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TI: So today is Tuesday, September 22, 2009. We're in Torrance at the Torrance Holiday Inn. Running the camera is Dana Hoshide, we have Tosh Nakano in the room also observing, and then Barbara Takei and Tom Ikeda are the interviewers, and we're here with Shig Miyaki. So Shig, I guess the first question I have is just, can you tell me when and where you were born?

SM: Well, I was born on Terminal Island, which is Los Angeles city, and on November 18, 1923.

TI: And do you know why you were named Shig or Shigeru?

SM: Well, my last name is Miyaki, which is "tree in a shrine." "Shigeru" is "blossom." So the tree blossom or something of that sort. [Laughs]

TI: And so do you know who named you that?

SM: Well, my parents, I mean, I guess my dad.

TI: That's beautiful. And you said you were born on Terminal Island. Do you know, was it at a medical facility?

SM: No, midwife.

TI: And was that pretty common on Terminal Island?

SM: Well, most of the guys were born by midwife. There was no hospital there, you know.

TI: So let me ask about your father. Tell me, first, your father's name, and then where he was, where he was born.

SM: Ryohei Miyaki. R-Y-O-H-E-I. He was born in Japan, and he came over here when he was seventeen. And...

TI: And do you know why he came to the United States?

SM: Well, I guess things were rough over there in Japan. And I guess there was hardly any work, I think, and that's why a lot of the Isseis immigrated to the United States.

TI: And do you know what part of Japan he was from?

SM: Wakayama.

TI: And what was he like? How would you describe him in terms of personality? Was he quiet, was he outgoing?

SM: Well, it's hard to say. Well, I guess he's just like any father, you know. [Laughs]

TI: Well, how about his friends? How would his friends describe him? If he's with his, sort of, buddies, how would he be?

SM: God, I don't know how to describe him. [Laughs]

TI: Okay. So let's talk about your mother now. What was her name and where was she from?

SM: Well, her name was Hamaye. And she was from the same village as my father, and, well, apparently I don't think they knew each other then, but she was a "picture bride."

TI: Okay, so that's how they met, so your father was in the United States.

SM: Yeah, and then...

TI: And then there was an arrangement.

SM: Yeah, arranged through relatives.

TI: And what was, what was her maiden name?

SM: Hamagiwa.

TI: And same question, how would you describe her? What was she like?

SM: [Laughs] I don't know how to describe... you know, I don't know the right words.

TI: And then when your father was in the United States, what kind of work did he do?

SM: Well, at first, I think... I really don't know what he did before he went and came to Terminal Island.

TI: Well, then just describe, at Terminal Island, what did he do?

SM: Well, he was a fisherman.

TI: And did his family, did he have a family history of fishing like in Japan, did any of his family fish?

SM: Well, not... well, small fishing, just village fishing. So it's not...

TI: Good, okay. So he was a fisherman on Terminal Island.

SM: Yeah.

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