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Interviews

(1900-2005) Issei businessman
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Buying violin (Japanese)

(Japanese) In Japan, when I was 18, in Osaka, out of my 24-yen-a-month salary, I put out a whole 20 yen and bought it. On the boat, I would play it by myself—kee-ko, kee-ko. When I was just messing around, people would come around and clap. I would be playing, kee-ko, kee-ko. Gradually, I became able to play it. 

[Playing violine]

music violins

Date: October 14 & 17, 2004

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Eriko Yamamoto

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum.

Interviewee Bio

Kazuo Funai, 104-year-old pioneer Issei from Wakayama Prefecture in Japan, owned and operated a market on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. In 1941, prior to the outbreak of World War II, Mr. Funai had made arrangements to move to Tokyo to set up a business enterprise. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was unable to travel to Japan and was financially ruined. In addition, he and his family were incarcerated in an American concentration camp. He survived these obstacles to later start several successful businesses.

Mr. Funai passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2005 at the age of 105. (August 16, 2005)

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