<Begin Segment 10>

BH: Eventually the war ended. What was the general mood in camp when people learned the war was over?

SF: Well, naturally, our family, we couldn't go back to the farm. Didn't have anything there. And so Dad decided, talking to other families that lived in Portland, and the going thing was they would lease a hotel, so that's what we did. And so we moved into the New Earl Hotel on Sixth Avenue.

BH: When did you realize you weren't going back home to Brooks?

SF: In camp, while we were in camp, when the discussion was that we can't go back to Brooks, because we had nothing there. So just starting something new, this is what Dad decided he's going to do.

BH: How did your mom and dad feel about the fact that they didn't have anything to go home to?

SF: Well, it's scary, scary thought. And they never had, they never were in the hotel business before, or any other business. They were farmers before. But they have to do what they have to do, so we moved into the hotel. Mom, Pauline, they made beds and all that. Later on, after we were there for a while, then that's when Dad opened up New Tokyo restaurant. And then that was a busy time after that.

[Interruption]

BH: When you were released from Minidoka in August of 1945, did all your family leave at the same time?

SF: Let's see. I know Mutt was there. I was just wondering about Miki, I think... no, he went later because he was in Japan for the occupation work.

BH: How did your family, how did your parents feel about Miki being in the war?

SF: By that time everyone else was volunteering, and so they accepted the fact. It was after the war.

BH: Now your parents ended up going into the hotel business. What was it like for you living in town instead of on a farm?

SF: It was very different. I went to Lincoln High School, and this is Portland, it's so new to me. But Dad introduced me to Marian Hara, Ed. [Laughs] But she took me to Lincoln High School. And so we were in a group after that, we would go see movies together or whatever and do things together. And they weren't just Marian and I, there were about three others.

BH: Did you ever go back to Brooks to see the old house and the farm?

SF: Oh yes, I've been there several times. The last time was, I think I took Mom back there. And the house was still standing, you can barely recognize it, but she went to see the friend who was still living there when Mom, when I took her, and she was so happy to see him.

<End Segment 10> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.