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Iva Ikuko Toguri was born in south-central [[Los Angeles]] on 4 July 1916, the daughter of a [[Japan]]ese immigrant. This made her a ''nisei'' (二世 lit. "Second generation", or a first generation American citizen, of Japanese descent). Her mother was crippled because of diabetes. She was raised a [[Methodist]], joined the local Girl Scouts, and dreamed of becoming a medical doctor, fuelled in part by having to care for her mother.

Iva Ikuko Toguri was born in south-central [[Los Angeles]] on 4 July 1916, the daughter of a [[Japan]]ese immigrant. This made her a ''nisei'' (二世 lit. "Second generation", or a first generation American citizen, of Japanese descent). Her mother was crippled because of diabetes. She was raised a [[Methodist]], joined the local Girl Scouts, and dreamed of becoming a medical doctor, fuelled in part by having to care for her mother.

She graduated from [[UCLA]], with a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology in 1941. Her aunt Shizu, who lived in Japan, then took ill and Iva was chosen to go to Japan to represent the Toguri family at her aunt's bedside. Her travel documents listed her occupation as "pre-med student".

She graduated from [[UCLA]], with a bachelor's degree in Zoology in 1941. Her aunt Shizu, who lived in Japan, then took ill and Iva was chosen to go to Japan to represent the Toguri family at her aunt's bedside. Her travel documents listed her occupation as "pre-med student".

She sailed for Japan on 5 July 1941, aboard the ''Arabia Maru''. However, she left with no passport. The State Department refused to issue one on such short notice and instead, gave her a Certificate of Identification, saying that this document would be sufficient to get her to and from Japan. However, when she applied to return to the U.S. in November 1941, becoming more fearful of the situation in Japan, she was refused on the grounds that there was no evidence that she was an American citizen, and the document provided by the State Department was unacceptable. She was thus left stranded in Japan when war broke out in December.

She sailed for Japan on 5 July 1941, aboard the ''Arabia Maru''. However, she left with no passport. The State Department refused to issue one on such short notice and instead, gave her a Certificate of Identification, saying that this document would be sufficient to get her to and from Japan. However, when she applied to return to the U.S. in November 1941, becoming more fearful of the situation in Japan, she was refused on the grounds that there was no evidence that she was an American citizen, and the document provided by the State Department was unacceptable. She was thus left stranded in Japan when war broke out in December.