Interviews
Growing up with Japanese language and values
We spoke Japanese, only Japanese at home and as I said earlier, I learned English only when I started schooling. My dad went to night school to learn English so he spoke as well as he wrote in English but my mother never did and so she expected us to speak Japanese and I think because of the way we were brought up, we learned all…not only the language but the values, Japanese values from her.
For instance, respect your elders, “on” – obligation…for example, everyday, although we were playing before dinner time, when we knew when my dad was coming home, we were all expected to wash our face and clean ourselves and when dad comes home, we’d say, “okaerinasai” and greet him because she says, “You know, when you’re out working, you’re very exhausted. There are all kinds of issues an adult has to face. So when you come home, you have to show a smiling face to father so that he’ll feel happy to return home.” And I think that was an excellent thing that she taught us. Also, when somebody leaves the home always go out and say goodbye to them. She always did that with all of us.
So those little things that she taught us. I think that that helped me in developing my values for my lifetime.
Date: May 31, 2006
Location: Hawai‘i, US
Interviewer: Akemi Kikumura Yano
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Surviving after father's death
An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.
Washing for Filipino bachelors
An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.
Eisa: Modernity and Tradition (Spanish)
(b. 1974) Director of Ryukyu Matsuri Daiko in Peru
Feeling empowered by taiko
Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko
Sense of lineage between Sansei and Issei through Taiko
Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko
To be a Nikkei is a confluence of cultures (Spanish)
(b. 1974) Director of Ryukyu Matsuri Daiko in Peru
Image of Americans
Sansei from Hawaii living in Japan. Teacher and businesswoman.
Japanese influence growing up
(b.1942) Japanese American ceramist, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years.
Diverse membership in San Jose Taiko
Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko
Looking at your country from the outside
(b.1942) Japanese American ceramist, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years.
Wife's family in Japan
(b.1942) Japanese American ceramist, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years.
Lack of notion of citizenship in Japan
(b.1935) American born Japanese. Retired businessman.
Generational Change (Spanish)
(b. 1974) Director of Ryukyu Matsuri Daiko in Peru
Lack of language skills
(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.