Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1182/

Beach & America

My father, I guess for relaxation, every Sunday we had to go to the beach. And he always had his suit on. And it was Seal Beach, and towards the end of the day everybody left to go home and he would be sitting there and be looking out there…and when are we going home, when are we going home, so I would kind of like sit up and he be very silent and so I said, oh god what do I say, so I just say, “what are you looking at papa?” and he said, “Listen” and he said, “look, look at the tide, it comes in and then goes out and everytime it goes in and goes out it’s all different.” So I would ask him about lot of different things of what’s this and what’s that, etc. and it led to speaking about America. And he said - and it surprised me that it came from him – that there was no country like The United States of America. And I said, “Really?” And he said, “You could go anyplace.” And I said, “Well, even if you’re Japanese, you know? And he said, “Yes.” I said, “You would never go back to Japan?” He said, “no because this is the best country that there is.


generations identity immigrants immigration Issei Japan migration

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

Margaret Kuroiwa is the third daughter of Dr. Daishiro Kuroiwa from Saga-ken, Japan and Agnes Haruyo Ogawa Kuroiwa. Her father was a prominent Issei physician who worked at the Turner Street Southern California Japanese Hospital, and was one of the five doctors, along with Dr. Tashiro, to file the lawsuit against the State of California. His practice was in Boyle Heights and in the Taul Building in Little Tokyo. He also treated tuberculosis patients at the Monrovia Sanitarium. She and her 4 sisters were born at the new Japanese Hospital on First and Fickett. (April 11, 2010)

Yoshiko Inose
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Inose,Yoshiko

The Secret to Youth (Japanese)

(b.1908) Daugther of the first publisher of the Rafu Shimpo

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Interest in Japan stemmed from his mother and grandmother’s stories

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Embraces his Japanese heritage

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Dreamed of becoming an Enka singer

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

His clothes are part of his identity

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Hopes everyone pursues their dreams regardless of race or heritage

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Considers Pittsburg his home, but always wanted to live in Japan

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Singing the way I sing (Japanese)

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

The first concert in the United States (Japanese)

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Robert A. Nakamura
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Nakamura,Robert A.

Creating Culture

(b. 1936) Filmmaker

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Stan Sakai
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Sakai,Stan

Cultural influences

(b. 1953) Cartoonist

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Robert A. Nakamura
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Nakamura,Robert A.

Formula for Freedom

(b. 1936) Filmmaker

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Evelyn Yoshimura
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Yoshimura,Evelyn

Commonalities

Community Activist

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Evelyn Yoshimura
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Yoshimura,Evelyn

Understanding Gidra's Context

Community Activist

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Evelyn Yoshimura
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Yoshimura,Evelyn

Gidra's Content

Community Activist

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