<Begin Segment 9>

BH: So you took a bus to the Portland Assembly Center, and the assembly center used to be the Pacific International Livestock Exposition. What did you think when you first got there?

AK: It was quite dirty, I think. I remember we, it was hard to believe that we were in a, we were in a stall, weren't we?

BH: So what did it look like? What did it sound like? What did it smell like?

AK: It was a terrible smell. And it was wide open, so you know, the apartments were built side by side, but the top was all open. And so we could hear everything. That was a terrible time.

BH: Can you describe what was inside your stall for your family?

AK: Well, we were all crowded in there because my in-laws were living with us, and then we had one corner, my husband and I. And I remember they put a little curtain around for us. That was our room.

BH: So there was Grandma and Grandpa Kinoshita, and you and Kaz, and one of Kaz's brothers all in one stall?

AK: And Mary, uh-huh.

BH: Oh, and Mary, yes, okay. So how did you spend your time at the assembly center?

AK: I didn't do much, because I was pregnant and I had to be careful. So I know that I didn't join in any activities.

BH: And what did Kaz do to spend his time?

AK: Well, he worked as a fireman.

BH: So he helped with the drills and in case there were any fires, he would have been on call? We have a badge from the fire department at the Legacy Center now.

AK: You do?

BH: One of the original badges, yes. And how about your in-laws? What did they do?

AK: They didn't do anything in the camp except Mary, she worked as a nurse's aide. But there was no work for them. And then we weren't in there too long.

BH: You went in the spring, and by fall you were shipped elsewhere. And Mary is your sister-in-law, right?

AK: Uh-huh.

BH: Okay. What were the meals like at the assembly center?

AK: Well, they were about the same every time, you know. It isn't like they're home-cooked meals.

BH: Now you were at the assembly center for a few months. How did you learn that you were going to be going to a more permanent camp?

AK: My husband must have came home and tell us we were leaving. That was such a long time ago.

BH: Did you know where you were going?

AK: Well, we knew we were going to Idaho.

BH: Had you ever heard of Minidoka or Hunt, Idaho, before?

AK: No. And was it a shock when we got there.

BH: Oh, why was it such a shock?

AK: Well, it was so windy, and there was so much sandstorm.

<End Segment 9> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.