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TI: So today is Wednesday, November 7, 2007, we're at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas. And we're here attending -- today's the second day -- of the 2007 Minidoka Reunion. And this morning I have Mr. Suzuki. Other people in the room, the videographer is, is Dana Hoshide, and then I'm the interviewer, Tom Ikeda. So, so let's start with the first question, can you tell me when you were born, the full name given to you?

JS: Oh, yes. I was born on October the 17th, 1923. And of course, my parents were immigrants from Japan.

TI: Before you go there, but what was, what was the name, the full name given to you?

JS: Oh, my name was Teruyuki. That's spelled T-E-R... Teru, Y-U --- U-Y-U-K-I.

TI: Okay.

JS: Suzuki.

TI: Okay, and then where were you born?

JS: Born in Seattle.

TI: And do you remember, was it at a hospital, or was it...

JS: No, in those days, we were born at home, basically, with a midwife's assistance.

TI: By any chance, do you know who the midwife was?

JS: Let's see. It may come to me, but the name escapes me at the moment.

TI: Okay, no, that's fine. So let's go to your parents, and let's start with your, your father.

JS: Yes.

TI: Why don't you tell me his name and where he came from.

JS: Well, his name was, first name was Teruharu Suzuki, of course, and he was born in a, what I recall as Tochigi-ken. I don't know the exact spelling of that, but... and my mother was born in Kochi-ken, so they were from two separate kens in Japan.

TI: Boy, see, I'm not familiar with these locations. Do you know whereabouts in Japan?

JS: Well, Tochigi-ken is north of Tokyo, and I don't believe it's very far north. But it's a country town, a village.

TI: Okay, good. And then Kochi-ken?

JS: Kochi-ken is in the south.

TI: And how far south? What would be a nearby city or...

JS: Let's see. I really don't know. We visited that several years ago, but I don't recall how far south it was. We did travel by train to get there.

<End Segment 1> - Copyright © 2007 Densho. All Rights Reserved.