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https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1649/

Working together in Okinawa using three languages

When we were in Okinawa, one thing that I think perfectly describes how confusing it can be to have so many cultures and languages, so we did a canoeing activity where we all had to canoe traditional Okinawan boats. And so we had an instructor at the front and they would be shouting out commands in Japanese. And you needed to follow it so that everyone would go the same direction otherwise your boat would tip over. So you’d shout it out in Japanese and the Japanese kids were sitting in the front with the Peruvian kids. So the Japanese kids would hear it and so with the Japanese Peruvian kids. The Japanese Peruvian kids could actually speak Japanese fluently, a lot of Japanese Peruvians can actually do that too, which is interesting. So the Japanese Peruvian kids would tell me that in Spanish, and then I would translate that Spanish to the American kids behind me who could only speak English. So I think that in itself just kind of tells you how confusing it could be, but also how fun that was just to see…we all have different languages, but we work together just as well. And we made it work. And I think that was one of the funniest moments, just trying to pass these down, these instructions down.


culture identity Japan Japanese Americans Japanese Peruvians languages Okinawans Okinawa Prefecture Peru United States

Date: August 30, 2018

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Sharon Yamato

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

Interviewee Bio

Grew up in Gardena, California. Her parents moved to the United States from Lima, Peru where they grew up in the Japanese and Okinawan Peruvian community. Because of this diverse background, she was exposed to a mixing of different cultural traditions. She is involved with the Okinawa Association of America and has visited Okinawa and Peru.

She received her teaching credentials but with an opportunity at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI), she turned to non-profit work and is a volunteer at GVJCI and the Okinawa Association of America. (August 2018)

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

Hopes everyone pursues their dreams regardless of race or heritage

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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

Considers Pittsburg his home, but always wanted to live in Japan

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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

Singing the way I sing (Japanese)

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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

The first concert in the United States (Japanese)

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Nakamura,Robert A.
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Nakamura,Robert A.

Creating Culture

(b. 1936) Filmmaker

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Sakai,Stan
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Sakai,Stan

Cultural influences

(b. 1953) Cartoonist

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Nakamura,Robert A.
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Nakamura,Robert A.

Formula for Freedom

(b. 1936) Filmmaker

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Yoshimura,Evelyn
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Yoshimura,Evelyn

Commonalities

Community Activist

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