Questions by Mr. Box:

Q. What is your name?

A. James Sakamoto.

Q. Where do you live?

A. 1609 Yesler Way.

Q. You were born in the United States?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Where were you born?

A. In Seattle, Washington.

Q. Right here?

A. Yes.

Q. Are you full of Seattle spirits?

A. You bet.

Q. You only refer to one kind. How old are you?

A. Seventeen. I was born in 1903; March 22d.Q. You go to school here?

A. Oh, yes.

Q. In the high school?

A. The Franklin High.

Q. About how many boys are there here in and about Seattle that were born here, along about your age, from three or four years younger to two or three years older?

A. Well, I only know of the fellows that I associate with. I can’t tell you the fellows that I don’t know about.

Q. Do you know a number?

A. I don’t know many of them.

Q. A half a dozen?

Q. How many in your high school are Japanese boys?

A. I think I am the only one.

Q. Are there many young ladies? Do you know this young lady that just testified?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Are there many such nice looking girls as she is in Seattle?

A. You better ask them.

Q. You get along all right in school?

A. Oh, yes, sir.

Q. You don’t have any trouble with your classes, and boys?

A. I have lots of fun.

Q. You have a good time?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Did you attend the Japanese Language School?

A. Yes, sir; eight years.

Q. What did they teach you there?

A. Taught me Japanese.Q. The Japanese language?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Did they teach you Japanese history?

A. I wasn’t able to learn very quick.

Q. You were not very quick to learn, but they did that, teach the history of Japan?

A. They tried to.

Q. Didn’t they succeed with a boy as bright as you are, going to high school?

A. They were successful, but I did not succeed. See?

Q. You read the Japanese language now?

A. I can’t read it; it is too hard.

Q. You really can’t read any?

A. There are three different kinds of words and letters. I can read the easiest.

Q. In other words, you have adopted the road of least resistance with the Japanese language?

A. Sure.

Q. You talk Japanese with your parents?

A. In a simple, broken language.

Q. Do they talk English?

A. They can’t talk English. They have been here quite long, but they have never had a chance to talk English.

Q. Let me ask you this; do you get along very well with them?

A. In my home?

Q. Yes.

A. Sure. They are my father and mother.

Q. (Mr. Siegel.) And you say that you don’t understand the Japanese language sufficiently well to carry on a conversation with them?

A. I understand them, but that is about all.Q. How do they arrange to get along with you, if you can’t speak the language orally?

A. They just about guess what I am trying to tell them.

Q. In other words, you are always asking for money. Is that the principal idea?

A. May be, not any more, but I used to.

Q. When they talk to you, you understand them all right?

A. Oh, yes; I understand them.

Q. (Mr. Raker.) Would you tell us why, you haven’t, or didn’t, and haven’t given more attention and worked harder to become familiar with the Japanese language and history?

A. That is a hard question to ask me just now.

Q. I know it is, but I think you know, my boy; tell us in your own language, in your own way?

A. Well, suppose we go to school five hours a day, the American school. We attend Japanese school for two hours; that is overwork two hours, you see, and we don’t get paid for over time.

Q. I guess you are about pretty near right, didn’t I? You are the kind of a fellow that is going to be thinking a little about money as you grow up, and you are going to make it in Seattle.

A. I haven’t got a business.

Q. (Mr. Raker.) What I was asking that question for, I am going to put it direct. I want you to give me your good frank answer, which I know you will. Is it your determination when you get a little older, and begin to think over the situation, that you want to become familiar with the English language and understand the American ways rather than to devote your time to Japanese ways and language?A. Well, I want to be an American more than a Japanese. I was born here.

Q. That is one of the reasons you haven’t devoted your time to the Japanese language. How old were you when you started?

A. I started the same year when I went to Grammar School.

Q. That was when?

A. Five years old. Five years old I started to kindergarten, and at six I started to Grammar School.

Q. So when you started to kindergarten did you start in the Japanese School?

A. No, when I was six.

Q. And you did that from the time you were six until you were fourteen?

A. I think that is right, fourteen.

Q. How old are you now?

A. Seventeen.

Q. You have to renounce the Japanese Emperor before you are seventeen?

A. I don’t know a thing about it.

Q. You know, don’t you, that you are claimed as a citizen by Japan, and also by the United States.

A. I don’t care. I was born here.

Q. Is it your intention to remain an American citizen or be a Japanese citizen?

A. Why shouldn’t I remain an American? I was born here. Why should I go back there? This is my home here.

Q. You intend to remain an American citizen?

A. Nobody is going to stop me.

Q. That’s what I want to get at. Do you remember when you were first told that you were a native-born American citizen; do you remember when that was first told you?

A. I don’t know.

Q. How long have you felt the pride that you are a young American citizen? How long have you held that feeling of pride?

A. Since I went to Grammar School.

Q. Has every young Japanese boy here expressed that feeling as you do to us; have you heard them talk about it?

A. They don’t talk about it much. It is mostly their home training. My father and mother don’t care whether I am an American. They would rather have me an American.

Q. And they have encouraged you to be an American?

A. Sure.

Q. And your teachers have?

A. Oh, yes, naturally.

Q. And you like the idea?

A. Sure.

Q. Your father and mother intend to remain here all their lives, do they, as far as you know?

A. Well, I would like to have them go back and see their home once again, but that is about all. I don’t know what I can do.

Q. (Mr. Vaile.) As far as you know, their own intention is to live here, except for a visit home, perhaps, the rest of their lives?

A. Yes, sir.

Q. Suppose you visit Japan. You know, don’t you, that the Japanese Emperor still claims you as his subject? Suppose you are required to render military service to Japan, what would be your position on that subject?

A. It would be a pretty difficult one, but I will get out of it.

Q. Following that, suppose you were required to render military service to the United States, what will be your position?

A. I will get in.

Q. Exactly. We are glad to meet you. Good luck to you.

(Witness Excused.)