Doi, Yoko (10/21/2017)

Anna Takada: This is an interview with Yoko Doi as part of Alphawood Gallery Chicago Resettlement Experience Oral History Project. The Oral History Project is being conducted in line with the current exhibition Then They Came For Me: Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II and the Demise of Civil Liberties. Today is October 21st at about 11:30 AM and we are recording at the Alphawood Gallery Oral History Studio. Yoko Doi is being interviewed by Anna Takada of Alphawood Gallery. So to start, can you just state your full name?

Yoko Doi: My name is Yoko Doi, and um, my language, my mother tongue is Japanese so my English maybe sometime didn't understand you. So anyway, if, if I speak too fast please you know, let me know.

Anna Takada: Okay. I'll let you know. Um, and so can you tell me a little bit 00:01:00about where and when you were born?

Yoko Doi: I was born in Tokyo, Japan. And how many years ago? 83 years ago. And I had experienced the World War II in Tokyo, and my father is a technician so he was home and we are alway, always in Tokyo. And...

Anna Takada: Do you, do you have any siblings?

Yoko Doi: Yes, my parents both died already, and I have one brother and two sisters, and one sister died last year so I have one brother and one sister. And after the war, is, because of that their house, our house was burned and then so they have no place to live so we went to northern part of Japan, it's called 00:02:00Yamagata prefecture. There, my sisters and brother is living right now.

Anna Takada: And so where are you in the birth order of your family?

Yoko Doi: I am the first daughter.

Anna Takada: First daughter?

Yoko Doi: Yeah.

Anna Takada: Is your brother older or you?

Yoko Doi: My brother is younger than me.

Anna Takada: Okay. So you're the oldest?

Yoko Doi: Yes.

Anna Takada: And can you tell me a little bit about what your memories of Tokyo as you were growing up before the war?

Yoko Doi: Uh, you know, we lived closer to Tokyo Bay, so I remember in the summertime... Because I live in Tokyo until fifth grade, so it's not that much that you know I have experienced by myself as a teenager goes out and kind of thing. But summertime, every day I went to the Tokyo Bay. Right now Tokyo Bay is 00:03:00dead so nothing there, but at that time Tokyo Bay was really good that you know swimming place. So every day summer, every day we, my mother taking us to the thing Tokyo Bay, to that swimming and picking up the shells and things like that. That's a fun memory. And all the festivals, you know? That's about it, fun, children's family.

Anna Takada: And um, was your, was your family religious at all, or what were some activities you did besides maybe school?

Yoko Doi: Not particularly. My mother is that really... Um, what do you call that? You know, outgoing person. So we're going to go sit at the movies but we 00:04:00cannot... As a, as a child I cannot go into that, the movie theater, but that baby could go in, but the first grade and the second grade when I was first and second grade, we cannot get into that, the movie. But my mother put it on, put the baby is that you know somebody, somebody else and then he carried me and I get into the movie theater kind of things, you know? My mother was that really funny person and so we just have the fun, something like that. Then we are not that... We are Buddhist, that background, you know, and so they ha-- But I'm Christian right now but I have a Buddhist background family. And whenever that my mother's family in Hokkaido, my father's family in Yamagata, when they come in from there to visiting that Tokyo we're taking to them to that you know, all 00:05:00the temples. And so I love to go to the temples because I have that sad story. This is, I didn't think about it, at the-- talk about it, but that my grandma is he wa-- she was really such a nice lady and she was taking care of me so well, and whenever I visiting her in Yamagata she was really, play with me and then this and this. But one day we went to that you know Yamagata, she was laying down in the futon and I didn't know what is happening and then she was dying. And she died and everybody crying, someplace they went to other world. But I wondered where she went to, you know? So I really loves to go to that temple, to 00:06:00that, talking to that bonsan? Obousan? Uh-- P-Priest! Priest to you know to, is that, "Where are we going to go after died?" And you know so that's why that whenever they come, that's why that it comes out right away that, you know that we're going to go temple to die. Yeah.

Anna Takada: How old were you when your grandma passed?

Yoko Doi: I was that you know, about three or something? Three or four.

Anna Takada: Very young.

Yoko Doi: Yeah.

Anna Takada: And then when the war started you were a young child, can you tell me a little bit about your memories of...

Yoko Doi: When the war start is that Japan is so happy. Everybody got the Japanese flag and I thought, "Oh, we go into that war and we're going to win and that." We had a celebrating. You know but the year after September is that the 00:07:00American airplane came and Japanese government shook up, "Oh my goodness." Is that you know, Japan going to be, going to be attacked very soon, this and this and that you know it's really, really nonsense they're going to doing the things. And that you know bamboo stick? They're going to cut off that you know that bamboo stick, cut off sideway like this and it's okay it's as it is. You could kill the people, because it's that the bamboo stick is that really hard you know? But, so all you know that, the women's club and they learned how to kill the people like this, but everybody have that you know gun. But anyway, something like that, that they started doing and not really feeling that war is 00:08:00losing kind of things. You know, we felt it and then the airplane came and... Oh yeah, one story is that when American side, we love that Mount Zhao... I mean that Mount Fuji. Right? Fuji-san, "Oh, that big nice mountain." But is that you know American say any place they're going to come to Japan, go to the, look at the Mount Fuji first because Mount Fuji is so high and the top is over the cloud, so that they could see the Mount Fuji. So Mount Fuji come then little bit of northwest you're going and then at the Tokyo there. So that you know you, the army know that... We cannot sing anymore that Mount Fuji is that... Fuji-san is 00:09:00number one mountain in Japan that we, we have, the singing like that you know? And after that, we heard then nobody could sing that song anymore and then they're going to talk about, "Cut off that Mount Fuji, the top." Or something like that they, they're talking about it. So war is getting worse and worse and then that you know Japanese government is trying to remove that older children third grade and up to that you know someplace else, the country side, you know? And I know my friend, my sister-in-law went to those places and that she was in the Nagano in the temple I think she went to. And then that you know, she, we have no food to eat, nothing, and then it happened to have that the Nagano area 00:10:00had that you know potato, is a good producing the potato. She said, "Every day, morning and lunch and night. She eat potato everyday. So right now, she didn't like the potato too much. Then, I know my mother went to that field and she picked the dandelion that you know, and that's they eating, and that much we didn't have no food. But I, I supposed to go to the Nagano area at some temple but scheduled it... But my grandma came, I don't know why she came in and she came in and somebody that... She, her brother or somebody died I think, and then she came in and that she heard, "Oh Yoko have to go to that someplace else and that..." You know so grandma said, "No. No. No, I can't send that, my grandma 00:11:00that kind of place. I'm going to take her." So all of a sudden I went to that Hokkaido, and so I live in Hokkaido two years so that is... War finished at August, I was in, up to September I was in there. Yeah.

Anna Takada: When you were traveling were you with your siblings or your parents or how did that work?

Yoko Doi: Oh, oh my goodness, is that you know traveling is that you know that really, really bad because it's that you know train... You, you don't know... After, after that is that anytime American come and there's a bombing there, right? And then so if you go to train and that the train bombed, everybody going to die there you know? And so it's a, traveling is a really, really bad thing. 00:12:00But when I went to Japa-- to Hokkaido it just started you know so that's not bad. But when I coming back from the Hokkaido to Yamagata, oh my goodness it's a really hard time, the, the people looking for the food, the people looking for that you know... After the war even that we had a hard... No food, no food in Japan! And that you know, my husband, the Doi families, that you know the grandpa from me, my husband's... The grandpa, grandma, they are living in that Hiroshima and when I met them and they say that you know, "Oh Americans." The camp, the concentration camp. "They are more better than here." He said, "Because they could eat three times." It's a good meal and he loves the bacon. 00:13:00And that you know, "They eat bacon every morning I heard!" (Laughs) That you know, that much, we didn't have nothing to eat. Really hard time to that you know... The things is that the food was that you know... And that you know that the teenager, we are just growing up and we're always hungry you know? And so something like that is happening you know. Yeah.

