Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1146/

On being thought of as a Japanese person (Japanese)

(Japanese) Of course, it comes down to my being Japanese. If you’re in a foreign country, for instance, Japanese food is one of these things that no matter how many years pass still tastes the best to me. Even the books I read, Japanese books still seem to be easier for me to read, yes. Well, I’m Japanese. And given that, as a Japanese living for a long time in a foreign country, if something happens, I have really no choice but to be labeled as Japanese. So if I do something bad, people are going to start saying, “oh, Japanese do this kind of thing.” If I do something good, people are going to start saying, “oh, Japanese do that kind of thing.” Naturally, in both my conscious and subconscious, I am “Japan”. I am a representative, and while I’m operating in a foreign country, I have to live a self-conscious lifestyle, yes. And so, regardless of the things that I strongly believe or don’t believe in, I’m always in an environment where people tend to judge me.


generations identity immigrants immigration Issei Japan migration

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)

Kaji,Frances Midori Tashiro

Father became trilingual to practice medicine

(1928–2016) Daughter of an Issei doctor 

Kaji,Frances Midori Tashiro

Finding out about her father's case

(1928–2016) Daughter of an Issei doctor 

Kuroiwa,Margaret

About her father

Daughter of an Issei doctor.

Kuroiwa,Margaret

Beach & America

Daughter of an Issei doctor.

Uesugi,Takeo

Americans changing his opinion of the US

(1940-2016) Issei Landscape Architect

Hirano,Paulo Issamu

Change of identity (Japanese)

(b. 1979) Sansei Nikkei Brazilian who lives in Oizumi-machi in Gunma prefecture. He runs his own design studio.

Hirano,Paulo Issamu

The term Nikkei (Japanese)

(b. 1979) Sansei Nikkei Brazilian who lives in Oizumi-machi in Gunma prefecture. He runs his own design studio.

Hirano,Paulo Issamu

My daughter’s identity (Japanese)

(b. 1979) Sansei Nikkei Brazilian who lives in Oizumi-machi in Gunma prefecture. He runs his own design studio.

Hirano,Paulo Issamu

On becoming a Japanese national (Japanese)

(b. 1979) Sansei Nikkei Brazilian who lives in Oizumi-machi in Gunma prefecture. He runs his own design studio.

Hirano,Paulo Issamu

Letting people know I am from Brazil (Japanese)

(b. 1979) Sansei Nikkei Brazilian who lives in Oizumi-machi in Gunma prefecture. He runs his own design studio.

Hirano,Paulo Issamu

Oizumi-machi is my hometown (Japanese)

(b. 1979) Sansei Nikkei Brazilian who lives in Oizumi-machi in Gunma prefecture. He runs his own design studio.

Ninomiya,Masato

What is Nikkei?

Professor of Law, University of Sao Paulo, Lawyer, Translator (b. 1948)