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Show SF You were young when you left Japan, you were 19, did you ••••• If wasn't very popular in Japan then it wasn't wide-spread, so is Shigin an art that can trace itself back to hundred and hundred of years? YK History of Shigin goes back to about 500 years. During that time it was very few and it became popular during Meiji Era. SF: Then it became popular in the United States after the second World War? YK Yes Shigin started about 1950. This Shigin, it wasn't around until the camp was established and lots of people took up shigin during the war. It started in camps, all Japanese. After camp all over United States it became popular. In California there are Shigin groups in almost every city and towns. SF Did you start your shigin in camp? YK No, I was a student then. I just knew a couple of 'em. SF So you were a student, a shigin student? YK No, there is no course in school for shigin. I started shigin in Ogden. SF So one day you woke up and you said, "I'm past forty-five, I'm fifty now, I'm going to start shigin. Is that how it happened? YK That's right. SF What did you do then? YK There were about 40 men (group) in Ogden. SF Did they already have the group before you came? YK Yes, I, Rev. Masuoka-san, Dr. Yoshitaba, dentist, started the group, three of us. There was Hattori, too. SF How did you know what to do? YK There was a teacher in camp from Seattle (after the war), and his name was Takao. It was called -Sosei Kai; he was the headmaster. Soseikai means, "to be friendly, faithful group". SF What did he tell you that you had to do? If you were going to teach me, what would you tell me to do? Can you be a woman? YK Yes. I learned in Ogden from Mr. Takao. I have about 20 in my group in Salt La~ ~ |
