Interviews
Activities of Miyagi Prefecture Kenjinkai (Japanese)
(Japanese) There used to be many first generation members but with the second generation members getting older, the number of members have been decreasing so it is different from the old days. But last year, we had a picnic in 21 years. My brother’s wife, who I can’t quite recall what generation she is, perhaps second or third generation from Hawaii came. Also, her grandchildren came as well. For our family, if we count the generations from my wife, our grandchildren are fifth generation. I am first generation so that it doesn’t count (to fifth generation) (laughs). Anyway, approximately 100 people came although our kenjinkai is not too big.
Perhaps because my family is from the Tohoku Region (North East Region of Japan known to have experienced extreme poverty in the past), money aside, we always think of how we can get people to gather and assist each other. Even within the Tohoku Region, perhaps Miyagi Prefecture people are not too witty, but if there is some significant amount of money, we think of how we can use the money to benefit everyone.
Date: May 8, 2007
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Mistue Watanabe
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
