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Title: Toshiko Hayashi Interview
Narrator: Toshiko Hayashi
Interviewers: Tom Ikeda (primary), Barbara Yasui (secondary)
Location: Seattle, Washington
Date: March 3, 2022
Densho ID: ddr-densho-1000-492-1

<Begin Segment 1>

TI: So today is March 3, 2022, and we're interviewing Toshiko Hayashi. Co-interviewing is Barb Yasui, and on camera is Dana, Dana Hoshide. And we're in the Lakeshore... I always get the name wrong, just the Lakeshore Retirement Community?

TH: Something like that.

TI: And right next to the (Renton Airport).

[Interruption]

TI: And so let's start. Can you tell me when and where you were born?

TH: I was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1925.

TI: And what was the date?

TH: Oh, April 14th.

TI: Okay, April 14th. And so as you mentioned, your birthday is coming up.

TH: Yes.

TI: And so right now, you're ninety-six years old?

TH: (...)

TI: You look amazing.

TH: Or you can turn it around, I'm sixty-nine.

TI: [Laughs] Okay. I mean, people, you could pass for sixty-nine. And when you were born in Portland, do you recall, was it in a hospital?

TH: In those days, it was a hotel room, and Mrs. Saruwatari was the (midwife).

[Interruption]

TI: And so that was pretty common that everyone would...

TH: It was very common.

TI: And when you were born, were you living in Beaverton, or was the family living in...

TH: Beaverton.

TI: Okay, so they would come up to deliver.

TH: Yes, seven miles.

TI: Any stories about your delivery that you remember? Like was there kind of any, like what your parents were doing when they came up to Portland, or was she just staying up in Portland for a while?

TH: My mother?

TI: Yeah, your mother.

TH: I don't know, I think she just went back to Beaverton riding in a ton and a half truck.

TI: And then kind of the day she delivered you, did she... was she in Beaverton or was she staying in Portland, ready to deliver you?

TH: Probably in Portland.

TI: So we're talking about your parents. Let's first talk about... well, actually, let me ask you this question. So what was the name given to you when you born?

TH: Toshiko.

TI: And your surname, last name?

TH: Hayashi.

TI: Hayashi.

<End Segment 1> - Copyright © 2022 Densho. All Rights Reserved.