E16, Satoe Takahashi ‘94, Kimiko Tanaka, Grandmother, 1921, Tōkyō
I interviewed my maternal grandmother, who is 70 years old, about her experiences during World War II.
Q: How old were you when the war broke out?
A: I was 20 years old in 1941 (Shōwa 16).
Q: What were you doing then?
A: I was focusing on hanayome shugyō (preparation for marriage). I learned tea ceremony, flower arrangement, calligraphy, cooking, and koto [a Japanese stringed musical instrument].
Q: Where did you live, and what was it like?
A: Before the war, I lived in Yotsuya in Tōkyō. When the war started, we moved further west to Senkawa and lived in a small house with my father and mother. We had to move because Yotsuya was too dangerous to live in. As a matter of fact, the house in Yotsuya was bombed and burned down on May 25, 1945.
Q: What did you do about food?
A: Food was the biggest problem during the war. Since we had scarcely any rice, we ate potatoes and corn powder. Because my family was very rich, selling nails and other metal tools, we traded nails for food in a barter system (butsu-butsu-kōkan). I was able to buy food through special routes, so I was able to eat beef once or twice. Compared to other families, we had more food because we had money. Oh, and I also grew tomatoes in the garden.
Q: How about clothing?
A: I had a lot of clothes before the war, and I kept them in storage, although it was illegal. I repaired many things to wear, such as redesigning my school uniform into ordinary clothing.
Q: What were you doing during the war?
A: I went to work every day. I worked at a laboratory where scientists did research on wood. I worked there for about one year and eight months. My salary was 40 yen per month. With that money, sometimes I bought candy and a jar of honey, because I was desperate to eat sweets.
Q: What was most frightening about the war?
A: I was afraid of the bombs. Whenever a bomber plane flew overhead, the siren rang. Because we had a large safe in the basement, I told my parents to hide there, without closing the door, so that at least they would be safe from falling objects. Then I went up on the roof as a lookout, because I had to pour water on places where fires started when the bombs fell nearby.
Q: Weren’t you afraid of sitting on the roof by yourself?
A: Not really. The sight of many planes flying overhead was so beautiful. It was like watching a movie.
Q: What was the saddest part of the war?
A: I was very sad when my cousin and my brother’s friend died, or anyone else that I knew.
Q: Did you think that Japan would lose the war?
A: At school I was taught, forcefully, that Japan would win. But looking at the conditions, I knew that Japan was losing. However, I thought that the Japanese would continue fighting until the last person was killed. I never thought that I would hear the Emperor’s voice. I also never thought that I would be killed in this war.
Q: What did you do after the war?
A: As soon as your grandfather came back from the battlefield, I had an omiai (formal meeting) with him, and soon our families arranged our marriage. At that time, since so many men were killed or were still on the battlefields, it was said that there were a trunkful of women for each man.
Q: How did you change after the war?
A: Because of the experiences during the war, I began not to waste anything, especially rice and other food. I can’t bear to waste even a little bit of food, even now. I try to take care of things, to make them last as long as possible.
Since this was the first time that I ever spoke with my grandmother seriously about the war, it was a great education for me. I learned a lot about my grandmother and my other ancestors. She was lucky, since she didn’t get injured. The fact that her family was rich helped her to survive. It was sad that my grandfather had already passed away before I had a chance to ask him about his experience. I enjoyed interviewing my grandmother, and I thank her for her generosity.