<Begin Segment 2>

KN: And what about your mother? What was your mother's name?

EK: Shizuno Nakayama was her maiden name.

KN: And can you spell her first name, please?

EK: S-H-I-Z-U-N-O, Nakayama is her maiden name.

KN: And what kind of work did your mother do in Japan, do you know?

EK: Actually, I don't think she worked, but she was only seventeen, and she got married right away and she was going to school. But then when she married into the Namba family, two years, I think, before she was married, they sent her to a girl's school.

KN: And do you know anything more about her family, how many siblings she had?

EK: She had two brothers and three sisters, I think, and she was the oldest. And the youngest one was born after she came to America, so she didn't know her at all.

KN: And did any of those siblings ever come to America? Was she the only one?

EK: Yeah, she was the only one.

KN: And can you tell me where your mother was from in Japan?

EK: Neighboring city, Minochi (Okayama) it was called.

KN: And do you know how your father and your mother met? Do you know how they met?

EK: Well, they were cousins, and so they knew each other, and so he went back and forth and finally married her.

KN: And do you know what their age difference is? The age difference?

EK: I know that my mother was sixteen or seventeen, and he was eight years older than she was.

KN: When your mother came to America, what did she do?

EK: Well, she just, they had this meeting right away, so she actually didn't work.

KN: And do you know how long you stayed living in the hotel on Third and Davis?

EK: I don't know anything about how long they stayed.

KN: And after Third and Davis, where did you live?

EK: I don't remember anything. Only thing I remember was I think I was about five years, they rented a place in Gresham and they farmed there for two years, and then they had a chance to rent a place in Fairview where I grew up.

KN: Can you tell me a little bit more about the first place in Gresham? Do you know about where it was at?

EK: In Gresham? I know it was on Powell, I don't exactly remember. But only thing I remember is they had a hand pump inside the house. I can remember I used to...

KN: And what kind of work was done on the farm at the first farm in Gresham?

EK: Well, he raised vegetables there.

KN: And can you tell me anything about the neighbors?

EK: No, I don't remember. I was only five.

KN: And so at that time, were you the only child or did you have siblings at that time?

EK: No, my next brother was born there, and then... let's see, and then my sister Marie, they were expecting Marie, so I was five when we moved, that's when we moved to Fairview on that farm where we grew up.

KN: And can you tell me how many siblings you have?

EK: I had Marie, Kenny, and Aki, (and Tomomi).

KN: And do you know what the age difference between all of you are?

EK: Oh, we were two years apart.

KN: From each individual person?

EK: Uh-huh.

KN: What was it like growing up in the home? How was Grandpa and Grandma?

EK: Well, my father was very strict, and my mother just listened to what he said. I don't remember too much.

KN: What did your mother do when she was... what kind of responsibilities did your mother have in the home?

EK: She just took care of the kids and if she had time, she helped on the farm.

<End Segment 2> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.