<Begin Segment 5>

BH: Let's start talking about the war. How did you hear about the bombing of Pearl Harbor?

SF: We were in Portland, we went, came to see the Japanese show, they were from Japan, I think. It was a kabuki show. And that's when we heard about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and we were really afraid. Folks were really afraid, but we made it home fine.

BH: What do you think your parents were afraid of? What did they think was gonna happen?

SF: Well, I assume that they were afraid that since they definitely can tell that we're Japanese, that they'll put them in jail or intern them. I guess that was it.

BH: This kabuki theater, was that a special occasion or did that happen on a regular basis?

SF: No, I think it was a special thing, that's why we made a point, folks made a point to go see it, and we all went.

BH: Was that in Japantown in Portland, do you remember where that was? It was a long time ago.

SF: It was a long time ago. I don't know where it was.

BH: Did your parents talk about the war?

SF: No, not too much. Well, just like everyone else, we didn't understand why... oh, they did know at that time, they felt that, yes, there would be a war, because how things were going. Not nationwide, but the problem they were having between Japan and U.S.

BH: Did your parents take any actions regarding their possessions or anything?

SF: Well, in our community, everyone was so afraid that the men, head of household person, would be shipped somewhere else, so we... well, Mom and Dad, they burned books, all, anything that gave something of Japan, even the koto, shamisen, got rid of it because they were afraid, and everyone else did, too.

BH: You're a little kid watching your mom burn the kimonos, the musical instruments, books. What were you thinking at the time?

SF: I don't know. I felt that, you know, it's why, that's my main question was, "Why do we have to do this?" But we have to help Dad so Dad won't go to jail. That's what we were told.

<End Segment 5> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.