Anna Takada: Were you together with your family in these different places with your...

Yoko Doi: No. My immediate family, parents and then that, my... Another three brothers and sisters, they are in Tokyo. I was in Hokkaido, way northern part you know? And so I didn't have any experience, with that, the bombing things you know? But uh, my mother, I mean, my fa-- her house, Tokyo house was bombed and at the time... Kamata wa, it's the area where they live, is that really good 00:14:00factory... More likely is that the making that you know airplane, part of the airplane and things like that, my father was employed in one of the things so it really is, American aim there too. And then last minute it's in May I think is that... I think in the, in the years May I think they, they bombed there. And um, my father said that you know, "Okay. Today the American come to bomb this area." So they, they knew where that you know, that coming so my father said you know, "We're not going to go any place." We love to go to that you know the river kind of things you know? People not too many people there so they're going 00:15:00to survive there. But no, it's not. It's that you know, and too many crowd and the family, he don't want our family to you know the separated? So everybody together. We're going to go into that shelter. It's our own shelter, is you know is, we made a, that igloo? Igloo like you know, that we start you know, dig the hole and put the igloo.

Anna Takada: Dome?

Yoko Doi: Dome kind of things you know? And each family have that one but my father said, "That's too small so we're going to go to the government made one, big one. It's in the public so we're going to go there to that you know? We're going to stay overnight." And the big hospital is there, was, if that one is that you know bombing and that one is that falling down, that's the time is that really crucial time. So if that one goes, we are, we gonna survive so we gonna 00:16:00go in there. So father went first anyway is that they're taking my brother with, and that you know, and then my mother taking care of another... She had another baby at the time, she was one or two years old and she carried that one. And my sister is little slow you know so she really, my mother had a harder time with her you know? But she holding hand with her to that walking and that you know, that the big bomb dropping in front of her, but it wasn't exploded so you know she was survived it. So she went to that shelters and so my mother and all the people that they're inside there. But my father is out and put futon? Futon, 00:17:00it's put it in the, in the area had a big field was there, we're always playing there and lots of memory had and they got a pond in the middle. So she going to put the futon in the water and they put the cover, the you know the entrance one. Then so really the, whenever the hospital burned down it's lots of that you know that... What they call the, you know that fire? That (makes small circle gesture).

Anna Takada: Smoke?

Yoko Doi: Smoke and then you know that... The fire small you know fire things coming, coming out and he put it in and everybody, everybody survived there. And then a couple other young, young mother and young, young man and helping him to do that, and then that everybody say thank you so much and then nobody went to that you know river. And people who went to the river, almost 80% of people died 00:18:00that in the river because is that you know its, river's water is actually boiling I heard my father told, my father said, you know? Because of the bomb, bomb down and then that, the fire coming out and then that you know? So most of the, all the body was floating in the rivers you know? And so my mother say, "Yeah, my father always that really good and then he, he could see it." You know? So, something like that had happened and they all went to that Yamagata. So that's why they live right now in Yamagata, because my father had business in Yamagata. And my brother, what is that you know? Take over his business and then he did the business there too you know? So he are living there.

Anna Takada: Was that after the war that they moved?

Yoko Doi: After the-- Right after the bomb that they... And hard time to go to that Yamagata too. And my mother said, "Oh my goodness we are so miserable looking." You know? Half burning someplace, you know? That clothes and... He got a big that... His silk, big that, the things that they carries and we are just like hobo. Hobo it's called? Yeah, it look like, like that. And beginning in Tokyo everybody look like same, you know? That in the airplane-- I mean the, the train. And half... It's from the Tokyo to that you know the Yamagata is at the time is more likely 12 hours, 10 hours ride so taking that about five hours, everybody changing, all the other people get off and not too many people is 00:20:00there. And so now that train is changing and that the nice suits people comes in, everybody looking at us and really feels ashamed too you know? But anyway, right after that day they bombed they went to that you know, Yamagata, and then my father's house they went to. And then my father's house is a big, big house so you know they could live about there about six months or so, and then my father got another house in Yamagata. Yeah.

Anna Takada: And they've been there since?

Yoko Doi: Uh, no, no, they built that. My brother he did well, so my brother had that nice big house that he built again. And then I came, they went there it's May. I think it's April or May is that the, the area was bombed, and then that 00:21:00December, then August was war finished, and August the first, second is that the atomic bomb drops. And then that you know, August 15 is that war finished, and December I came to that Yamagata I think from Hokkaido. That's, that's my that, you know war story.

Anna Takada: So since you were so young but not too young where you don't you know remember and realize what's going on, can you tell me more about um... Just, I mean to experience that as a child, did you understand... Or, or, or what was that like to split up from your family during that time?

Yoko Doi: Splitting up? People who went to that you know um, totally... See, I 00:22:00went to that grandma's house so it's a little different than that you know people went to that you know the temple and then all the student together, you know? And I heard that you know, one lady, not my sister-in-law, another lady is that you know from that Okinawa came to that you know Kyushu, and then in Kyushu she went to the separated. And "Oh I cried every night and that you know I want to see the mother." That's you know that there. Because I'm in the fifth grade and fifth grade is a little older, so you know that my age... My sister-in-law is a fourth grade I think, so she is okay then her most that you know things is she's eating the potato all the time, that's the, she remembers you know? And then, but other, another lady, she's younger than that, two, three younger than me, so she is that you know more likely you know third, third grade and fourth 00:23:00grade and, "Oh, I'm crying every night. I want to see my mother." You know? So it's a hard time to that you know, those people. But I have a fun and my grandma is it that I'm respecting my grandma so much, so you know, as long as my grandma is there I'm okay. Yeah.

Anna Takada: Do you remember the day that you reconnected with your family?

Yoko Doi: Yeah, but it's different than that you know my grandma's house. Grandma's house is a so big house and then that you know everybody there and lot of people there, and you know, came to that the... Yamagata at the time is that my father working at the city and then my mother living in at the mountain. So you know in the mountain, in a small cottage like house you know? "My goodness, I have to live here?" Kind of things you know happened that. But it's, you know 00:24:00getting the father, mother together and brothers and you know so it's okay. Yeah. But it's a year and a half separated, it's really, it's that... I heard that it's, you know that my friend went to the concentration camp you know, is that you know, my husband won't talk too much about it, that you know concentration camp and these kind of things. But I heard my friend went in a concentration camp and then that you know "It is fun every day, is that we are get together you know dinner time and a friend you know eating. But Yoko if you think about it, we didn't have that family gathering." You know, it's that fun to eating with a friend but that you know mother telling her, "No, you should eat this way, you should eat that." You know that? "I didn't have any manner to learn and nobody else. I just wild so much. You know, that come to think of it, 00:25:00all those things I really miss that the family gathering. I missed it." That's, you know she said it. So in a way, but that you know, in my case it's different in Grandpa-- G-Grandma's house you know? So, in Grandp--Gra-- my mother's side of the, Hokkaido no Grandpa, Grandma is the really strict one. (laughs) So you know... So it's, I'm okay. I didn't have too much, that you know those sad story. But that, I know it's older Nisei you know people, they had that... If you talk about it, this concentration camp things, it's really family gathering. And also that you know parents never telling them what to do kind of things. And always, always thinking about, "We are the enemy," that "We are the enemy." So they don't want to... Lot of Nisei people is really unsociable, you know? Is is 00:26:00a lot of... I, when I came to the United States from Japan, and I kind of thinking about, "Oh my goodness. This Nisei people is really is that you know unsociable, and they won't do too much that you know fun things and this and this." But they're going to gather together Nisei club they making, and then a Nisei club they have. But go outside, they won't do too much about out world. That is really you know it's sad, is that they, inside, is, "We are enemy," you know kind of things you know? But as long as I'm concerned, I am that really, didn't have that too much, that the war is affected me. Yeah.

