Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1182/

Beach & America

My father, I guess for relaxation, every Sunday we had to go to the beach. And he always had his suit on. And it was Seal Beach, and towards the end of the day everybody left to go home and he would be sitting there and be looking out there…and when are we going home, when are we going home, so I would kind of like sit up and he be very silent and so I said, oh god what do I say, so I just say, “what are you looking at papa?” and he said, “Listen” and he said, “look, look at the tide, it comes in and then goes out and everytime it goes in and goes out it’s all different.” So I would ask him about lot of different things of what’s this and what’s that, etc. and it led to speaking about America. And he said - and it surprised me that it came from him – that there was no country like The United States of America. And I said, “Really?” And he said, “You could go anyplace.” And I said, “Well, even if you’re Japanese, you know? And he said, “Yes.” I said, “You would never go back to Japan?” He said, “no because this is the best country that there is.


generations identity immigrants immigration Issei Japan migration

Date: February 3, 2010

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Eiko Masuyama, Carole Fujita, Yoko Nishimura

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

Interviewee Bio

Margaret Kuroiwa is the third daughter of Dr. Daishiro Kuroiwa from Saga-ken, Japan and Agnes Haruyo Ogawa Kuroiwa. Her father was a prominent Issei physician who worked at the Turner Street Southern California Japanese Hospital, and was one of the five doctors, along with Dr. Tashiro, to file the lawsuit against the State of California. His practice was in Boyle Heights and in the Taul Building in Little Tokyo. He also treated tuberculosis patients at the Monrovia Sanitarium. She and her 4 sisters were born at the new Japanese Hospital on First and Fickett. (April 11, 2010)

Vince Ota
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Ota,Vince

Different tension between East Coast and Los Angeles

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

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Seiichi Tanaka
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Tanaka,Seiichi

Differences between American and Japanese taiko

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

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Francis Y. Sogi
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Sogi,Francis Y.

Meeting Japanese Americans from the mainland in MIS

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

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

Nikkei Sansei

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Enson Inoue
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Inoue,Enson

Sudden acceptance in Japanese society

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

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Enson Inoue
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Inoue,Enson

Ring name: "Yamato Damashi"

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

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

Getting on Kohaku (Japanese)

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Enson Inoue
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Inoue,Enson

Citizenship and identity

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

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Kip Fulbeck
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Fulbeck,Kip

Early consciousness of identity

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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William Hohri
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Hohri,William

Importance of self-representation in legislation

(1927-2010) Political Activist

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Kip Fulbeck
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Fulbeck,Kip

Finding parallels through art

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Kip Fulbeck
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Fulbeck,Kip

The Hapa Project

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Francis Y. Sogi
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Sogi,Francis Y.

Defining the term Nikkei

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

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Kip Fulbeck
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Fulbeck,Kip

Perceptions of uniqueness

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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Kip Fulbeck
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Fulbeck,Kip

Identity as a conscious ongoing process

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

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