Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/777/

Nikkei identity (Spanish)

(Spanish) The idiosyncrasies of the Japanese. The Nisei were born here. They came from their parents [culture]. Apart from this, European culture dominates and Asians are a minority. At times, instead of demonstrating their existence, they [the Japanese] withdraw. I believe that we are all the same, including white Argentines. The Japanese came from Japan. I went to the house of my Argentine friend. They all ask me, “Are we showing poor hospitality?” “Why?” “You do not speak, there is no sign that you are either content or displeased”….”No, it is not like that at all. They [the Japanese] are grateful, but it is not that they don’t speak Spanish, nor anything like that, but the Japanese, generally in Japan, to speak often is complicit, there isn’t much to talk about, they have to remain quiet, quite the opposite of you [Argentines].”


Argentina generations Hawaii identity Japanese Americans Nikkei Nisei United States

Date: February 23, 2007

Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Interviewer: Takeshi Nishimura, Ricardo Hokama

Contributed by: Centro Nikkei Argentino

Interviewee Bio

Takagi Kazuomi was born in Japan on March 27, 1925, in the Mie province. He arrived in Argentina as a tourist and never returned to Japan. By chance he started out in journalism, a profession that provided employment for more than fifty years on radio and in the graphic arts. Today, at eighty-one years old, he continues to fervently work as a journalist for the newspaper of the Japanese collectivity, La Plata Hochi (Japanese Section), including acting stints in various forms of publicity. He passed away on November 10, 2014 at age 89. (January 2021)

Richard Kosaki
en
ja
es
pt
Kosaki,Richard

Growing up in Waikiki

(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i

en
ja
es
pt
Roy Hirabayashi
en
ja
es
pt
Hirabayashi,Roy

The philosophy of playing Taiko

(b.1951) Co-founder and managing director of San Jose Taiko.

en
ja
es
pt
Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
en
ja
es
pt
(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Learning Japanese traditions by observing his mother and grandmother

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

en
ja
es
pt
Art Shibayama
en
ja
es
pt
Shibayama,Art

Activities growing up in Peru

(1930-2018) Nisei born in Peru. Taken to the United States during WWII.

en
ja
es
pt
Mónica Kogiso
en
ja
es
pt
Kogiso,Mónica

History of her family's immigration (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

en
ja
es
pt
Mónica Kogiso
en
ja
es
pt
Kogiso,Mónica

Jobs for Japanese Argentines (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

en
ja
es
pt
Mónica Kogiso
en
ja
es
pt
Kogiso,Mónica

Nihongo gakko - Preserving Japanese culture (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

en
ja
es
pt
Peter Mizuki
en
ja
es
pt
Mizuki,Peter

Not wanting to stand out as a foreigner

Sansei Japanese American living in Japan and Kendo practioner

en
ja
es
pt
Frank Yamasaki
en
ja
es
pt
Yamasaki,Frank

Have compassion for all of humanity

(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.

en
ja
es
pt
Mónica Kogiso
en
ja
es
pt
Kogiso,Mónica

Identity crisis (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

en
ja
es
pt
Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
en
ja
es
pt
(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Never sang Enka outside the family

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

en
ja
es
pt
Fujima Kansuma
en
ja
es
pt
Kansuma,Fujima

Both Japanese and American identities though Japanese dance

(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer

en
ja
es
pt
Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
en
ja
es
pt
(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Coming to Japan

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

en
ja
es
pt
Aiko Yoshinaga Herzig
en
ja
es
pt
Herzig,Aiko Yoshinaga

Results of being more American than Japanese

(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist

en
ja
es
pt
Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
en
ja
es
pt
(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Trying to convey the meaning of the songs

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

en
ja
es
pt