Anna Takada: Um, so it, it's... Well, first, can you tell me um... So what 00:27:00happened with your family after the war? Where, what were you doing, and at what point did you end up going to the U.S.?

Yoko Doi: Oh... Oh you know, I went to the high school in Yamagata and then at... I just want to go to the Tokyo. And then I graduated at the university in Tokyo. I, I went out to the Tokyo, and so you know it's that... Yamagata is, to me, is not that much my hometown. Is that, Tokyo still my hometown. Lot of friend is in Tokyo you know? I have the good friends there. And I went to Aoyama University you know? Is that, they are famous in the Christian family --uh Christian school. And there, I learn the Christianity you know? So I become Christian in the school. I mean, not school. I, I learn it from the Christianity 00:28:00there. So I was in Tokyo. I working at the Tokyo... My family-- my father done well you know at business. And one extended partner was that something happened, and then that you know those business things is always happen or something else. So my father had a little bit of hard time. But after that, my brother graduated college, and he take over that, my father. And my brother did a good job. Don't you, don't you think so? Yeah. He did good. So it's okay. And they had a nice, big nice house they built and three boys that he had. So you know it, my family, and for my brother, did a good job. Yeah. And um...

Anna Takada: And in school, what did you study?

Yoko Doi: English I studied. English literature you know? That school is famous teaching the English literature. And I had another one it's close-by and Japanese literature. And then, "Which one shall I go?" And then I thought, "Oh, well, maybe I better learn the English." And then that you know I went the English one you know? Then happen to have that school was that you know that Christian school. And my goodness! First thing is that you know you have to learn, you have to read the Bible. Bible? What is the book called Bible? I really don't know. I was so shamed you know? But yeah, I studied there English and Christianity. And... But it's that, okay. School insist me that... Because school is a Christian, Christian school, so they could insist us to study that 00:30:00you know Christianity. And, so I say, "Okay, in that case, I gonna go to, I gonna go to the Buddhist zen temple." I went to Kamakura at Engakuji, it's called. You know? It's like... Oh, you know? Yeah. There, I did the zazen. Ten years, I had experience with the zazen. I did there. You know, it's really a good experience I did there. Yeah.

Anna Takada: Wow.

Yoko Doi: So that's my story. And you want to know how to come to the United States, how to meet my husband?

Anna Takada: Yes.

Yoko Doi: (Laughs) Nothing is that too much. Like, my sister-in-law had that you know, that big story she has. But me, it's no. It's that, because it's I have to have that you know, my own place, right? Because my parents is in Yamagata. So 00:31:00happened to have that I rented the apartment. The owner of the apartment is that you know connected with my husband Mikio's brother's wife. The uncle is at that place. That, you know really is that you know-- But Mikio's brother is younger than Mikio. Mikio is older. And that you know that... So, wife is, she is really, really... Right now too, she's really thinking about other people and that you know taking care of them. So she worries about it, that his brother-in-law, "Oh, he's older than my husband, and he didn't have any that you know wife. Maybe I going to look for the wife for him." (laughs) She wrote a letter to the uncle, "Don't you have anybody else can speak a little English then that you know and interesting to come to United States?" That's... So she 00:32:00wrote a letter to them, and then that you know, he looked around, "Okay, where is the girl?" Like, "Here she is in, in his apartment!" That's my story! (laughs) So you know the owner ask me, "Do you have you interest in?" And so I say, "Well, yeah," but that you know I like to know what kind of person. And she said, "Of course. And how you going to know? You cannot meet him." And I say, "Okay, yeah, write a letter." So we exchanging the letter about three years with my husband you know? And then I know my husband is not too much outgoing type, kind of person. I could tell from that you know the writing. So I could tell what kind of person he is. And then that you know so...

Anna Takada: When did that start? When did you start corresponding?

Yoko Doi: Oh. I, I married at about 29, late you know, so that correspondence is 00:33:00about 26. 26? Six, seven, eight, nine, yeah. About 26 I think. And then three years in, and that you know his mother, my mother-in-law, is, "Ah, hurry up. What are you doing?" kind of thing. And then she's the one wrote me the letter... And "What are you--" Because she telling him. "What are you doing?" And he said just kinda, "Urusai, (grunts) I don't want to talk about." He is like that. He's not that much open person. So you know and the mother-in-law wrote me, "What are you doing? And can you do something else from your side?"

Anna Takada: Were you writing in English or Japanese?

Yoko Doi: My mother-in-law is that more like the Kibei Nisei. So you know she understand. She graduated high school in Tokyo-- in Hiroshima. So she understand Japanese well. So write it down in Japanese to her. But for him, I write 00:34:00English. You know, I don't know how much he understand.

Anna Takada: And where is his family from? Or where was he when you were corresponding?

Yoko Doi: They are Hiroshima. Yeah.

Anna Takada: Oh, okay.

Yoko Doi: Oh! I'm sorry! It's, they are in Chicago!

Anna Takada: Oh, okay. In Chicago.

Yoko Doi: Yeah. Yeah. And because it's that after the war is almost 10, 12 years after that... Yeah, I think. More than that. No, more than that.

Speaker 1: 1960 maybe?

Yoko Doi: Yeah.

Speaker 1: Like-

Yoko Doi: Yeah, '65 you was born, right?

Speaker 1: I was born in '65.

Yoko Doi: Yeah, born in the sixty. So 1960, around '60, before the sixty is you know is we corresponding, you know?

Anna Takada: Mm-hmm.

Yoko Doi: Yeah.

Anna Takada: And so his, his mother wrote to you and said "Hurry up". And then, and then what happens? How did you end up coming?

Yoko Doi: He, he's... I don't know. I think I wrote him something you know, "Your mother said this and this and this." You know and is that... Okay... The funny thing is that my mother-in-law and then that my husband how they connect, how they that communicating. My mother-in-law speaking Japanese to him and he speaking English to her. And they are connecting. That I learned after I came here they tell me. But at the time, I didn't know. But I was wondering why he didn't tell, she didn't tell him directly. And after that, I understand, yeah, "Oh, because of this." And so I write it down what, "Your mother said this and this. Are you interest in me? Are you coming? Or what do you want to do?" And he decided, okay. That September, then he said, "Okay, I'm coming." And you know... 00:36:00But there is a story, is there. He bought that ring, engagement ring already you know? But it's that you know Hiroshima side, it's, his grandpa, grandma is in Hiroshima at that time, right? And then that you know, Hiroshima side, "If this girl say no, what am I gonna, what is he gonna do? Okay, we going to prepare another girl." (laughs) So grandma prepared that you know couple other, three other girls and you know it's, "Okay, if she say no, we gonna that, have the--." (laughs) That me told me... No. Yeah, that he told me, "My mother, my mother say something like that." And I said, "Oh." Oh, no. Grandma tell. Grandma the one ne? Yeah, Hiroshima no Grandma the one that tells me about that one you know? And then that, "Yeah, because if we gonna, if we thinking about if you say no, what, what are we going to do?" So you know they said, "I have prepare somebody 00:37:00else." But she brought the you know that engagement ring and okay. And then that okay. Then we going to marry. Then, all right, so that you know let's marry. So she-- he took about, about two weeks or something, but he postpone it. And then he stayed at Japan about... And after that, then married. We married at Kobe counselor, counseling. Counselor? Counsel?

Speaker 1: Consulate.

Yoko Doi: Consul.

Speaker 1: Consulate.

