Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1143/

The differences in attitude of pre-war and post war in terms of the President Fujimori presidency (Japanese)

(Japanese) Me, too! I never thought Mr. Fujimori would have been chosen the President by the people of Peru, yes… He was an unexpectedly good politician his first term. The state powers of Peru, the crazy inflation, he really was the hero who saved us from it. He also went to extremes to end terrorism, to eradicate terrorism. Both measures became a large display of strength for him as the President. As the renowned President, his first term really was worthy of praise. It means that the Nikkei people had fortunately been mistaken.

But, during the second and third terms, in a pattern similar to other Peruvian politicians, various problems of corruption arose. Even if President Fujimori wasn’t directly involved, there’s something called supervisory responsibility that he should have assumed as the President. Well, we know what happened next and it lead up to a rather tragic ending. But, at the time, the Nikkei people thought that what they most feared had finally occurred. In contrast to what happened before the war, Peruvian society had either matured or they had seen through the character called President Fujimori; which one it is, I’m not sure. Rather than Fujimori as representative of the Japanese, it was more like there was an individual who happened to be of Japanese descent and who came from the Nikkei community. Even though Mr. Fujimori met that kind of an end, the credibility of the Nikkei community in Peru didn’t change and Japanese bashing didn’t occur even once. This is worth mentioning, I think. Yes. I’m very relieved of that, yes. I don’t think I saw that one coming.


Alberto Fujimori communities governments Peru politics

Date: May 7, 2007

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Yoko Nishimura

Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum

Interviewee Bio

Born in 1948, originally from Tokyo. Graduated from Waseda University’s Department of Education. Years later, he moved to Lima, Peru. While learning Spanish, he helped the work of his grandfather, Yoshitaro Amano, who founded and operated Amano Museum. He later married a Nikkei Peruvian Nisei. Currently, as a Peruvian cultural researcher, pottery/textile collection expert, and executive director of the Amano Museum, he conducts excavation work and is responsible for the management of the museum. As a Peruvian citizen diplomat, he attends government officials, businessmen, handles media coverage and programming for television. He visits Japan several times a year, makes speeches and leads panel discussions throughout Japan, and remains active in various fields. (May 2007)

Akira Takashio
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Takashio,Akira

Life upon arrival (Japanese)

Shin Issei – owner of izakaya (Japanese-style tavern) and kappo (small Japanese diner) restaurant, Honda-Ya

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Fred Y. Hoshiyama
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Hoshiyama,Fred Y.

Feeling free and accepted in Hawaii

(1914–2015) Nisei YMCA and Japanese American community leader

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Michelle Yamashiro
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Yamashiro,Michelle

Great grandfather Asato was a sumo wrestler

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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Michelle Yamashiro
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Yamashiro,Michelle

Grandfather loved to tell her stories of her great-grandfather Arakaki

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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Michelle Yamashiro
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Yamashiro,Michelle

Parents leaving Peru to move to California

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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Michelle Yamashiro
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Yamashiro,Michelle

Reflections on childhood

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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Fumiko Hachiya Wasserman
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Wasserman,Fumiko Hachiya

Unique perspective that a judge can bring to community organizations

Sansei judge for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California

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Takayo Fischer
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Fischer,Takayo

Representing her Family and the Japanese American Community in Acting

(b. 1932) Nisei American stage, film, and TV actress

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Juan Alberto Matsumoto
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Matsumoto,Juan Alberto

Popular Sports in the Nikkei Community (Japanese)

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

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Monica Teisher
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Teisher,Monica

Food preparations for Keirokai

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

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Monica Teisher
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Teisher,Monica

Japanese reputation in Colombia

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

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Monica Teisher
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Teisher,Monica

Interracial marriage trends

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

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Mia Yamamoto
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Yamamoto,Mia

Influence of Mexican culture after returning from camp

(b. 1943) Japanese American transgender attorney

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Mia Yamamoto
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Yamamoto,Mia

Japanese American solidarity

(b. 1943) Japanese American transgender attorney

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Willie Ito
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Ito,Willie

First Exposure to Animation

(b. 1934) Award-winning Disney animation artist who was incarcerated at Topaz during WWII

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