Choices for Japanese People Living in America
Japanese people living between the United States and Japan were interviewed about life choices such as obtaining permanent residency and returning to Japan.
Stories from this series
Moved to the US in 1991 and lives in both Japan and the US - Akiko Shimizu
June 2, 2021 • Keiko Fukuda
When I went to the US, I was determined to never return to Japan. Akiko Shimizu is a feng shui consultant who has been active in the US and Japan since the 1990s. Her original job was in IT. After working in Germany from Japan, she has been living in the US since 1991. However, she now lives mainly in Japan, occasionally returning to her home in the suburbs of Los Angeles. She first came to the US at the …
Living in Kyoto after 40 years in the US - Lana Sofer
May 17, 2021 • Keiko Fukuda
The reason for traveling back and forth between Japan and the U.S. was the change in the U.S. political situation Lana Mariko Sofer came to the United States in 1975. Based in Los Angeles, Lana has been involved for many years in the production of subtitles and dubbing for movies mainly shown in airplanes. Since she lives close to my house, we would occasionally have lunch together, but it was through social media that I learned that she also had …
Why people who remain in America don't return to Japan
Dec. 2, 2020 • Keiko Fukuda
Presence of children, medical care, language We spoke to people who emigrated to the United States and then returned to Japan, as well as people who had returned to Japan but then returned to the United States, and we also spoke to people who had decided to make the United States their final home, about their decision. Mr. T, a man in his 70s who has lived in the US for 50 years, said he studied languages in the US …
Kinue Tokudome, who re-acquired permanent resident status after returning to Japan from 31 years in the United States
Nov. 20, 2020 • Keiko Fukuda
Obtaining permanent residency for the future of children As I listened to the stories of Shin-Issei who returned to Japan after living in the United States for various reasons, or chose to remain in the United States, I also wanted to hear the stories of those who returned to the United States after returning to Japan. At that time, I remembered Tokudome Kinue, whom I met by chance at a seminar held in Irvine, Orange County in the summer of …
Tsunehisa Nakajima: 18 Years Since Winning Permanent Residency
Nov. 4, 2020 • Keiko Fukuda
Starting His American Life with a Wage of $7 Per Hour I came to know Tsunehisa Nakajima, COO of an IT company in the outskirts of San Francisco, through an interview for the newsletter of a certain Nikkei business association. I looked up his name after the interview in order to put together his profile. I had been certain that he was an expat from Japan, but I discovered that he actually won his green card lottery shortly after the …
Why people decide to move back to Japan, instead of living out their life in America
Oct. 2, 2020 • Keiko Fukuda
Married couple who moved back to Japan after 48 years living in America An increasing number of people around me are moving back to Japan. I’m also nearing that turning point myself. I feel at ease because my eldest son works in Japan and lives with my parents, but as their only child, I must return to Japan to take care of them when they require more elderly care. While there are Shin-Issei like me who return to Japan in …
