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Born in Portland, Oregon, Toyota earned a master's degree in journalism from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1970 and later earned a PhD in anthropology. Teaching at the UCLA Asian American Studies Center More Than Just A Pretty (Asian American) Face « Epicanthus (Beta 0.95) Toyota's real name is Letritia R. Miyake.

Toyota began her broadcast career in Los Angeles in 1970 as a radio reporter with KNX-AM. ~Los Angeles Radio People, Where Are They T-Z In January 1972 she was hired as a general assignment reporter at KNBC-TV; she became a news anchor there in 1975. Toyota quit KNBC in March 1985 and, after a standard three-month period between contracts, signed on as a news anchor at KCBS-TV.

On November 17, 1999, the Los Angeles Times reported that Toyota had left KCBS and that she previously had been removed from early morning and noon newscasts in September and October 1999. The story also reported that Toyota had been offered an opportunity to continue at the station and that she had declined.

Toyota is married to lawyer Michael R. Yamaki and lives in Los Angeles' Brentwood area. Michael R Yamaki | Top Asian American Professionals | GOLDSEA She met her husband while they were both students at UCLA in the early 1970s.

Los Angeles punk rock band The Dickies recorded a song called "(I'm Stuck in a Pagoda with) Tricia Toyota." It is unclear whether the misspelling of Toyota's first name was deliberate or accidental.

Toyota is also mentioned in "The L.A. Song," a song by L.A. hip-hop group People Under the Stairs, from their 2002 album O.S.T.[1]

The TV news reporter character Tricia Takanawa on Family Guy may have been inspired at least in part by Toyota; KTTV Fox 11 reporter Tricia Takasugi has also been suggested as a source for the character.