Yoko Doi: Consul. Yeah. Kobe Consul. We married there. And then that, his uncle came from the Hiroshima to you know standing up for us. And then that you know, so we had a honeymoon around the you know Kyoto area, because Kobe Consul, that Kyoto and because he wanted to see Kyoto area. So we went to Kyoto. Oh, before that one, we went... Of course we went to see Grandpa, Grandma you know, and I 00:38:00introduce myself to them you know? And they are really, really... I love that his grandpa... I fall in love with that his grandpa. Is really, really good one. But he was fourth stage of that cancer, lung cancer. And, you know and so, but he talking to me. And can I tell the story about what the grandpa-- grandpa's experienced in that you know, that atomic bomb? Or shall I...

Speaker 1: No, that's a good story.

Yoko Doi: Yeah. No, shall I tell that you know, how they going to immigrate to that United States? Maybe after that one huh?

Anna Takada: Whichever.

Yoko Doi: In chronicle way, we have to, have to story about that you know they are immigrating, how they immigrated in America.

Anna Takada: Oh, you mean the Doi family?

Yoko Doi: Doi family.

Anna Takada: Um, sure.

Yoko Doi: Yeah. Okay, so that you know, because of this chronical way, I better start it at the Doi family story about it. So anyway, I call Grandma and Grandpa. That is, for her (points off-screen), is Great-Grandpa, Great-Grandma. But that you know, my husband's, it's Doi family's grandpa, grandma. And when she was 18 and Grandpa was 19 I think, and then that you know she fall in love with that you know this guy, Doi. Yuji Doi. That is Grandpa. I love him too you know? She supposed to married tomorrow, the following day, wedding day, she 00:40:00elope with him... He, but she keep asking him, "I don't want to marry this guy. He's a nice guy. My cousin and this and this. But I love you so much, and I cannot marry this guy." You know and kinda this. So their uncle was in, I think it's Canada. No, United St... No, no, no. California. So, she want they want to come to the United States. But that you know I think that is that you know... My father-in-law was born in 1909. So 18-somet--, 1890-something. United States closed that you know, Japanese immigrant, you know?

Anna Takada: Mm-hmm.

Yoko Doi: So that year, they cannot come to the United States. And so, but anyway, they have to go someplace, because is that you know they eloped you 00:41:00know? And okay, "We're going to elope to the United States." That's they, their... "I don't want to stay around here. So, and anyway, let's go to Kobe." So you know is that Grandma carried that, all her wedding gown and that all... Grandma's house is that really well doing, the house. And so she carried that one. ", Yo-san that is just about the new year time," you know? And she carried the things. "And I wanted to go with him, but when I walking around that street to meet him, everybody so looks happy, and then the light is coming out. And I was sad to that leave this Hiroshima." But she, she meet him, and that you know she went to the Kobe. And now that America was closed, then that you know they cannot go. And so now, "What am I going to do?" And then that, they had that 00:42:00opportunity to go to that, Mexico. So you know, "Okay, then we're going to go to Mexico." And then that you know, I don't know how they attain visa and those things at that time, how they work. But then that you know she didn't remember all those things. So she just you know... We just went to the Mexico. And that was that really, really, really bad place they went to. And then that you know, banana plants I think. The plantation. It's the banana plantation. And then that you know in the place, they had a you know, big pond is there. And then, in a big pond, there is a little... Not little, but the, is... How many family was there, they say that about 10 or 15 family is there... Pond is big like this, right. And then that you know, in the middle, there is that you know, people to 00:43:00live here. And in this pond, there's a crocodile is there. And then that you know they cannot go through this easily. And then that you know, morning, they're going to bringing in the boat here, and then they ride on the boat and go to that the other side, then that you know, they're going to go to work, to the, picking out the banana things. And then coming back, then it goes in there, and it goes there. Something like that place, they live in. And then that you know and house was that you know... Just... But Mexico is warm, right? So it's not that the building, just a shelter kinda. And the top there, and you know that just to... So, when the wind comes in... I don't think that too much rain over there I think. But when a rainy day is you know, something rain comes, something like that place that they live in and then that you know...

Anna Takada: How long were they there, in Mexico?

Yoko Doi: Yeah that you know, Grandpa say... Anyway, Grandma, Grandma was that you know pregnant. And then Grandpa say... Grandpa is a really manly person, and Grandpa said, "Okay, we cannot that, raise the children this kind of place. I have to do something." And then that you know, "Okay, don't tell anybody else." And then that Grandpa was that you know, thinking and thinking, and he made up a really, really good, good plan you know? And, "Okay, I going to tell that this, this, this person, so you know, we going to that plan it." Then they planned... Because they don't want that you know owner to hear the things, that escaping, right? So anyway, it's, Grandpa's plan is... It's really clever. Clever. "Okay, we have to look for that rainy day, so we cannot make a set day. If it's not rain, we cannot get out." But that you know, okay. "Rainy day and a windy day, 00:45:00we gonna go. So everybody, if you come with us want to go us, you, better to ready. Tomorrow, we're going to go because rain." Because it's that you know, when the rain comes, Grandpa say is that you know, is that boat coming, boat coming here to here, he going to sit down in the end of the boat. Is that you know Mexican is here and rowing, they goes, goes like this. He going to sit down here and put the string. Grandma had really good silk that, clothes, right, because wedding clothes, that they, they, they torn that. Because silk is so strong, right? So that you know they're making that you know three things, and 00:46:00they make that a silk rope. And they put that things in here, because rain, you cannot see well. So you know put this side, it, they're going to put it in that you know something else there, and then that you know, the boat is that you know there and coming here. And then that you know, all this, rope is here. So that's the way Grandpa said, "Okay, let's do that way. Okay, if they're to find out, and then that we're gonna kill. It's, can't help it. But this is work, so let's do it." And then that... One rainy day, it's did it that way. And then that almost... Not almost. All people agree with him to come... So that you know, two, one is not enough. Two times they did something like that, you know? And then that, they escaped from there. And then that, but is that, part of the people is that you know... I, really don't know the map too well. But that you 00:47:00know, is that some people wanted to go back to that you know, port, where the Japanese ship coming. They want to go there. But Grandpa said, "No, we going to go that little bit north." And Mikio's uncle... It means that the Grandpa's with the children. One of them said, "Must be that's Texas." And then that you know he hear that train is there, so, "We going to go see the train. And then let's ride a train to California." That's his plan was. And then that, so... He mentioned this, where was that place. But I just didn't remember that, the name 00:48:00of the place. And then when I talking to that in California about this one a little bit, they said, "I know. Is that somebody else talking about the same story you are. It's one of them is that escaping from there. It must be together with that you know grandpa. And I heard the name, but I didn't remember too." But anyway, something like that, and then that you know. They find... Because it's from that plantation to that you know coming to that you know rail, it's not like now. No walls, and you could go through so easily. So you know came through. And so after the rail, railroad is they're really easy to find it. But the railroad, one problem is that when they walking toward to that you know California, so that means it's that west, right... And big, big that you know 00:49:00river was there. I don't know what kind of river it is. But the river was there. And then that you know big... You know, it's river is... How, how could I say? When you're walking that railroad, rail is here, and then wood is here, right?

Speaker 1: Tracks. Railroad tracks.

Yoko Doi: Tracks, yeah. Railroad tracks, I mean, on the river. Is that you know wood is here, and on the top of the wood is, rail is there. So it's from that wood to wood, its space is there, right? The, the track. Means the track the space about this big, right? This big. And then that you know, some, Grandpa said couple, is they fell down from there. Because train coming, so they had to 00:50:00run to that you know, that that... Grandpa, grandma was that you know first one. So the, the first one went in means it's that the last one to go out right? And then they had to run so hard and a couple people fell down from there. And then that you know, they went, they went to the river. I don't think... they cannot alive you know? But they cannot see anything you know? So, anyway is that, grandpa-- grandma missed the wood and she fell down halfway, and then she miscarriaged that day. Yeah. So that grandpa's, our grandpa is that you, that grandpa means it's that's her grandpa, my husband's father, Yuji-san no, the son is second son. It's that the first one is a miscarriage that you know. And then after that, the, they came in. But is that... Something else? You have to go?

