Speaker 1: When you think of Issei. What do you think?
Speaker 2: Well, I think of the first generation Japanese that immigrated here
to this country. Including people like my parents.Speaker 3: Pioneers.
Speaker 4: I think about my parents and my in-laws, I guess. And that their life
is coming to an end.Speaker 5: Mostly, you know they're just, you just think of them as old Japanese
and... Like mostly, I just think of my grandmother when you know, you talk about Isseis because she's the only Issei I really come in contact with.Speaker 6: Good to, good to kids people. Hardworking people.
Speaker 7: In my younger days, tended to think that, were a lot different from
00:01:00us. Therefore, you know, there was quite a lack of communication between Issei and myself. But lately I've began to appreciate them more. And I'm sorry that I didn't get a chance to communicate with them more deeply.Speaker 8: People who have gone through so much that I want to care for them. I
see an Issei on the street and I feel like embracing them, and I feel like... I say, I always say hello, and I feel very close to them.Speaker 9: I see that they're really humble and reserved, and that they really
kind of get pushed around, and now but like my generation we're starting to come out of it. But I see a great bunch of people.Speaker 8: I don't want them to be in homes. I wanted to care for them at home.
Speaker 10: They were put in the relocation camps during the war. And somehow
they came out of that with no bitter feelings. And I feel no matter what old Japanese person I see, I can go up to them and talk with them. And they'll 00:02:00appreciate it. Or if they need a ride, I, you'd do anything for them when I see them. I feel some kind of connection with them.Speaker 11: I sort of feel like... I'm like toward my grandmother. Compassion or
love, you know?Speaker 6: Oh, these are people who care about me.
Speaker 1: Right.
Speaker 6: Who work hard for me. Who will do everything in their power to give
me a better life.Speaker 12: Well, I don't feel too sorry about them because they already served,
served their life and they did, and they did a good job. I think for being unable to speak English.Speaker 13: It's hard to communicate with them.
Speaker 1: How about you?
Speaker 14: Well, I guess you know, Isseis are, I don't know. I don't really
understand their culture as much.Speaker 4: Not to ignore them because that's a trend with older people. You know
you feel that you don't have anything to say or a lot of times you feel that they really don't understand. But they do understand, they do have feelings and 00:03:00I want to make them, you know, feel as comfortable as possible and happy, I guess.Speaker 5: Well, I just think the main thing is you know like if, if they want
to help you know you just, you know respond in a receptive manner. You know, and if they say, are you hungry? You know I always say, "Okay, I'm hungry." So then they'll cook for you or something and you know, it makes them feel good. And you know, even though you're not hungry, you're making 'em feel good. And you just do what... If they want to help you, just let them help you. That's the thing. I, I think that's the main thing 'cause they're, they're not going to be around that much longer. So just make it easier for 'em.Speaker 6: All right. Take the pressure of, of finances off of their backs.
Speaker 14: I try to speak Japanese more.
Speaker 13: I try to learn Japanese.
Speaker 2: Well, I would think now in terms here. Especially in Chicago and in
other centers where there's large, fairly large groups of Japanese. I think we have to think in terms of housing for them. This is a big problem. And that they 00:04:00have no place to go after they-- Say that they're alone for example. There are many Issei that are alone.Speaker 1: Right.
Speaker 2: Well, they have no place to go. And language is a problem for them too.
Speaker 1: Right.
Speaker 2: And I think housing particularly is one of the thing. Also, these
people are used to working all the time. They have to have some way to find something to fulfill this work that they've been so long doing. And if they can find recreation. Fine. But I think this has to be organized for them.Speaker 12: Maybe open a, a social spot so, so they could hang around, hang out
and play Japanese games or Go.Speaker 8: I think, now we're living in a very modern, fast world. Now I think
we should have Japanese TV.Speaker 9: Kind of just help them out around the garden because that's what I
think they like a lot. You know, planting things and watching things grow.Speaker 4: Well. I really think that the Isseis have a little different
attitudes than the Niseis. I think they really know how to enjoy themselves you 00:05:00know, and, and not worry too much about society. I noticed like, when they have parties and things they really let themselves go and they sing even if they're out of tune. And, and you know I really envy them for being able to do this.Speaker 1: What do you feel when you think about dying?
Speaker 12: You mean for the Isseis or for me?
Speaker 1: Either.
Speaker 12: Oh, I don't feel nothing. Dying is the things that come natural and
it does not hurt. Unless you is dying of sickness then you might have pain. But if you're going to die natural. Your spirit just goes out and you don't feel... There's no pain. It's nothing, nothing to worry about.Speaker 15: I don't really know.
Speaker 13: I don't know, it's sort of like a scary feeling.
Speaker 16: But I think it's just a natural part of life. And I think, I think
00:06:00that there's nothing to fear about it. I think the Isseis feel that way also.Speaker 8: I don't know if that's an attitude of the Isseis. I think they accept
life as it is. When you become old and then your time is here and I think they accept it graciously. I don't know if I can, maybe as I get old, maybe I can, I don't want to. Now, I just think, I don't want to think of it because I enjoy life so much. I just can't think about it.Speaker 10: They, they struggled hard. Our parents struggled hard. And now we
have it easy. And I think when I die, I won't feel like I've missed anything.Speaker 17: Well, I don't think about it really. You know, I just more or less
live day to day I mean.Speaker 7: I think the worst part of dying is the situation, you leave people
who, you know, your loved ones behind. I worry more about that than about dying itself.Speaker 2: Unfortunately for a lot of the Issei some of them died I'm afraid too
00:07:00young not to partake of the good things that came a little later after that struggle. But that took place in the early years of their history.