<Begin Segment 7>

TI: How about things like Japanese school?

RS: Yeah. We had... Japanese school we had at... but this happened too late. This should have been... because in Gresham, see, we didn't have, like in Seattle, I used to remember my friends from Seattle way, they would go to Japanese school before they went to public school, I remember that. But like in Oregon, we didn't have things like that. So Japanese school, then I think I was in my, I can't remember what year. Then they thought, well, so it was all about this minister, Japanese minister. Then he had, he started Japanese school.

TI: So this is in Gresham, this Japanese minister?

RS: Uh-huh, yeah. And that's where... you know, I don't even know whether my brothers went. I remember I went.

TI: And when would you go to Japanese school?

RS: This will be after school, after my public school. But it's not a very long classes, or weekends.

TI: And do you remember how many other Japanese were in your class?

RS: There was quite a few, but then it was just one big... so your age difference, was different, I mean, not the same.

TI: But you don't remember if your brothers were there.

RS: No, I don't. I can't remember.

TI: Maybe they were helping your dad or something, or they were playing or something.

RS: But that's where I learned, I just learned the first step of the Japanese alphabets. And then we started that second step, that's when the war broke out.

TI: Okay, so this happened... okay. So you started, yeah, it sounds like you started Japanese school pretty late then.

RS: Yeah, yeah.

TI: Okay. And earlier you mentioned this Japanese minister. So was this a church that you attended?

RS: No, it's... I think he was a Buddhist, I think. I might be wrong. Because that was the time when I was going Japanese school, he started that Japanese school, and he was the one that said that I should have a Japanese name.

TI: Okay, so it started at Japanese school that he decided to call you (Ruriko). So did your family attend church?

RS: Well, no. Because at that time there was no Buddhist church.

TI: So it was much later that they had one.

RS: Yeah.

TI: How about any community events like picnics?

RS: Oh, yeah. We used to go... it would be the Japanese group, and I think especially around Fourth of July or something, we would all, that's when we would all get together and have, we'd take food, what we want, and then we'd all share it. And that was a happy time. But then that's when I was a little bit older, too.

TI: And describe the Fourth of July picnic. Where would it be held?

RS: This will be in between Troutdale and Gresham, where there was a lot of community people, Japanese that lived around in the area. So there was quite a few. And that's where my brothers and they all went, because they got to eat.

TI: And for these picnics, about how many people would be there? How many different families?

RS: Oh, quite a few.

TI: Like over a hundred?

RS: No, not that much, but enough. About maybe twenty-five or something.

TI: And what kind, would there be games, or what would you do?

RS: You know, I can't even remember that. I think everybody just played among themselves. We all played together.

TI: And then the adults would just sit around and talk?

RS: Yeah.

TI: And tell me about the food. What would be a, kind of the...

RS: Well, especially, like, nigiri, you know, that's rice ball. And then other things, what they make, something that's easy like chicken, and Japanese-style way.

TI: Any other childhood memories that you can remember? Any fond memories of being with your family?

RS: No, there really wasn't much.

TI: How about your brothers? Did they ever get into mischief growing up that you recall?

RS: Well, just like... yeah, boys, they do things. And sometimes they would pick on me. And so all I have to do is cry, and Mom's right there.

TI: So she was your protector at times.

RS: Yeah. [Laughs]

<End Segment 7> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.