Anna Takada: No. I just... No.

Yoko Doi: And then that you know, is that, so anyway, is that something like that, they came to the United States. And then that you know, is that... So they didn't have that official immigration, and then they are so scared too you know that they run away from them you know? Because they get the money, they pay the money to that you know go to the work things. You know? And then about six months, they are there, I think you know? And then after, they, they were, they came. And then that, but they found that job. And then you know it's California, they, it's okay. But that, you know and... End up they are living in Oxnard, right? Yeah, Oxnard. Oxnard, California. End up that Oxnard, California. Before that one, grandpa, grandma, they found that uncle was there. And then they found the uncle, and the uncle introduced that you know. He's really good to do that 00:52:00you know, working in a yard, in a tree. What do you call those... A gardener! He was in a gardener, and then that, grandma was that a maid. Oh yeah, one story. It's such a funny story. Grandma thought is that you know, in Japan, they're going to fold the futon and put it in that you know, oshi... You know the clothes, put it in the you know, the cabinet. And so grandpa folded it, whole thing, said fold it. And she didn't know where to, she didn't know how to fold that you know the mattress. She didn't know what to do, so she's standing in and that you know. The, the house, the miss, lady come in. "Oh, you folding everything." And then she was laughing. Another one is she didn't know how to do the iron because in Japan, we had an iron is that they put the charcoal in it. 00:53:00And then you know. But electric, she didn't know that one. And so she said, "I had so much that you know problem with that housework. And then, oh, grandpa is really, really good and grandpa is so handy person." But anyway, it's that grandma's house is that really good well done, well house, so she never worked at a house before. You know so that is the, that is the thing.

Anna Takada: And, how many children did they end up having?

Yoko Doi: Having five. Five, Isamu-san is the first one. And then that you know, four me- men-- boys and one girl, they, they had. Yeah. And then all, they are all went, went in a camp. Yeah. And then that, grandpa, you know grandpa, is that, Japan, he loves Japan. And so that, the war start and then I thought, "Okay, I'm going back to the Japan." So you know, the last ship, I think, they 00:54:00went to back to Japan, I think.

Anna Takada: To Hiroshima?

Yoko Doi: Yeah. And then that, grand- grand- Isamu-san, is that, you know that, my husband's father, is that, okay, grandpa, grandma goes to Japan and then that you know, you don't, you didn't have any... You need money, you know so you take all the money. So she, he give, they-- everybody give that whole money to that grandpa, grandma, away to their parents and then that, you know? More likely is Isamu-san is that first son, and he feel like responsible. And then, they had a store in Oxnard. They had a store and renting apartment you know is that grandpa started. The next day, is, money comes in, grandpa knows, so you know, give it to them. But that, grandpa say, "Oh, then that you know, lettuce and strawberry 00:55:00was there. So lettuce and strawberry money comes in, so don't worry about it." Is that you know, they left, I think, December. And then that you know, no, not December. December 7th, the war started, so that you know, September ka. So-- but anyway, is that you know, the, it's coming, so don't worry about it. So they give the all the money, and then grandpa said, "No. Nothing, no money comes in." Because it's that you know the camp started right away right? When the war start?

Anna Takada: A few months later.

Yoko Doi: Few months later, right? So that lettuce, is that you know, he expected to have the money. Is that you know, following that, the war started Sept-- December, right? So that the lettuce is about April to May. They have to leave for the concentration camp and then that, Grandpa said, "We didn't have no 00:56:00money," because all the money he gave to the parents. Then nobody buy the lettuce. Is, they know it's that they have to go to the concentration camp, and strawberry, lots of strawberry was there. And then that you know, "Oh, we didn't have no money."

Anna Takada: That's what they sold in the store, or where were the strawberries?

Yoko Doi: Oh, grandpa-- grandpa, grandma Yuji-san went to Japan one, grandpa, grandma had a store and then the apartment. It's, they are the ones is taking care. And then my husband's father, Isamu-san, is that taking care of field. They grow that you know lettuce and strawberry and something else, I forgot. Is that you know, quite a bit of big ones that they are taking care. So you know that's why they thought they're going to come in the money, so they give all the 00:57:00money to that grandpa, grandma. So, grandpa said that, "Yeah, I had, I got money and so I, I have that house right away." And then they went to Hiroshima.

Anna Takada: Do you know if-- Do you know if your father-in-law owned the land?

Yoko Doi: No, no, no, no, no. That renting.

Anna Takada: Okay.

Yoko Doi: Yeah. And then that you know, that, the store too, it's not... Because it's that you know grandpa was, grandpa was born in that United States. Oh, no, no, no.

Speaker 1: Yes, he was.

Yoko Doi: Grandpa, grandpa was born in United States, but they got scared because of that you know, because it's that right away, she pregnant again. So you know, it's that why a year later or something, they were, he was, 19, 1902, I think, Grandpa is that you know, if I could, memory is correct, that he was born. And then that, because they cannot register he's born because scared, 00:58:00because they don't want to, government to know who they are because it's that you know, oh, Mexico. They, America maybe let them return it. Grandpa didn't, didn't have anything, so they didn't have any right to own the things. You know so that's why they didn't own nothing. Yeah, even the, those you know, store too, yeah.

Anna Takada: When the evacuation orders went out, where did the Doi family, where were they sent to?

Yoko Doi: The Gila, number two, I think. Yeah. They went to there. Yeah. And my, my mother-in-law said that, "Oh, Yoko-san we thought they going to kill us." Because is that you know something in suitcase two, and then Mikio carry the two suitcase and go in that you know, the train. And all the window is that, blacked 00:59:00out. You know? And everybody carried that gun and that you know? Oh, they thought they going to kill. You know but that is scary. But, Gila was is just, only thing is the sand, really sandy. Grandma say is that, Grandma means is that you know, Isamu-san's that, my husband's mother, is every day about three times you had to sweep because of the sand. If the sandstorm comes, sand is right there on the floor, everything. You know, so that is the only thing. But is that you know grandma say, "But, in my family is that you know, more likely have to be that you know, appreciated the you know, concentration camp because it's that Mikio is okay, but that you know, Tetsu, the second son, he had asthma, bad, bad 01:00:00asthma, no matter what that you know they're taking and this and this." And then that the doctor said, "Only things is you have to move to that you know dry, hot land." Means Gila is dry, hot land, right? And then that, but Tetsu's asthma is cured there so you know that grandma say is that you know we, the government send us there. She was laughing about that you know? Yeah.

Anna Takada: How old was your husband at the time?

Yoko Doi: Same as, he's the same as me. He's six months older than me, so you know he was that, about fifth grade too. Yeah. Yeah, fifth. And fourth, Tetsu is fourth grade I think yeah.

Anna Takada: And, when... Was that something that he would... It sounds like you 01:01:00got a lot of information from your mother-in-law. Was that something that your husband would share with you?

Yoko Doi: No. My husband never share anything. Yeah. He won't talk about it. I don't think it's that you know I know is that you know, lot of people don't want to talk about the those... If I going to ask, that is the 442 too, the uncle. But that you I don't think they are really open to things. And then that you know, we are inside. One lady said, "Yoko, I'm always talk about those things. Is I didn't like it. I feel like I am enemy to United States and it's, it feels so shame to talk about. So that's why I don't want to talk about." That's my friend said it you know it's that... "So we don't want to, we don't want to do something is you know "show up" things you know? It, or people to make 01:02:00attention. No, I don't want, I don't want any attention. I want to be quiet, living there." That's I thought, "Oh my goodness, that is so sad a story." You know? Yeah.

Anna Takada: Do you know at what point, because I'm guessing they went from camp to Chicago, is that right?

Yoko Doi: Yes.

Anna Takada: Do you know at what point they left?

Yoko Doi: They left is that you know, after-- before the war? Anyway, it's government closing that you know, that camp and then that they are going to... I think is that more likely right after October, so two, three months later, I think, they left that there. And then that Chicago is that you know... Because they want to go to California, but I didn't, I don't think they cannot go to California at that time, I think. Right?

