Tracing the roots of the younger generation of Japanese-Americans and their activism
Japanese immigration, which began in the late 19th century, has a long history, and we are beginning to hear of the achievements of fourth and fifth generation Japanese immigrants. We followed up on the thoughts and feelings of young Japanese people active in the suburbs of Seattle as they engage in social activities, including their awareness of their identity.
Stories from this series
5th: Gabriella Gaynor (dancer, choreographer)
March 8, 2016 • Fumika Iwasaki
Gabriella Gaynor is a Japanese-American active in the Seattle area. She works in public relations at the Seattle Opera, and also founded her own dance company, where she works as a choreographer and dancer. We followed up on her thoughts about her status as a fifth-generation Japanese-American and how it relates to her own activities. "My great-great-grandfather came to the United States after the San Francisco earthquake in 1906 and worked as a carpenter to help rebuild the city. Then …
Fourth speaker: Sarah Baker (Japanese American Citizens League, Seattle Chapter)
Feb. 19, 2016 • Fumika Iwasaki
Sarah Baker is a young Japanese American active in the Seattle area. She serves as the president of the student council at North Seattle College and has been elected as next year's chapter president of the Seattle chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). We followed the lives of this new generation of Japanese American who would answer "Shin-sansei." * * * * * It is well known that the term "new" is often used to refer to Japanese …
Third: Steven Kitajo (Mineka Travel Executive Committee)
Feb. 1, 2016 • Fumika Iwasaki
Steven Kitajo, a fourth-generation Japanese American active in the Seattle area, became co-chair of the Minedoka Travel Committee in August, an organization that plans and operates tours to the former Minedoka Japanese American Internment Camp site in Idaho. He previously worked at the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Washington (JCCCW), and we asked him about his thoughts about being a Japanese American. * * * * * Kitajo says his involvement with the Japanese-American organization was driven by his …
2nd: Troy Osaki (Poetry Reading)
Jan. 8, 2016 • Fumika Iwasaki
Young Japanese people active in the Seattle area. Troy Osaki, who has a Japanese father and a Filipino mother, is expressing his opinions to society through poetry readings. After graduating from the University of Washington (UW) Department of American Ethnic Studies, where he majored in Asian American ethnic studies, he got a job teaching poetry locally, and is currently attending law school at Seattle University. He began his creative endeavors when he was in elementary school. Aiming to become a …
First: David Yamashita (Seattle IV)
Dec. 16, 2015 • Fumika Iwasaki
A group called "Seattle Yonsei" was recently formed to help serve the local community. Members from various backgrounds come together, mainly from the younger generation with Japanese roots. The person who started the organization is David Yamashita. He has been actively involved in the Japanese community, including through his involvement with the NVC Foundation. The impetus for founding the organization came from learning about the experiences of second-generation Japanese who returned to Seattle from World War II and the Japanese …
