<Begin Segment 19>

TI: So you started in 1953, I want to back up a little bit more to the time you met your wife. Because I think you, shortly after you came back to Seattle, you met your wife. So can you describe how you met your wife?

TO: Well, our neighbor, one of the neighbors up in the Renton Highlands, there was quite a few Japanese families, and Art Susumi's family was one of 'em. And Art and I were both veterans and wondering what we were going to do with our life. And we got pretty close, and he was working as a night clerk at the hotel, what they called the Glen Hotel in downtown Seattle, and he was working for the Akagi family and they had three, three daughters. And so Art says, "Well, let's have a double date with the girls." I said, "Okay," so that's how, that's how I first met my wife. And I think shortly after that, Art, well, I'm the only the one that had a car at that time, says, "Let's go to Mt. Rainier, let's take the girls up to Mt. Rainier and we'll have them make the lunch." And so that kind of did it for me, I said, "Well, I gotta marry that gal." [Laughs]

TI: Well, so what were some of the impressions or characteristics of your wife that attracted you to her?

TO: Well, she was a good-looking girl, pretty. She kind of reminded me of my sister in some ways or other. And I don't know exactly what it was, but something... and I think those were the two things. I don't know, there wasn't... I never did figure out what really attracted me, I guess, what they say, love is kind of an interesting thing. I just fell in love with her, I guess.

<End Segment 19> - Copyright © 2009 Densho. All Rights Reserved.