Anna Takada: Mhm.

Yoko Doi: So they say that, "Okay, then you know Chicago is a good place." To have that, job wise, they could find a job, so they came to that way to the Chicago. And--

Anna Takada: Do you know what jobs they got or where they settled in Chicago?

Yoko Doi: Yeah. They, the first time they came, it's that they you know, that Wilson. They came and the Uptown area. And then that you know. And they stayed there, one, one-two little house, the apartment kind of things you know? There are two families together, two, three families together. And then that you know, I think that my husband went to the school there little while, but they cannot live like that way you know? So they, they say, "Okay, we going to buy the house someplace." And then that, they went to South Side.

Speaker 1: West, yeah.

Yoko Doi: Southwest side, right. Yeah. I heard right now it's so bad neighbor I heard. My husband took me once that you know what kind of house that you know. 01:04:00It's three flat that you know. And then that, they that you know, they live second floor, and then that first floor, that's, Isamu-san, my husband's father's brother lived at the first floor. And then at the second floor and the third floor, they went to Georgia. They lived there, I think. They lived something like that. And, Isamu-san no brother, have that, they started that cleaning store, dry cleaning, cleaning, you know, those one. And wife is a really good sewer, so you know that sewing you know, and... And then that, Isamu-san have that 3M?

Speaker 1: You're, right. 3M.

Yoko Doi: 3M.

Speaker 1: The company, they make like Post-It notes.

Anna Takada: Oh, sure.

Speaker 1: So, it was manufacturing.

Yoko Doi: Yeah. And, the manufacturing job. And then that you know, at that time, is that 3M is a big company is that you know, in there. And, the third floor one, they had some kind of small job and this and this, but that you know, they are interesting, too. That you know, have you ever heard of, chick sexing? Yeah, yeah. That, they did it. Chicago was a really big one, they have. So they did that in Chicago a little while, but that, I think the Chicago one is closed or something. And then they went to the Georgia, so that's where they end up. The two uncles went. No, three uncles. Two, Isamu-san have that you know, three, four brother right? And one is Isamu-san. And one is Riku-san. is the dry cleaning, and two went to chick sexing, and the middle woman, girl, married that 01:06:00Asamoto, husband... three went to Georgia. So, they're in Georgia right now.

Anna Takada: And...

Yoko Doi: Go back to the Hiroshima story, no?

Anna Takada: If you want. (laughs)

Yoko Doi: Why? What else you want to ask?

Anna Takada: Well, I was just, I was going to ask about, I know you'd mentioned that your husband didn't share very much, but do you have a sense of what life was like in Chicago for them when they came here? He was probably getting to high school age.

Yoko Doi: Yeah, yeah. And then that you know, they had that graduation right? And then that you know, my mother-in-law said, "You know, that Mikio... " That's Mikio, the, my husband's name. "Mikio told me, 'don't come to the graduation 01:07:00ceremony'." And I-- "Why?" and then that you know, "Oh, no, no, they are all hakujin, and no Japanese there." And, my mother-in-law said, "What is he thinking about? Is he hakujin?" Because she can't speak that any English, right? And then that you know, my husband said to her something like that. So you know it's that, my friend say, is that you know, "Hard time you know, that enemy kind of things." You know? So, I feel like most of the people have some kind of things, and they don't want to show, "I am Japanese" kind of things. I think that's in the back of his head, I think you know? So, I said once that, "Your mother said this and this." Then he said, "Okay." That's it, that's it. He 01:08:00didn't say anything you know? Yeah, he didn't talkative person anyway you know so.... But my mother-in-law said something like that. "He told me, 'Don't come.'"

Anna Takada: Well, and you brought this up a few times, just the, the concept of the enemy you know, Japanese, and Japanese Americans living in the U.S. Um, when you-- I mean, when you were in Japan, did, was there a similar dynamic there in terms of views and perspectives of Americans? Like did, was, in your experience of being in Japan during the war, were there like similar ideas about the U.S. and-

Yoko Doi: Oh, yeah. We called that American is that... American is... There is that this, we singing song all the time, something like "Ruuzu beruto no beruto 01:09:00ga kirete. Chachiru, chiru, chiru hana ga chiru ". Something like that. It's, we all make fun of that, all those people, you know that loose belt. Loose belt, right? "Beruto" is you know, oh they're belt is broken down so that the pants falling down. You know it's, it looks a shame. And then "cha chiru, chiru, chiru hana ga chiru" hana, flower falling down. And then it's "cha chiru", right? "Chiru, chiru, chiru", it means that the flower falling down. And so, "Cha chiru, chiru, chiru hana ga chiru" mou, that the flower falling down like that, they gonna die. And, you know, that's we are singing about that you know, that enemy... Also, we are thinking about that you know, American is all hairy, and "oh, they're not people". They are more likely kichiku, means is that that you 01:10:00know ogre animal kinda. You know, we calling them something like that you know? So, we are, is that we, that, government tell us that, that's the way that we think you know?

Anna Takada: Did that affect in any way your thoughts or ideas about moving here and marrying an American?

Yoko Doi: Oh, no. Before that one, she told me, or the you know, we had, I had that you know experience with that you know that American soldier when they comes in you know in the mountain when I was living in the countryside you know? And then, all the children is playing around in the yard. And then, the, we hear the some, that you know, horse coming. And then that you know, we hear the horse riding. Then, "What is it? What is it? Oh, American coming." And then, "Yoko, you go. You go see them, hello." Because they stopped at the front of... We are playing at the downstairs. And, because mountains, so another, it's a bit, 01:11:00little bit up there is a street is there you know. There, and that you know, they stopped there. And then that you know, and all other, village people, village children, "Yoko, you go, you go because you coming from that Tokyo. You could speak to them." So I said, "No, not me. And that those animals, can't talk." You know, but anyway, is that they pushing me, so well, I just went up and then that you know, "Hello." No hello, "Konnichiwa" That I said you know. And then that you know, they're giving us chewing gum and chocolate! Oh my goodness, that chocolate, was so good! Tastes good! And then that the next time when we hear the "pak, pak, pak"(sounds of the horses) the you know horse coming, everybody gonna go "Wah!" "Chocolate!" So you know, in the beginning, 01:12:00the, they are scared because it's that government telling us that you know, "If you see the American, run away. They going to that, rape you. They gonna, that you know, they are animals!" You know, that, that kind of things, you, you know, so it's scared. But oh my goodness, that is the one experience, I had a good experience with American. You know, and then that you know, is that, married that Amer--. That, my, I, I didn't have too much, I am not too much that you know, who's who, what country. I didn't have too much of that, what they call the things, that the differen-, difference?

Speaker 1: Prejudice?

Yoko Doi: No. I didn't have too much prejudi- prejudice because I was prejudiced. I was that, you know? Because from Tokyo to, went to the countryside, I had a hard time there that you know. "Oh, Tokyo people. You Tokyo 01:13:00people." Because it's that the countryside, Tokyo people is stuck up, and then these kind of things you know? And, that, ebatteru and kind of, they're talking about you. So I had that kind of prejudiced kind of things. It's, same Japanese but the things. So I didn't have that you know. So I didn't too much that you know problem, but I know my uncle, uncle, auntie got the problem. "Oh", when that, we, taking to the Mikio to that you know, that, "Oh, he's not blue eye." (laughs) I said, "He is Japanese!" But they thought he's, he got that you know, that he came from America and blue eye and then that you know the hair is you know... So, but everybody okay, yeah. Yeah, I didn't have that too much problem you know. Only things is, I am out from Japan and all my friend is in Japan you 01:14:00know? That is you know, the, the things.

Anna Takada: When, when you heard about what happened to Japanese Americans in the U.S. during the war, what were your reactions to, to learning about their wartime experience?

