<Begin Segment 6>

LT: Did you and your family participate in Japanese events with other Issei and Nisei in Odell and in the Hood River area?

TT: Well, in Hood River, the Isseis used to have some kind of program or something, and I remember going to those. Well, all the Niseis were there. We were all young kids, but we used to go there, I remember.

LT: And where was this held?

TT: In the Japanese Hall in Hood River.

LT: Can you tell us about that?

TT: Huh?

LT: Can you tell us about the Japanese Community Hall in Hood River?

TT: Well, I don't know. They used to have something once in a while and they all gathered from around the valley. Except Dee and Parkdale, they were kind of more or less on their own. They probably had a hall of their own, so they didn't come to a lot of the gathering unless it was the whole valley. But then most of the time it was just the Hood River (...) area.

LT: Can you describe one event that was held at the Japanese Community Hall, what it was like, and what you did?

TT: I really don't remember too much. All I remember is one time they had something like a carnival there, one year. They used to have some kind of booth. This was mostly Nisei then. Well, Issei, too, because, I don't know what they had at the booth, I can't remember now. But I know one time on Halloween they used to have a haunted house. Somebody built somewhere where we kind of walked through and it was kind of supposed to scare us, I guess. Other than that, they must have had some kind of game or something that you won prizes or something, because we needed five or ten cents to do something, I don't remember what it was, or buy something to eat or something. But the Isseis used to have some kind of program. I can't remember exactly what it was, they had some kind of programs, something like a talent show or something, had their kids do some talent, they used to have that kind of program. I remember going once. Sing or some, some of the girls would sing or something, and some of them play some instruments or something like that, in a talent show, dance or something.

LT: Did you ever play your violin?

TT: No, I never did. [Laughs]

LT: Well, I know that you and your family also got together with others from the Fukushima area, which is where your mother and father were from. Can you talk about how it was important to meet with others from the same prefecture, and the kinds of things that you did together?

TT: Well, only time I remember is like New Year's or something, they have a New Year party and they just invite their friends. And used to go somewhere, to somebody's house. Other than that, I don't... just have a feast, I guess, that's about all I can remember.

LT: What kinds of foods did you eat?

TT: Well, I ate a lot of Japanese food, but I don't remember exactly what it was. Must have had sushi and stuff like that.

LT: So what was it about families who came from the same prefecture or ken?

TT: I don't know. They seemed to be closer, or I guess most people, when they get in a crowd, if it's your own kind, you kind of get a little, feel a little closer to them. I guess that's about it.

LT: Okay. Well, one family member, the Hishinuma family, recalled that they often came to your home to meet with your family, and remembered in particular having tea and tsukemono that your mother had made. Can you talk about the tsukemono and how your mother prepared it and what it was?

TT: I didn't know it was anything special, but she must have thought it was pretty good, but I didn't think anything about it, just another everyday food.

LT: So what is tsukemono and how did your mother prepare it?

TT: Just salted vegetables, mainly, like nappa or something, cabbage or nappa or something. They just put it in a barrel and put salt on there and then just put weight on there and press it together, I guess, and all the juice comes out.

LT: What kind of weight was used?

TT: We used to use a big rock, find a big rock and maybe weight about five, ten pounds, and just put it on top of there, or anything heavy.

LT: And then where did you put this, and how long did it take before you could eat it?

TT: Well, I really don't know how long it takes, but maybe weeks or a month, I don't know. But I don't know, we used to just keep it downstairs in the basement. But I didn't think it was anything special. It was just something that you ate, not a lot, but a little bit at a time.

LT: So it sounds as if tsukemono, the Japanese pickle, and other Japanese foods were fairly common in your home.

TT: Yeah.

LT: Okay. So at home your parents spoke Japanese, you ate Japanese food. When you went to school, you spoke English, and you had friends who were both white and Japanese American. So part of you was learning Japanese culture, and part of you was learning American culture. How did you balance both sides?

TT: Well, I think I didn't learn too many Japanese culture, more English culture, because didn't know hardly anything about Japan or anything like that. So mostly English culture.

LT: So your father liked to sing Japanese songs. Did he sing at home, did he teach you songs?

TT: No, he didn't. He just... he didn't sing it at home either, he'd just, well, get-togethers or something, he'd sing. I don't know if he volunteered. They all know he did it, so they probably asked him to sing or something.

LT: So did you sing?

TT: Huh?

LT: Did you sing?

TT: No, I don't.

LT: Okay.

<End Segment 6> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.