Kathy Pinna
Japanese Film Star to Rear Friend's Son
Life Starts Anew for Nipponese Lad
HOLLYWOOD, September 26 - Little Alex Hayes has become Yukio Hayakawa, and with the change in name has entered into a new life to be filled with all the advantages wealthy and noted parents can afford.
The two-and-a-half-year-old Japanese lad, born in Chicago and given an English name by his mother, is now through official adoption the son of Sessue Hayakawa, screen and stage star, and his wife, the former Tsuru Aoki.
Behind the official records of the adoption is a story of an old friendship cherished by Hayakawa even though its object, the father of little Yukio, is dead. The boy's real father, Hayashi by name, was a member of a politically important family in Japan, and a close friend of the star.
MOTHER GIVES CONSENT: A graduate of Cambridge, Hayashi was studying for a degree at the University of Chicago, preparatory to entering the diplomatic service of Japan, when pneumonia ended his life shortly before his son was born. Hayakawa, then in Japan, sought at once to adopt the child, and repeated his offer of adoption when he first saw Yukio 15 months ago.
Recently the boy's mother, unable to support his longer, accepted the offer and the Hayakawas brought them to Los Angeles to begin adoption proceedings. The lad lived with the Hayakawas several weeks before the adoption legally was sanctioned, and once, when it appeared momentarily uncertain that it could be arranged, he was sent back to his mother.
THIRD ADOPTED CHILD: "We didn't want to become too attached to him, or let him become too attached to us, if we could not keep him always," explained Hayakawa. But now Yukio is happily established as the son of wealthy and devoted parents. Yukio is a bright youngster, as happy to be with the Hayakawas as they are to have him. His new foster-parents, themselves childless, already have reared two adopted children, orphaned sister who were both married about four years ago. Little Yukio, child of their old frend and boasting an illustrious parentage, is taking their place.
- The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida) Sunday, September 27, 1931 on page 28.
HOLLYWOOD, September 26 - Little Alex Hayes has become Yukio Hayakawa, and with the change in name has entered into a new life to be filled with all the advantages wealthy and noted parents can afford.
The two-and-a-half-year-old Japanese lad, born in Chicago and given an English name by his mother, is now through official adoption the son of Sessue Hayakawa, screen and stage star, and his wife, the former Tsuru Aoki.
Behind the official records of the adoption is a story of an old friendship cherished by Hayakawa even though its object, the father of little Yukio, is dead. The boy's real father, Hayashi by name, was a member of a politically important family in Japan, and a close friend of the star.
MOTHER GIVES CONSENT: A graduate of Cambridge, Hayashi was studying for a degree at the University of Chicago, preparatory to entering the diplomatic service of Japan, when pneumonia ended his life shortly before his son was born. Hayakawa, then in Japan, sought at once to adopt the child, and repeated his offer of adoption when he first saw Yukio 15 months ago.
Recently the boy's mother, unable to support his longer, accepted the offer and the Hayakawas brought them to Los Angeles to begin adoption proceedings. The lad lived with the Hayakawas several weeks before the adoption legally was sanctioned, and once, when it appeared momentarily uncertain that it could be arranged, he was sent back to his mother.
THIRD ADOPTED CHILD: "We didn't want to become too attached to him, or let him become too attached to us, if we could not keep him always," explained Hayakawa. But now Yukio is happily established as the son of wealthy and devoted parents. Yukio is a bright youngster, as happy to be with the Hayakawas as they are to have him. His new foster-parents, themselves childless, already have reared two adopted children, orphaned sister who were both married about four years ago. Little Yukio, child of their old frend and boasting an illustrious parentage, is taking their place.
- The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida) Sunday, September 27, 1931 on page 28.