Yoko Doi: Um, one t- oh, yeah. It's that you know, is that government had that you know 20,000, they paid it. Remember? It's at that time--

Anna Takada: Redress.

Yoko Doi: Yeah. Just before that one, is, they are talking about the things. It happened to have that you know, all the auntie and the uncle is came to our house to that have the dinner. Mikio told me, "Yoko, shut up. Don't open your mouth. Cannot open any mouth in, in this meeting." You know, the, no- not meeting, the dinner, if they start talking you know? I said, "Okay, I'm not going to say anything." (laughs) Yeah. It's that, you know... Is, to me, is that 01:15:00you know that 20000 is 20000. It's okay, you know I, that doesn't matter. You know, but that you know, most likely is that, they, they, they start talking is that 20000 is not enough. And then that you know, 20000 give us that too late. Because, that is, I agree, too late that government give the... Because the people who really, really fight people, and then that you know all the son is die, died in, in the war, and that the parents, the, they're old, and then that you know they didn't have that nobody to support. And those people had no money, and then that you know, they are suffering to die. That I agree, is government, if they going to give that 20000, little bit more before that one you know. And then that, but it's that you know, more likely is officially government say, you 01:16:00know, "I am so sorry. We did wrong things." And more publicly, or you should put it in that you know history book, to you know, government did something like that. I thought that that is more important than the 20000. That I, I want to say it, but I didn't say it. Yeah so you know is that, I know is my husband knows I am, you know is, my view is that you know is... Okay, anyway, it's a war. And in any place, war is suffering people is there, a lot of people. Mostly children, is suffer a lot. You know, so that's my base. You know, so 20000 and this kind of things you know, I, it's okay. It's that you know, government did it, you know, things like that you know. But, but to that you know, most likely 01:17:00when I heard that you know 442 more likely concentration camp, you know is that the 442, how they did it, and 100 battalion. That's more likely. When I heard the news, I mean that story, I am crying. I am-- They did a really, really good job. That's, I want to talk about it you know? Yeah... So but before that one, can I go to that you know, atomic bomb? Go back to the atomic bomb?

Anna Takada: Sure. Yeah. And we can wrap up with some of the, the last stories that you want to be sure to, to record?

Yoko Doi: Do 442, right?

Anna Takada: Yeah.

Speaker 1: We're gettin' late on time, so make the stories a little shorter.

Yoko Doi: A little shorter? Okay. That, that, grand- that, my grandpa, Yuji-san you know is the get out from the Mexico they went back to the... And he is really the m-man. And then that, he, in the village he was the only... Most 01:18:00likely everybody went to the w-war, you know young people, so nobody else is there. And then that you know the atomic bomb dropped is that, August 2nd, in Hiroshima, I think, in eight o'clock in the morning. So it means is that everybody went to the work. And, some people is that you know, not some people, most of the people, village people, his village is that you know most likely from our house is more likely is the Rogers Park to that you know downtown. That, that much that you know away from that you know that their house. And when atomic bomb was dropped, that grandpa's house is that you know, the, the glass was broken "crrrrr". And "Oh, this is something, something funny. And something happen." And everybody is so scared. And nobody came home. So in the mo- next morning. And everybody come to the grandpa. "Grandpa pleas--" no not grandpa. 01:19:00"Yuji-san, please go to that you know..." So he didn't have that actually you know when the pika don. That, right? He never got it. But is that atomic that you know, atomic things is still ...

Anna Takada: Radiation.

Yoko Doi: Ah, radiation, still there. So you know, he went in there. You know, that's why that you know he is with the lung cancer, he died. But that, when he, he, he told me, "I don't know why, but I have to take this." That you know, usually it's the cow or a horse carry- you know, holding the... What they call that in the hold... niguruma.

Speaker 1: Like a wagon.

Yoko Doi: Wagon, kind of. Big wagon, like you know. And he, he said he didn't know why he need that one, but he took that one with... And then that long time, long distance. He walked with that one to an inn. And then he said that you 01:20:00know, he said, "When I went into that town--" he said he saw the hell. He saw the hell. Oh, it's... "War is bad." That's he thought. Because it's you know August, so hot. You know, Hiroshima is hot, hot. And then that you know everybody burned. And then, everybody wear the short, short right? And then that you know, the skin, falling down from here, and then that because of the nail, the skin is falling down, dropping like this. And then everybody wants the water. And you know, that the people who didn't die, they, they, konishite, "Water. Water." They, he, they could, somebody move, they could tell somebody move, I don't, "Water. Water." And that hand, you know hanging down? He said, 01:21:00"Oh, my goodness. I could still, I could see it." And then that's really, really sad. And that's grandpa actually look at it. But that you know museum is there. Is that, when I married, is that, married, and then three years later, my husband send me, send me to that Japan to you know to look at that mother. She was three years old. And then that, we went to see that grandpa, grandma, too you know and-- No, grandma. Grandpa already died. So grandma. And then that, his that great-grandma. So we went to see that you know that-- And the uncle was there. So the uncle took us to that you know museum. And then that you know, just to look at the museum, and this. Because he's only three years old. And you know she's... And then, last year-- oh no 2014, we wen-- we went again to the Japan you know, and then we, we visited Hiroshima you know? Then, and I took her 01:22:00to that you know, because I, I thought that he didn't remember any-- she didn't remember anything. So you know she took the library... I mean that, the museum you know? And the entrance, we, I tried to get in, and she just stood. You know? She just freezed. And she said, "Mom, are you going to there?" I said, "Yeah. Don't you want to see it, and how that you know the atomic bomb affect it?" She said, "Well, I don't know." And I said, "What do you mean, I don't know?" And she said she feels something inside, is not good place to go in to see. And all that picture, she said she don't like to see. And, and when I walk up, upstairs you know... And at the time, was that some places that closed, though huh?

Speaker 1: Mhmm.

Yoko Doi: So we didn't see everything. But that, when I go, goes up the stairway, and then there, and the big picture is-- "Yeah, this picture I 01:23:00remember ma. I remember." Three years old and she went... So that much is affecting the people to see this kinda... You know? And that picture is really good picture. All the, I mean that you know drawing nice. And you know, all the other things, and the children's you know wearing, that the, the water. We always carrying the water. You know, that water. And the little that metal, that you know, the bottle, that cracking, and you know, all those one is in the museum. And then he, she say, "I don't want to see. I don't want see." So we cut off the day, cut off the time, and we get out from there. She, she, that much is three years old, she affected. That much is that you know, war and Hiroshima no the atomic bomb is bad. You know, and my uncle, talking about a uncle, uncle is that, she is saying, "Another one minute if I go faster, and I am that you know 01:24:00really is that atomic bomb, that, that pika was in me." But he was at Hiroshima Station. He goes, he we- he worked at you know that, Hiroshima City that you know? And when that pika don happened, he, he was still inside the station, so he didn't have that directly, he didn't got the things. So people who had this kind of you know the thing, the burn, and this kind of things, is directly got hit, the you know, the things, and then that you know the burning. And so it's really actually the meat you could... Oh yeah, and then grandpa said, "Meat, meat is there, and then that there is already that worm." Worm? Worm? You know the fly had that-

Speaker 1: Oh, like um...

Anna Takada: Like maggots?

Speaker 1: Yes, yes.

