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KN: And getting ready to leave to go to the relocation center, what did you do to prepare the house?

EK: Well, we tried to... of course, we couldn't have camera and other things, we burned a lot of stuff because we were afraid. And then, of course, we had to prepare. We can only take what we can carry, and of course, I had Joyce's stuff to carry. [Laughs] So we managed.

KN: What kind of things did you have to burn?

EK: Well, we had, I had a lot of Japanese books and records, and I don't remember, photographs of relatives, we burned everything that connected to Japan.

KN: How did that make you feel?

EK: Awful. We thought, "Oh my gosh, everything is going."

KN: Did you have any idea about how long you were going to be gone?

EK: No, I didn't have any idea. I didn't know how long it was going to... but I sort of felt kind of safe in camp, so, you know, with the sentries on the corner, you know they can't differentiate Japanese and Koreans and Chinese, and so I thought if we were outside, you never know what's going to happen.

KN: Did you feel safe in your house before you left?

EK: No, I didn't. But the neighbors were real considerate, and so I felt kind of safe.

KN: Did the family take any precautions to make sure that there was no intruders, or someone didn't come and hurt you?

EK: Well, I kind of remember we always locked the door and pulled the blinds down so they couldn't see through. But the neighbors all were understanding. So unless an outsider came along...

KN: Did you have any outsiders come along?

EK: No, we never did.

KN: What did your parents to do prepare to leave the farm?

EK: Well, of course, we had to try to get rid of everything. And we tried to store some stuff, but we did store some, but when we came back, of course, maybe I said, there was nothing left. It was either stolen or burned. So we had to start all over again.

KN: Where did you store them at?

EK: Well, we stored part of it in our house. We locked it, but of course, I knew it wasn't safe, but there was no other place to put it. So we had a big barn and we stored something there, but there was nothing left when we came back.

KN: And did you have any friends that were going to help you look after the place?

EK: Uh-huh, we did.

KN: Can you tell me a little bit more about that?

EK: Well, there was a good neighbor of ours that sort of looked after our things, but then, of course, she couldn't do anything if things were stolen. And we had neighbors on both sides that were real good to us, they really understood what was going on.

KN: What were some of the things that were stolen or that were broken when you came back that you really missed the most?

EK: Well, we had a lot of bedding and kitchen articles and pictures of Joyce. Nothing was left.

[Interruption]

KN: Getting ready to leave to go to the assembly center, what did you pack in your suitcase?

EK: Well, of course, Joyce's stuff that I had to carry, and underwear, you know, the essentials, medication. It was just what we can carry. And of course Joyce had her favorite toy that she had to carry. She just carried that around. [Laughs]

KN: What kind of toy was it? Was it a doll?

EK: Well, you know what it was, was an old blanket. She wouldn't let go, she had it every day, and I don't know how long she had it. [Laughs] Oh yeah, and she had the one favorite doll that she had.

KN: And what can you tell me, do you remember about your parents packing anything? What was important to them?

EK: Well, I don't know too much, but of course, everyday essentials.

KN: And how did you leave to go to the assembly center?

EK: Well, a friend of ours took us there, and they come and visit us periodically before we went to relocation camp.

KN: And did your friend just take you and your husband and Joyce, or did he take the entire family, the Namba family?

EK: Yeah, uh-huh.

KN: And how did you know when to leave? Did they give you a certain date that you had to report?

EK: Uh-huh.

KN: And how did you find out about that date?

EK: Well, we got a notice someplace, I can't remember how.

<End Segment 8> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.