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TI: So today is April 21, 2022. We're at the Lakeshore retirement community. Helping the interview is Barb Yasui, on camera is Dana Hoshide, and then I'm Tom Ikeda doing the interview. And so the first question I have for you, Tak, is when and where were you born?

TW: I was born in Bellevue, Washington, on a farm.

TI: And what was the date of your birth?

TW: August 4th. Do I have to give the year?

TI: [Laughs] You don't have to, but I have it written down.

TW: 1930. [Laughs]

TI: So that you make you...

TW: Do your math.

TI: Ninety-one? Ninety-two.

TW: Ninety-one. Ninety-two this year.

TI: Ninety-two this year. Wow, you look fabulous.

TW: Thank you.

TI: And what was the full name given to you at birth?

TW: Takae Tanino.

TI: And growing up, did you have any nicknames?

TW: I went by Tak mostly, "Takae" was sort of hard for some people, especially if you're not Nihonjin. So I went by Tak.

TI: And how about your family? What did they call you?

TW: Tak.

TI: Tak? Okay. Okay, so for this interview, is it okay if I call you Tak?

TW: That's fine, that's what I'm used to.

TI: Good. So let's talk about your, first your father's family. Tell me first, what was your father's name and where was he born?

TW: Mitsumasa Tanino, and he was born in Okayama, Japan.

TI: Do you know anything about his family in Japan? Like what they did in Okayama?

TW: Well, I know my dad was an only child, and I think what he was familiar with was farming. And my mother was from Okayama, and she had three sisters. And when I was flying for Pan American I went to visit them.

TI: Yeah, before we go there -- we'll get to that, so I just want to make sure. So you just talked about your mother, what was your mother's name?

TW: Shizue.

TI: And her maiden name?

TW: Ono.

TI: Ono, okay. So she also was from Okayama?

TW: Yes, she was a nurse in Japan before coming to the U.S.

TI: Well, since we're talking about both of them, how did your mother and father meet?

TW: You know, I have no idea.

TI: And do you know if they met in Japan?

TW: Oh, in Japan, yes.

TI: And did you ever have a sense, was it like an arranged marriage or anything?

TW: I don't know.

TI: Do you have a sense, you were talking a little bit about visiting, how close the families lived to each other? The Japanese families like your dad's side and your mom's side?

TW: Well, they were in the same city. But other than that, I don't recall how they met.

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