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MA: Today is May 13, 2008. And I'm here with Nancy Miyagishima. We're in the Marriott Residence Hotel in Denver, Colorado. I'm Megan Asaka, and camera person today is Dana Hoshide. So Nancy, thanks so much for coming here to do an interview with us.

NM: You're quite welcome.

MA: I really appreciate it. So I'm going to start with just some basic questions. When were you born?

NM: September 17, 1930.

MA: Okay. And where were you born?

NM: Sacramento, California.

MA: And were you born in the city, or like surrounding areas?

NM: Well, we lived in a surrounding area, but we went to the city. It was like a midwife place.

MA: Oh, when you were born you went into the city.

NM: Yeah. We did off and on live in the city, too, but we moved around so much.

MA: And what was the name given to you at birth?

NM: Yumiko Tomita.

MA: And how did you get the name Nancy?

NM: Well, when I started school, my mother thought I should have an English name. So she named me Violet, but changed it eventually to Nancy. [Laughs]

MA: Did you come up with Nancy then?

NM: No, she just changed it.

MA: Oh, your mother did.

NM: I think violet was her favorite flower. And then, Nancy was her favorite actress or...

MA: So I wanted to talk a little bit about your family background. And we can start with your mother's side. Your mother was actually born in the U.S. Is that right?

NM: Yes.

<End Segment 1> - Copyright © 2008 Densho. All Rights Reserved.