Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1177/

The Secret to Youth (Japanese)

(Japanese) I am 101 years old.

I*: What is the secret to your youth?

I taught tea for a long time, so I was always alert because of that. I’m already retired now, but tea still comes up all the time. I think I’m probably still healthy because I do things like that. I think it’s good to be doing something even though you get older. In addition to that, everyone – my son, my daughters, my grandchildren – everyone is good to me, and so I’m always happy. I think that also has something to do with it.

* "I" indicates an interviewer (Yoko Nishimura).


identity

Date: February 3, 2010

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Eiko Masuyama, Carole Fujita, Yoko Nishimura

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

Interviewee Bio

Mrs. Yoshiko Inose (nee Shibuya) was born in Los Angeles, California in 1908. Her father, Seijiro Shibuya, was the first publisher of The Rafu Shimpo. In the early 1930s, Yoshiko married Seijiro Inose, the adopted son of Inosuke Inose. Yoshiko’s father-in-law Inosuke was the president of the first Japanese Hospital, near Little Tokyo called Nanka Nihon Byoin or Southern California Japanese Hospital, located on Amelia and Turner Streets. (April 11, 2010)

Kogiso,Mónica

Nihongo gakko - Preserving Japanese culture (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

Mizuki,Peter

Not wanting to stand out as a foreigner

Sansei Japanese American living in Japan and Kendo practioner

Yamasaki,Frank

Have compassion for all of humanity

(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.

Kogiso,Mónica

Identity crisis (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Never sang Enka outside the family

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

Kansuma,Fujima

Both Japanese and American identities though Japanese dance

(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer

Herzig,Aiko Yoshinaga

Results of being more American than Japanese

(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist

(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Trying to convey the meaning of the songs

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

Endo,Kenny

Internship on a Native American reservation in Arizona

(b.1952) Master drummer, artistic director of the Taiko Center of the Pacific

Ota,Vince

Different tension between East Coast and Los Angeles

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

Tanaka,Seiichi

Differences between American and Japanese taiko

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

Sogi,Francis Y.

Meeting Japanese Americans from the mainland in MIS

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

Inoue,Enson

Sudden acceptance in Japanese society

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan