<Begin Segment 1>

TI: Okay. So Warren, tell me when you were born.

WS: I was born February the 27th, 1921.

TI: So that makes you ninety-one years old?

WS: Ninety-one.

TI: And where were you born?

WS: I was born in... let's see. 27-something, I can't remember the house number, but it's on Western Avenue.

TI: So were you delivered by a midwife or in a hospital?

WS: Midwife.

TI: So what was your father's name and where was he from?

WS: My father's name is Toshiyuki, and nickname Roy Suzuki. And what's that?

TI: And where was he from in Japan?

WS: Let's see. He was born in Kuwana. Kuwana, Mie Prefecture. Am I speaking too loud?

TI: No, this is fine. And what kind of work did his family do in Japan?

WS: Well, he was of samurai family in Kuwana, Mie Prefecture.

TI: And what kind of work, though, did he do? Was he a samurai or did he do other work?

WS: No, he was a samurai.

TI: So why did he come to the United States?

WS: Well, he was... let's see, it's kind of hard to say. But he finished Waseda University, and then he was sent over to the, to Seattle by his father, my grandfather.

TI: And do you know why your grandfather wanted him to come to Seattle?

WS: Not exactly.

TI: When your father came to Seattle, what did he do?

WS: Well, it's kind of hard to say. He worked as a cook, I guess.

TI: And do you know what year he came to Seattle?

WS: Probably about 1907 or so.

TI: So, now tell me, what was your mother's name, and where was she from?

WS: My mother? My mother was from a place called Kinomoto. Kinomoto, Mie Prefecture. But she was called over to Vancouver, Vancouver, B.C., by the name of Ogawa. Ogawa was also from... let's see, Ogawa was from Shingu, Japan, and Shingu, Japan, and she was called over to Vancouver to care for the children. So she came over probably about... probably about 1910, plus or minus there.

TI: And what was your mother's name?

WS: Haru, H-A-R-U.

TI: And last name was Ogawa? Was that her maiden name?

WS: No, Maekawa.

TI: Maekawa, okay. And so how did your father and mother meet?

WS: Well, my grandfather was sick, and my father wanted to come back to Japan to care for him. But then he was... let's see. When he went back to Japan, they were coming back on the same ship from the States going back. And that's how they met on the boat.

TI: Interesting. So was it a marriage of love?

WS: The what?

TI: Was it a marriage of love? Did they like each other when they first met?

WS: Evidently.

TI: But it wasn't arranged by families, it was the two of them?

WS: Yeah.

TI: That's unusual. Most Issei, I've heard, have always been arranged marriages. So this is different. Tell me first about your father. What kind of person was he like? Like personality, what was he like?

WS: Kind of hard to say, exactly. I can't exactly describe him.

TI: How about, were there any sayings or things that he would tell you when you were a boy that you can remember?

WS: See, in Western Avenue, they were staying in the same house as the Miyanaga, was the house they were living in there in Western Avenue. And my parents was living there. And when they came over, I think they went to, probably to Sumner and did some farmwork there.

TI: Good. Now, on Western Avenue, where on Western Avenue did you live? Was it by the market, Pike Place Market? More by the Pioneer Square?

WS: You know where the, used to be the armory?

TI: No, I can't remember.

WS: You can't remember? Anyway, it's kitty corner from the armory.

TI: Let me ask your son. Do you know where this was on Western? Okay. Because Western goes along the waterfront. I'm trying to figure out where that would...

WS: Not exactly. See, from the downtown and you come to Western Avenue, and this is Western Avenue, and then it's right there at the intersection where it meets.

TI: And what neighborhood would that be? What would you call the neighborhood?

WS: I don't know. I know exactly where it is. Been there several times, but I can't remember.

TI: Well, today, what's there? What buildings are around there?

WS: The house isn't there anymore.

TI: But today, is there like a building there? Like big buildings?

WS: No, it's a house, regular house.

TI: No, but today. Today in Seattle?

WS: I don't think it's there anymore.

TI: Okay. So for school, which school did you go to?

WS: Which school did I go to? Well, first of all, I went to Pacific School, and then I went to Bailey Gatzert.

<End Segment 1> - Copyright © 2012 Densho. All Rights Reserved.