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MA: Okay. So today is Tuesday, July 7, 2009, and Densho is here in Torrance, California. My name is Megan Asaka and I will be interviewing Grace Kimura today, and Dana Hoshide will be the cameraperson. So Grace, thank you so much for coming all this way to do this interview. We really appreciate it.

GK: You're very welcome, I'm happy to be here.

MA: Good. So I just wanted to start with a few basic questions. Where were you born?

GK: I was born in Los Angeles.

MA: And what area of Los Angeles was that?

GK: I'm not really sure. It was not in Boyle Heights because we moved there later. So I'm not sure... I think near the Gardena area.

MA: Okay. And when were you born?

GK: 1925.

MA: And what was your name at birth? What was the name your parents gave you?

GK: Just Grace Watanabe. I did not have a Japanese middle name.

MA: Okay. And how many children were in your family? How many siblings did you have?

GK: Well, there were three of us daughters.

MA: Three daughters.

GK: And I was the oldest.

MA: What are your sisters' names?

GK: The sister right under me is Jessie, and the youngest is Ruth. Do you want their last names, too?

MA: Oh, no, that's okay. First names is great.

<End Segment 1> - Copyright ©2009 Densho. All Rights Reserved.