Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1047/

Is non-integration due to the distrust because of what happened in the Second World War? (Spanish)

(Spanish) There is distrust, and there is convenience to stay in the ghetto, because it is a ghetto. But it is not the distrust, it’s not because of the historic experience we’ve had. It’s, as I tell you, because of the immigrant’s mentality. Why….Erich Fromm, the studious man, talked about a type of love or a key detail in how people chooses a partner. Many times….No, not many times. What prevails in this relationship is the projection, the prolongation/extension of itself, of this person. So they find people of the same race or of the same social class, of the same academic level… and why? They want to share the same future. The partners get together to give continuity and descendants to life, whether it is either biologically or culturally. So, first it is for that reason. The Japanese and their descendants feel more comfortable with someone of their same group; they are rebuked less for things, they don’t question themselves too much, it’s more comfortable for them. And I think, an important detail is that the idea of punishment is similar, so they behave well. The idea of infidelity, of monogamy, of descendants, of education to their children is similar. This way, they get along better. I think that is the reason they choose to stay in the group, more than the historic experiences. I think it’s more because of this fact…Jewish people marry Jewish, the people from Huancayo marry people from Huancayo, and it’s like this. People from the Andes with Andean people, people from the coast with people from the coast…


identity Peru

Date: February 26, 2008

Location: Lima, Peru

Interviewer: Harumi Nako

Contributed by: Asociación Peruano Japonesa (APJ)

Interviewee Bio

Doris Moromisato Miasato (1962) was born in Chambala, an agricultural zone of Lima, Peru. She graduated with a degree in Law and Political Science at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.

She has published the collection of poems Morada donde la luna perdió su palidez [Home were the moon lost its paleness] (1988), Chambala era un camino [Chambala was the path] (1999), Diario de la mujer es ponja [Diary of a Jap woman] (2004), Paisaje Terrestre [Terrestrial Path] (2007), as well as the story book Okinawa, un siglo en el Perú [Okinawa. A century in Peru] (2006). Her poems, stories, essays, and features have also been included in several anthologies and have been translated into several languages.

She is an ecologist, feminist and Buddhist. In 2006, the Okinawa Municipality nominated her as an Ambassador of Good Will. Nowadays, she is columnist for the Discover Nikkei Website, and since 2005 she has managed the organization of book fairs as Cultural Director of Cámara Peruana del Libro. (February 26, 2008)

Bashi,Kishi

His Shin-Issei parents

(b. 1975) Musician, composer, and songwriter

Yamashiro,Michelle

General reasons why people left Japan for Peru

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

Yamashiro,Michelle

Parents identification as Peruvian Okinawan

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

Yamashiro,Michelle

Okinawan cultural appreciation

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

Yamashiro,Michelle

Prejudice against Okinawans from mainland folks

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

Yamashiro,Michelle

American values she aligns with

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

Yamashiro,Michelle

Working together in Okinawa using three languages

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

Yamada,Mitsuye

Expressing herself through poetry

(b. 1923) Japanese American poet, activist

Matsumoto,Juan Alberto

About Escobar (Spanish)

(b. 1962) Nisei Japanese Argentinian, currently residing in Japan

Naganuma,Jimmy

Forcibly deported to the U.S. from Peru

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

Teisher,Monica

Her definition of Nikkei

(b.1974) Japanese Colombian who currently resides in the United States

Naganuma,Jimmy

Memories of childhood in Peru

(b. 1936) Japanese Peruvian incarcerated in Crystal City

McKenna,Sabrina Shizue

Impact of Coming Out on Her Family

(b. 1957) Jusice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii.