was your feeling when you first arrived back?

YM: Well, it was kind of, we came back in about April, I think it was April. It was dark and cold and wet coming from Texas where it was stifling hot all the time.

VO: Did it feel like home?

YM: No, just another place to live.

VO: Because you had moved so much?

YM: Yeah, I guess so. Just kind of like a gypsy, going from place to place. But we had three meals a day, so we should be very happy.

VO: It sounded like, in coming back to Portland, the friends and community that you have really made it possible to settle back in again.

YM: Yeah. They were kind of scattered out because a lot of people were in Vanport, and then in St. John Woods, which is another housing project in St. John. And people started to move away from the central city except for the people that operated the hotels, which was many. Probably just about every hotel on the street was in lower southwest and northwest Portland, was operated by Japanese.

VO: And were only Japanese living in them?

YM: No. There was mostly Caucasian, blacks. And blacks were on the east side more, except by the depot, I think.

VO: Any other thoughts that you two have? [Addressing others in the room]

Off camera: Maybe just with all of your range of experiences and life, living life, what would you say is the most important lesson that you learned, and what is most important in life?

YM: That's a hard question. I think we just kind of struggle through our lives, trying to make the best of everything, most of everything.

VO: And how to you think being Japanese...

YM: Hmm?

VO: How do you think being Japanese American has been part of that view?

YM: It's always been part of my life. Probably now I don't feel as conscious as before, but before, I used to feel very conscious of being Japanese American. I hated December 7th, I used to want to just stay in the house and be in bed. But I think things have changed, so it's okay now. Not really okay, but just kind of passed.

VO: Are there parts of being Japanese that you think have influenced how you've lived your life?

YM: I think so. Being honest and loyal to your friends, not bringing shame to your family, filial piety, those are things that are kind of important to me, and I try to pass that on to my kids. So I hope they follow up on that. That's all, no more. I have no more stories. [Laughs]

VO: You've been great. You have great stories. We hear new ones each time. That was great. Thank you so much.

<End Segment 16> - Copyright (c) 2013 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.