Yoko Doi: Yeah, yeah. It's, it's already moving around here. You know, that kind of things you know? And, but is that, still my uncle had that you know some affected, to that you know that radiation. So good story is... Good story, it's a bad story. But anyway. He had appendix. And the that you know oh, doctor say... It's countryside, so you know that, only one, one doctor. And then that this doctor say, "Oh yeah, appendix is not that much bad. I have to go see this that you know, emergency. So okay, tonight you gonna stay home, and then that you know, tomorrow morning you come." And tomorrow morning his, the appendix is busted out. Then the doctor didn't know what's going on. And, because he said it's nothing! And then that you know so he send him to that you know that big that university that hospital. And then they, they say because of the atomic, the radiation is that those things is that you know progress fast. And that he 01:26:00busted out. And about two, three months, I think, he had a problem with it. But he, he did, at the time, they thought in Hiroshima, they never have that green plant, and they never have that good children, everybody gonna born is that you know some kind that you know affecting radiation you know. Oh, no. But that you know good things is that, I really thankful, is not too many people affected with radiation. He has about five or six that, three boys and two girls. No, two girl-- three girls, two boys. The five children, everybody so, you know healthy, and they got a good job, and they still living there you know. So, it's then the 01:27:00next following year is that the green came in. And oh that time was that so, "Green came in! Buds come into that tree!" All that you know Japan is so much that you know happy about it you know? That "Hiroshima is alive! Hiroshima is alive!" You know, yeah, that's the kind of things is that you know sad story is that atomic bomb. So now going to the 442.

Speaker 1: Okay. And you have to be fast, mom. Yeah?

Yoko Doi: Okay, 442 is that you know is that, two, Doi family had two 442. It's, it, and one is that he died last year. He was 91, he died. It, he was actually, he was that you know the, that France? France. And he, they rescued that you know Texas one. He was in there. And then that you know I am so you know nois-- nosy. I'm not nosy, but I wanted to hear all this story. I wanted to you know, 01:28:00what happening and that they saw. Whenever I meet this uncle, "How was that in the war? How was this?" He never, ever talk about the war. And then that you know he didn't say anything. But he died last year, right? The year before, two years before, at Las Vegas. We meet at Las Vegas all the time, because it's that the 442 reunion had at Las Vegas, so you know whenever we going to see that you know, when we go Las Vegas we could see the uncle. And then at the Doi family reunion it's there you know. And then that you know it's that the buffet time, and the reunion, and the, you know, th-this uncle started talking. And everybody, "What is he saying? What is, what is he talking about?" He talking about that you know, this experience. And, "What he saying?" And everybody so quiet and listening. And then he said, happen to have, I'm sitting down there, 01:29:00he's sitting in the corner, I'm sitting down here, my husband is here, so I could hear everything, what is he saying. And he said, "I am so sh-coward. I was coward. That's why I live. Everybody died. I, I live right now. And I am so shamed living right now." That he said. That I wanted to share. All the people there cannot say anything. "Oh, you are not shamed. You are not the coward." That is so easy to say! How much he suffered. Was that the, and my friend, his best friend among that you know, that, that group, that battalion. He guard that friend that best friend he guard, he died next to him. "Yoko-san, I didn't know 01:30:00what to say to him. He, that he needed..." But, the war is there, fight right? So he cannot take care. So he put the all the, you know that the blanket and everything, and he wrap it up, and he took the dog tag out, because I don't want that you know the enemy to take his body, and enemy to know he is who is he. So he took that dog tag, and then he went to the fight you know? "But I didn't fight. I maybe I will hiding with that you know ditch. That's why that I didn't die. That's why I'm telling, telling you guys I am coward. I am shamed to live right now. If it's really I'm fight, I died, like my you know friend." Oh my goodness. I didn't know what to say, uncle, is that all his life, you know 20 01:31:00something he was in that fighting, 90, 80 something you know before he died, couple years before, how many years he was living like that? But he, he said that you know after the war, the that fight finish, and then coming back, and he had that you know... They have that service every Sunday, he said. And happened to have that this person he knows, so he went to service, and that is Christian, Christian (bokushi-san) pastor, he was that you know, Reverend is that you know. So he had it. And then that you know, and then that, he had a service there with him. And he, he talking to him some-something like that his feeling you know? Then he came to the Chicago, because we are in the Chicag-, that you know that, Isamu-san, and all the family is in Chicago, so he came back to the Chicago. And 01:32:00happened to have that pastor was in that, opened a church in Chicago, so he attending the church, and that helped me, but that you know I, I just cannot think I am really coward, and I am really you know shamed to live right now. That's, you know. I- But is that, those, and 100 battalion, how they started 100 battalion. Right? They want to show that Japanese is really, that you know, we are honored Americans. That's, they are started that you know that Inoue-san and all those right? 100 battalion. And it followed that 442, right? So I, I worked at some that you know lawyer's office and then that, Americ-- Japanese lawyer came, and I worked to him you know. And this Japanese lawyer is a really good 01:33:00lawyer. And then that, he say, you know Doi-san, is that you know is that, "We could live here. As, a-- You know, I could live here um, makenaide, with all other, you know that other American lawyer. I could fight with them, that you know together. I, I, I, I'm, I didn't lose. I am really you know fighting with this American lawyers you know? Because of that, it's that all those Nisei people, how they fight. Japanese is that really loyal. It's good, you know, that spirit." That, you know he said it. "That's why we could do the business here. In Japa-- In Japanese is that more, is, in a way, it's Japanese people respecting, respected from that American people, I think you know. That's 01:34:00because of them. That's you know 100 battalion, 442, all those people." He said, "Doi-san, we cannot forget them. We cannot forget them." Then, I read, I saw that Grandpa had the interview, and Grandpa said... Grandpa didn't go to that you know oversea, but he went to the Florida to training. You know?

Speaker 1: The U.S. army.

Yoko Doi: Yeah. So he is that volunteer to go there. So he a spirit, too. You know so that's why he said it. That you know, interviewer asking, that you know, "What else you wanted to say to your children?" And he said, "Honor the America. We are live in America, so love the America." That's you know his grandpa, you know my husband's father said. When I heard that one, I got, "Ohhh!" I'm so 01:35:00happy you know that the Doi family is the two, 442, you know and then that you know that Grandpa's those spirit is that have to be that, love the America, honor the America, and then that you know we applaud to American, that we should keep that you know thinking about it. You know, and all of those 442 is the, the uncle. Oh, I'm so sad for the, when uncle say something like that. Yeah, I can, we can't say anything. We cannot comfort him or nothing you know? Yeah, so that's my ending. I wanted to end this, the 442, and it's really, really and I am proud Doi family to serve that you know, two people serve that 442. And the second one is still he's living in Georgia, 92 years old. And, but he, he was that released, released that battalion of this battalion, it you know that 01:36:00fighting with that you know, but he fight with that Italy, the, you know the mountaintop that you know Germany was-

Speaker 1: Monte Cassino.

Yoko Doi: Huh?

Speaker 1: Monte Cassino.

Yoko Doi: Okay. There is he fight with there. You know, yeah. So the-- he had another story there is that you know how he fight you know that's you know. But yeah, he talkative person, so his talking is, that you know "Okay, okay. I could you know that listen." You know? His, his name is Mike Doi, is that I, I am so sad. That, how many people live? Right? And, how many people coming back from the fight? How many people? I bet a lot of people thinking like that, shame, living the shame, you know all the friend died or something like that you know?

Anna Takada: Well, thank you so much for, for sharing all of that.

Yoko Doi: I got the paper.

Anna Takada: Before we wrap up, I actually do want to pose the same question to you that was asked in that video that you're talking about. When you, when you think about your family, your children, maybe grandchildren, and generations to come, what is your hope for them? Or what, what would you like to, to pass along to-

Yoko Doi: You know what, Anna? If you're asking me something like that, I am Christian, okay? So you know all the family, children, carry that you know Christian that faith. And actually in Bible, Roman 5, that they saying is that you honor that you know your country. So whatever the country is that you know made a you know law, you have to follow that, country is America. So you know is that, Bible say is that really what Grandpa say you know? It's a good things you 01:38:00know so... Anyway, if you asking me that question like that, I, I know I, I have to ask that my children to that you know faith have that Jesus Christ as the lord. That's important for me.

Anna Takada: Thank you so much, again, for coming in and speaking with me.

Yoko Doi: Okay. (smiles)