Interviews
Does a Nikkei culture exist? (Spanish)
(Spanish) In terms of biological interpretation, yes, we are the community that has the biggest number of graphic artists and arts and crafts. Why do I say we’re the culture with the biggest number? The painters, sculptors, designers, identify themselves as Nikkei. That doesn’t mean they are Japanese descendants, and in their works they always try to place some detail of their ancestry. So there is a Nikkei culture. Yes, there is, I think so. I’m convinced there is a Nikkei culture, as there is a women culture, black culture, gay culture, heterosexual. There just is. The detail is you have to go beyond, as I told you, the biological issue and find other marks. For example, Rhonny Alhahel, a painter that is not Nikkei, says he paints like a Japanese. It is interesting. I think there is, and they also wouldn’t mythicize nor downplay it. Not even to say that it exists or it doesn’t. It only exists. It is one more aspect of a type of art.
Date: February 26, 2008
Location: Lima, Peru
Interviewer: Harumi Nako
Contributed by: Asociación Peruano Japonesa (APJ)
Explore More Videos
Pop and Balls
(1938-2020) Japanese American attorney and civil rights activist
Re-examining Identity
(1941-2018) Japanese Canadian photojournalist and activist
Fitting in to both sides of her family
Jewish Japanese American journalist
Culture is an important part of one's identity
Jewish Japanese American journalist
Conflicted about immigrating to America (Japanese)
(b. 1925) War bride
Defining "Nikkei"
(1941-2018) Japanese Canadian photojournalist and activist
The term Nikkei (Japanese)
(b. 1979) Sansei Nikkei Brazilian who lives in Oizumi-machi in Gunma prefecture. He runs his own design studio.
Unique Identity from Having Multiple Backgrounds
(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.
Difficulty of spreading authentic sushi (Japanese)
(b. 1949) Sushi chef. Owner of Sushi Gen restaurant in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.
Teaching how to eat sushi (Japanese)
(b. 1949) Sushi chef. Owner of Sushi Gen restaurant in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo.
Growing up Japanese in Hawaii
(b. 1952) Former banking executive, born in Hawaii