<Begin Segment 3>

MN: And what year were you born?

TY: December of 1917.

MN: And where were you born?

TY: I was born in Carson and Avalon.

MN: And who delivered you?

TY: Pardon?

MN: Who delivered you?

TY: I guess my father.

MN: And that's what it says on your birth certificate?

TY: I really didn't, because he, I know that he delivered my brother because I was a little kid, inquisitive little kid, watching what my folks are doing, and he delivered two of the, let's see, I think he delivered three of us, or four of us. Three of us, as I can remember. No, four of us. Yeah. 'Cause I can remember when, when he said, oh, I got to go to the bedroom 'cause Mama's this, that, so I was an inquisitive kid, followed my dad. "There comes the baby. I got a baby boy." [Laughs] I kind of remember that.

MN: So your older sister, was she delivered by a sambasan? Or did your father deliver her also?

TY: I think so. I'm not sure, but I think so. In those days they delivered their own babies.

MN: And what is your birth name?

TY: My birth name? My birth name is Takashi.

MN: Now you know, a lot of Niseis, they picked up, like, American names afterwards. Did you ever pick up an American name, or were you always Takashi?

TY: I had an American name, yes.

MN: What did you go by?

TY: I went by Bill.

MN: Bill. And when did you pick up Bill?

TY: I picked up Bill in high school because people couldn't say my name, so I, they embarrassed me all the time they way they'd say my name, so I said, well, one day I decided, I think I'll call myself Bill. Just, that's how I was Bill.

MN: How did you pick the name Bill?

TY: How did I what?

MN: How did you pick the name Bill?

TY: Just out of the blue sky.

MN: Was it a name after a comic book character or a neighbor?

TY: No, I just say, I think I'll call myself Bill, William. I kind of liked the name Bill at that time, so that's why I called...

MN: How long were you Bill?

TY: I was Bill for a long time. Let's see, high school, Colorado, I was Bill about ten years, I guess.

MN: And then you went back to Tak.

TY: Yeah.

<End Segment 3> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.