The Language of Looks
For the past 7 years, the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society (www.cjahs.org) has participated in The Field Museum's "Cultural Connections" program (www.fieldmuseum.org/ccuc) to explore the rich cultural diversity of Chicago. Every year, ethnic museums, cultural centers and historical societies partner to present discussions around a particular theme guided by an anthropological framework summmarized as "Common Concerns, Different Responses." This year's theme is THE LANGUAGE OF LOOKS and our partner is the Indo-American Center. Here's the description of our program: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall... How Am I Perceived by All? Even the act of getting dressed can pose dilemmas of choice and identity for Americans with a distinct ethnic identity. Explore how dynamics of generations, immigration, history, economics and politics impact attire and appearance in the Asian Indian American and Japanese American communities. Come learn the secret of the sari, the complexity of the kimono and the relevance of both in the lives of individuals from these groups. I'd like to hear from Japanese Americans, especially young people and those of mult-racial, multi-ethnic backgrounds, about how (if at all) they express identity through appearance--clothing, hair styles, body adornment, accessories, or even the cars they drive. I'd especially like to know if expressing ETHNIC IDENTITY through appearance is totally irrelevant but other identities are important. Thanks for any comments. Mary Doi The Kanji on my back is the word "Jisso" from my mom's (who is a shin-issei) religion. It mean: the God within or that everyone has god within us. Now that I think about it though... my mom and dad named me "Koji" which is clearly not American... and I wear that every day... so in a way I wear my culture via my name. Two things about my name. The first is that when I was young I wanted to be a politican. So when I went to college I told everyone I wanted to go by my middle name: Steven. People called me that but I would never respond so everyone just started calling me Koji. It wasn't that I was ashamed of the name Koji... it was fine, I just thought it would be easier for middle America to vote for a Steven rather than a Koji. Nowadays, I get a lot of: "Wow, that's a really cool name." Which is strange because I'm not sure how I should respond... I think it's a compliment. Second thing about my name... I'm a writer and my writing name includes Steven. Mostly because I hate when people tell me that I write English very well... my first thought is always: "Yeah, better than you!" But also because sometimes people think I'm female... which isn't a bad thing per se... I just don't want there to be any confusion. That's it. Sorry about the long response! 
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I've thought a lot about this recently... Trying to figure out how I express my racial identity (yonsei on my dad's side and nisei on my mom's side).
I don't go around wearing a kimono... or anything like that… I do drive a lowered Honda civic but is that a function of my Asian American-ness or just being young in my part of Los Angeles? I do have a shaved head and I wear my pants low, but is that a function of being a pretty young Asian American guy or just growing up in a world of hip hop?
The only concrete things that I can of are my tattoos. I have half dozen tattoos, two of which I think express who I am (racially that is). One is on my left forearm; it is my dad's concentration camp number from the American Concentration camps during the Second World War. The other is on my back and it is in a very traditional kanji (Japanese character).