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TI: So, Jean, the way I start this is just the date and where we are. So today's Tuesday, May 24, 2011. We're at the Japanese American Museum in San Jose and helping with the interview is Steve Fugita, on camera is Dana Hoshide and my name is Tom Ikeda. So Jean, I'm just going to start at the beginning. Can you just start by telling me where and when you were born?

JG: Okay, I was born in Alameda, it's kind of funny because the hospital was called Alameda Sanatorium, and it was June 16, 1938. My parents lived in Oakland with my grandmother and her brother and at the time my dad had this car. And I love this story, they were... of course it was... he was in a rush, right? So of course what's going to happen when you're in a rush, you're going to be stopped by the police. So he was stopped by the police and he said, "Well, my wife's having a baby," you know, so that was some of the excitement other than my being born.

TI: And so when you hear the story did the police officer just let him go? Did he give him an escort to the hospital? What happened?

JG: I forget but all I know is that they were stopped. I would hope that they would be nice and help them along but I don't remember.

TI: You always hear about that but you're really the first one who I've heard that they were stopped by the police, that's a good story.

JG: Yeah, I love that story.

TI: And when you were born, what was the name given to you at birth?

JG: Jean Hatsue Shiraki. And that being first branch of the white tree.

TI: And do why they gave that to you, that name?

JG: Well, actually "Hatsue" I know why. It's because my aunt Hatsue who had only lived like less than three days, my mother's sister, I was named for her and I guess taking her place.

TI: And when did you find that out? That's kind of an interesting story.

JG: I found it out through the years by going to Mountain View Cemetery and I guess it must have been very difficult because her grave is it has a small stone and you really have to search for it because it's sort of like a... I mean, it's just not a formal grave. But her name is there and you had to go up in the hill and I always remember going with my mother over the years. So we've done this as I can recall from the '40s and I guess I'm the only one in the family that still goes and places flowers.

[Interruption]

TI: Okay, but it's kind of special because you were named after someone?

JG: Yeah, I guess it's the first time I realized, that's why I take the trouble to find her grave and put flowers on it. Thank you.

TI: That's good.

<End Segment 1> - Copyright © 2011 Densho. All Rights Reserved.