Interviews

1. Image of Americans

2. Conflict between Japanese and Western culture

Nakamura,Ann K.

Sansei from Hawaii living in Japan. Teacher and businesswoman.

Conflict between Japanese and Western culture

Around you, the Western culture says you should speak your mind. You should have your own opinion and be able to support it. Whereas, in the Japanese style, it’s like you have to think of what the others will say or you have to think about the others – what other people will say. You have to be maybe not as outspoken. So there was a conflict at one time. But I guess over the years, you sort of find how to blend the two together, whether it’s called maturity or acceptance, I don’t know which it is. But you learn that there are times when you have to...what other people might call “be Japanese” because you try to find a common opinion. Whereas other times you have to be strong enough to say, No, I think this is how it should be.

culture Finding Home (film) identity

Date: November 8, 2003

Location: Tokushima, Japan

Interviewer: Art Nomura

Contributed by: Art Nomura, Finding Home.

Interviewee Bio

Ann Nakamura, a Sansei in her mid-forties who grew up in Hawai`i, is a single woman whose career in education and a business partnership with a Japanese man represent a unique situation. She observes that more Japanese women are delaying marriage or remaining single, and in either case are becoming professionals. This development has led to greater acceptance of her status as a single female professional. In the past, a woman teacher could continue to work after marriage, but women in business who got married were expected to end their vocation. Ann says she is not looked upon as a “role model” necessarily, but she is seen as someone who legitimates non-traditional options in society.

When growing up in Hawaii, Ann experienced a “conflict” between Western and Asian values and behavior and has been able to reconcile this in Japan. She would like to return to Hawaii where her family is, but to also continue to maintain her business in Japan. She had not expected to stay as long as she has in Japan (approximately 15 years). There are now more foreigners in Japan than ever before and more acceptance of “gaijin.” Ann first obtained a Nikkei Visa and then transitioned into her current status of permanent residency. (November 8, 2003)