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BH: Today is Thursday, May 29, 2014. My name is Betty Jean Harry, I'm a volunteer with the Oregon Nikkei Endowment. I'm interviewing Ami Kinoshita as part of the Minidoka Oral History Project, we're in Gresham, Oregon. Our videographer today is Ian McCluskey. Also present are Janet Kakishita, another volunteer, Todd Mayberry, the Director of Collections and Exhibits at the Oregon Nikkei Legacy Center, and Jayne Ichikawa, Ami's daughter. So let's start with some personal details, Ami. Tell us when and where you were born.

AK: I was born on October 3, 1919, in Enumclaw, Washington.

BH: And for people who don't know, where's Enumclaw?

AK: Well, let's see. I know it's south of -- no, north of Seattle, Washington. You could see Mt. Rainier from there, I know.

BH: What was your full name at birth?

AK: Well, Ami Kinoshita.

BH: What was your maiden name?

AK: Oh, that's right. Ami Nakao. [Laughs]

BH: And is there any significance to the name Ami? How did your parents come to name you Ami?

AK: Well, I think the father thought that was a good name. And he really wanted Emiko, but Ami was Americanized, I thought, but he didn't spell it right.

BH: How did he spell it?

AK: A-M-I instead of A-M-Y.

BH: Well, let's talk about your father. When and where was he born?

AK: He was born in Hiroshima, but I don't know the date.

BH: That's okay. And what did his father's, what did your father's family do in Japan?

AK: I think that they worked by the water, so they must have been a fisherman.

BH: And did your father have any brothers or sister?

AK: I know he had one brother.

BH: And that was an older brother, correct?

AK: Yes.

BH: Okay. Did your father have an opportunity to get educated while he was still in Japan?

AK: That I don't know. I'm not sure.

BH: Now how did he decide to come to America?

AK: Well, he had an older brother, and the older brother always got the family, he had inherited the family things, and so my father came to find his fortune in the U.S.

BH: What was your father's name?

AK: Taitaro Nakao.

BH: And what was his brother's name?

AK: I don't know.

BH: And let's talk about your mom. When and where was she born?

AK: Well, I know she was born in Hiroshima, Japan.

BH: Okay, and what was her name?

AK: Her name? Mitsu Sera.

BH: And what did her family do in Japan?

AK: I never did ask her.

BH: Did she have brothers and sisters?

AK: I know she had two sisters.

BH: And who was the oldest, your mom or one of the sisters?

AK: That I don't know. I did meet the second sister in Japan, though, you know, when I went to visit.

BH: How did your mother decide to come to America?

AK: Well, she was married in Japan, and her and her husband came to America. Well, she followed him.

BH: Do you know how they met?

AK: No, I have no idea. They never talked about things like that.

BH: Was there an age difference between them?

AK: I would say about six or so. I'm not sure.

BH: What was your father like? What was his personality like?

AK: Well, he liked to sing and things, so when we had New Year's party, he would be drumming away on the table. He enjoyed that.

BH: And was he singing Japanese songs?

AK: Yeah, he would sing it. He didn't sing very well, but then, he did sing it.

BH: And how about your mother? What was her personality like?

AK: I think she was more shy.

BH: How would you describe their relationship?

AK: To me they were just fine.

BH: And how did they deal with difficult situations? How did they deal with good times?

AK: How did they deal with good times?

BH: What kinds of things made them happy?

AK: Well, I know my dad always liked to, you know, where we lived in the lumber camp, on Halloween or New Year's, I should say, they would all get together and they, each family would take turns having a New Year party, you know. So he enjoyed singing. My mother, she was quiet.

BH: When your father first came to America, did your mother come with him?

AK: No, she came later.

BH: And he came to make his fortune. Did he know what he was going to be doing when he got here?

AK: No, I don't know how he got into lumber company. I don't know.

<End Segment 1> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.