<Begin Segment 15>

LT: Well, in September 1945 you moved back to Filer and your daughter was a month old. In your new community, how did you establish yourself? It was after the war, Japanese Americans --

MN: Well, we didn't stay in Filer very long. I was only there... my husband's brother was working for a farmer there. And they had a house that we lived with them, and we didn't stay there. I think it was, must have been October, November. No, we were there about, until about March, then we went to Fruitland.

LT: Okay. And so how did you, after the war, Japanese Americans had been seen as a security risk, so they were moved together and secluded. And so when you lived again in your community in Fruitland, how did you reestablish yourself with your community? Did you do specific things, were there special things you had to do to make a connection with people?

MN: Well, Ontario was very friendly; we just had a few places that said "No Japs Allowed." And people didn't, there were certain people that just didn't accept us, but we established ourselves. Later on, the ones that was anti-Japanese, they lost business because Japanese wouldn't trade with them. We had lots of nice people. The mayor was nice, and actually, we didn't have much problems.

LT: Did you ever have an incident where you went to a store that wouldn't accept business, your business?

MN: Well, not really. If it said "No Japs," you just didn't go.

LT: What was it like to see a sign that says you're not welcome to come into the store?

MN: We just figured we don't want to go there anyway.

LT: Okay, okay. And you mentioned that the mayor was supportive. Can you talk about that?

MN: I don't know what I could say, he was just friends to the Japanese. He would help them whenever they needed any help, I'm sure. Anyway, we were okay.

LT: Okay. Well, you worked at a bank in 1951. Can you talk about your work and the relationships you built and how you worked with your neighbors and your community?

MN: Well, I worked as a bookkeeper in the bookkeeping department. And the bank changed names about five times before it became Wells Fargo.

LT: Okay. So you worked for the bank for thirty-five years.

MN: Uh-huh.

LT: So you became part of the establishment in Ontario.

MN: Yeah, I was, title was pro assistant cashier, but I took care of the tellers in the back.

LT: Okay. You have a daughter, MaryAnn, and you've been very involved in your community. In fact, you've been called the "Energizer Bunny."

MN: Well, that's among our friends.

LT: Because I think your daughter says you're not home? Pardon?

MN: That's our group says that because I'm always busy doing things, I guess.

LT: So what kinds of activities keep you busy?

MN: Cards, church, when we go out to, we walk together and we go to lunch together with the group. Another group I go to movies with and go eat afterwards. I've got all kinds of different friends.

LT: What keeps you going?

MN: I don't know, just get up and go.

LT: Let's talk a little bit about some of your reflections about your life and the past. How do you think your wartime experiences at Pinedale and Tule Lake, in working in Idaho, and in Minidoka affect your sense of being a Japanese American?

MN: I don't think anything about that. Just friends with everybody.

LT: So even though you were, your family moved from your home, you continued.

MN: Uh-huh.

<End Segment 15> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.