“They still could do it, which is that they could make farmland out of nothing. That was the ingenuity and the hard work of Japanese.”

“Judo got kind of a bad name because after the war, there were so many people that got injured. They didn’t know how to fall or anything. So we had to correct all that, and make sure they did the right thing.”

“After getting used to things, we were able to make friends. See, as people coming from the farm, we weren't able to play with other kids and it brought a lot of new friends.”

“They didn’t tell us about doing away with our citizenship or nothing. But they didn’t warn us. They had a big cafeteria or gym that we met in, the whole camp. That was all full. The people of draft age, some with their parents.”

So you know, people were after us. I mean, they didn’t want us around. They made acquisitions and threats and things like that. So I couldn't believe those things were happening. Maybe it was the best thing that they sent us into the camp, to protect us.

“All my normal U.S. citizens rights were taken away from me, just for what? Japan went to war with America? We were Americans. That’s what I really resent.”

“They didn’t break down or anything. Very, very strong people. Actually all the Issei are all like that because when they came over from the old country, they came with nothing. They worked hard all their life for their family. But when you become a parent, you start to see, feel all these things they went through.” 

“After her child died, it was like a valve had broken loose. That was a side I had not heard from her. A side I hadn’t seen.”