<Begin Segment 4>

KB: And you talked about your brothers and sisters. Can you talk about memories of being a kid and life in your community? What was it like growing up?

SO: It was nice because there was a lot of families in that area, and we always played games and just had friends all the time.

KB: Were they all Japanese American friends, or were they...

SO: Mostly, yes.

KB: Mostly? What kind of games did you guys play?

SO: We played Kick the Can and Hide and Seek.

KB: So you would go to school, would you come home and play or did you do the, mostly the playing on weekends?

SO: On the weekend because we had to go to the Japanese school after the regular school, four to six on weekdays and half a day on Saturday.

KB: And where was the Japanese school that you went to?

SO: It was on Sixth and Glisan, upstairs.

KB: What do you remember about Japanese school?

SO: They were strict. [Laughs]

KB: Your teachers were strict?

SO: Yes. I went 'til fourth grade, I believe.

KB: And what did you learn?

SO: Japanese speaking.

KB: The language?

SO: Yeah, language, speaking, writing.

KB: Did you speak Japanese with your mom and dad?

SO: Yes, I did at that time.

KB: Did either one of them know English very well?

SO: Not very well, but we can communicate.

KB: So your brother and your sister, did you speak English with them?

SO: I did, (yes). My oldest brother was sent to Japan at six years old, so I really didn't meet him, because I wasn't born yet.

KB: But you talked to your other brother, Terry, and your sister in English?

SO: Yes.

KB: And did you all go to the same school?

SO: I believe they went to Atkinson before we transferred to Couch school, because Atkinson was torn down.

KB: So you never went to Atkinson, but they did, and then you all went to Couch once that was torn down?

SO: Right.

KB: And did you have any childhood responsibilities to help out at home?

SO: I don't believe I did. There was two older siblings.

KB: And who were your friends? Can you remember their names, that you played with?

SO: I think they were Jim Tsujimura and Shig Yuzurima, they were not too close by, but I did play with them. And we used to go down to the North Park Blocks. They had a lot of Japanese and Chinese people, kids playing there.

KB: What did you guys do, play ball or do other things?

SO: (Yes), they had horseshoes, ping pong, and other games to play. Checkers.

KB: So you mentioned that there was Chinese kids there, too, you guys played okay together?

SO: There were rivalries.

KB: There were rivalries?

SO: Back then, yes.

KB: Sports rivalries or cultural rivalries?

SO: I think sports. Very competitive.

KB: And so what kind of sports did you compete with them?

SO: I didn't, the other people competed, baseball, softball. I can't remember all the sports that they played.

KB: So did you go to school with the Chinese students and Caucasian students as well in your classroom?

SO: Yes, up in Couch, yes. It was integrated.

KB: Did you ever feel any prejudice or anything when you were going to school there, at grade school?

SO: No, not me, I don't think.

KB: Did you notice any at all with anybody?

SO: No, we were too young to notice that.

<End Segment 4> - Copyright © 2014 Oregon Nikkei Endowment and Densho. All Rights Reserved.