Interviews
Japanese language is the important aspect to keep identity (Spanish)
(Spanish) The third generation I would say, after my grandfather, is that [generation] which returns [or seeks earlier generations]. My mother knows a little Japanese, because she lived there for a year. I speak to her in Japanese as a way to practice, but she responds in Spanish. I feel that there is a necessity of knowing, of understanding the other [culture, which is] much more present in me or in the younger generation than in my mother. It is not that she isn’t interested in learning more Japanese; [it’s just that] I believe her feelings of being Argentine run deeper. What’s more, she did not oblige me to study Japanese; I did it on my own initiative.
Date: July 12, 2006
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Interviewer: Takeshi Nishimura, Ricardo Hokama
Contributed by: Centro Nikkei Argentino
Explore More Videos
The performing arts not for Nisei
Senshin Buddhist Temple minister and co-founder of Kinnara Taiko.
Japanese are more accustomed to foreigners
(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.
Understanding Sansei taiko (Japanese)
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Soukou Bayashi: Dedicated to the Issei (Japanese)
(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.
Teaching at the military language school during World War II
(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i
Learning English upon discovering that family could not return to Peru
(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.
Her early life in Canada
(b.1912) Japanese Canadian Issei. Immigrated with husband to Canada in 1931
Japanese school
(b.1924) Japanese Canadian Nisei. Interpreter for British Army in Japan after WWII. Active in Japanese Canadian community
Learning Japanese at school and at home with family
(b.1951) Co-founder and managing director of San Jose Taiko.
Going to Japanese school
(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation
Feeling closer to Japan as a Japanese American
(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation
Initial struggles with the language barrier (Japanese)
(b. 1917) Okinawan, Issei Argentinean
