Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1129/

Thoughts on Japan (Japanese)

(Japanese) Well, when I go as a representative of Peru, the Peruvian government sends a uniform. It’s called a “PROMPERU” (Comisión de Promoción del Perú para la Exportación y el Turismo / Commission for the Promotion of Peru Export and Tourism). And on it, it says Inka country, and has the Peruvian flag. Since I’m going as a representative of Peru, I’m on the Peruvian side, with the flag too. So everyone say things like “Why not add half the Japanese flag?” But I hate that kind of half measure. Peru is Peru. Japan is Japan. But, you know, if I was asked to go on behalf of Japan, as a Japanese man, obviously I’d do it in a heartbeat.

So when we hear “Kimi ga Yo” (Japanese national anthem) …or, you know, when watching the Olympics and Japan wins…or…well it doesn’t matter if they don’t win…when we see them giving it their best effort, of course we feel pride. Also, a long time ago, around the time of Prime Minister Suzuki, he came here when they had the Paris Summit, stopping here on the way home. That was the first time a Japanese airplane landed at the Lima airport. The Japanese flag had arrived. Then the captain of the plane opened the window, held the Japanese and Peruvian flags and waved them like this. You know when you see something like that, the tears start flowing. And furthermore, he’s called the Prime Minister, but while he was here, it just felt like your own dad came to visit. You know you’re Japanese when you feel like that.


generations identity immigrants immigration Issei Japan migration Peru

Date: April 18, 2007

Location: Lima, Peru

Interviewer: Ann Kaneko

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Toshiro Konishi was born on July 11, 1953, the fourth son of a long-established Japanese restaurant owner in Saito City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Having played in the kitchen from around the age of six, at 11-years-old, Konishi began helping out in the kitchen with other chef candidates. Then in 1971, at age 16, he headed to Tokyo and became a chef at the restaurant “Fumi”.

In 1974, he moved to Peru with Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, known in America, Japan, and elsewhere for his Japanese fusion cuisine at his restaurant, “Nobu”. After working at the Japanese restaurant “Matsuei” for ten years, he opened “Toshiro’s” and “Wako” in a Sheraton hotel in Lima. In 2002, he also became manager of “Sushi Bar Toshiro’s” in the San Isidro region.

Aside from running the restaurants, he taught at San Ignacio de Loyola University, participated in culinary festivals around the world, introduced innovative cuisine known as “Peruvian Fusion” (a mix of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines), and received numerous awards. In 2008 he became the first Japanese chef based in Latin America to receive the Japanese government’s Minister's Prize from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. (October 2009)

Moromisato,Doris
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Moromisato, Doris

Paisaje terrestre [Terrestrial landscape] (Spanish)

(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant

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Moromisato,Doris
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Moromisato, Doris

The myth of the sacrifice of immigrants (Spanish)

(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant

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Suto,Henry
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Suto,Henry

Fitting back into American life

(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.

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Shimo,Cedrick
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Shimo,Cedrick

Interpretation of Nikkei

(1919-2020) Member of the 1800th Engineering Battalion. Promoted Japan-U.S. trade while working for Honda's export division.

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Suto,Henry
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Suto,Henry

Identity (Japanese)

(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.

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Taoka,Isao
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Taoka,Isao

Views on Japanese Youth (Japanese)

(b. 1943) Paraguayan Ambassador to Japan

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Ashimine Oshiro,Masakatsu Jaime
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Ashimine Oshiro,Masakatsu Jaime

Being Nikkei: A Double Responsibility (Spanish)

(1958-2014) Former Bolivian Ambassador to Japan

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Ashimine Oshiro,Masakatsu Jaime
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Ashimine Oshiro,Masakatsu Jaime

The Impact of Technology in Japan (Spanish)

(1958-2014) Former Bolivian Ambassador to Japan

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

"Harebutai" (Japanese)

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Inose,Yoshiko
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Inose,Yoshiko

The Secret to Youth (Japanese)

(b.1908) Daugther of the first publisher of the Rafu Shimpo

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Kuroiwa,Margaret
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Kuroiwa,Margaret

Beach & America

Daughter of an Issei doctor.

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Interest in Japan stemmed from his mother and grandmother’s stories

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Embraces his Japanese heritage

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Dreamed of becoming an Enka singer

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

His clothes are part of his identity

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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