Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1367/

Friend convinced him to make a record

But when I came out of the Marine Corps, I realized that I played differently. You know, either I matured in my playing or because I didn’t play for a long time, just listening to music as you gradually, you know, came around…

my classmate, there was a classmate that went to St Lucy, he's gone already but, name was [Gailin Cam ?], you know, a local Chinese boy, really a exaggerating person, but he's a really happy guy and makes you feel happy, and he told me, "Herb, you played the ukulele all your life, all through school, you used to play for assemblies and all that, you know.  Why don't you make a record?"  And that's how it started. 

So I said, "Who do I see?"  He said, "Don't worry, I going to introduce you."  You know. So he introduced me to [Dom McDermott?] (Hula Records) who's also the rep for Capitol Records at that time, and I played for him, and he said, "Okay. Any time. You tell me when you're ready and I'll record you."


Hawaii music musical instruments musicians ukulele United States

Date: August 2012

Location: Hawai`i, US

Interviewer: John Esaki

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

Interviewee Bio

78-years-old, is known by ukulele fans in Japan and around the world as "Ohta-san." Ohta-san is a master ukulele player who learned to play the instrument from his mother in the pre-World War II era in Honolulu. He played a major role in popularizing the ukulele in the 1960s and 70s, expanding the repertoire of the instrument beyond Hawai`ian songs to include international pop and jazz. In his interview, Ohta-san vividly demonstrates his stylistic development by playing excerpts from songs that were significant to his career. (June 2014)

Ariyoshi,George

Decision to run for governor

(b.1926) Democratic politician and three-term Governor of Hawai'i

Ariyoshi,George

Being fair

(b.1926) Democratic politician and three-term Governor of Hawai'i

Ariyoshi,George

Role of Hawaii internationally

(b.1926) Democratic politician and three-term Governor of Hawai'i

Ariyoshi,Jean Hayashi

Working in the pineapple fields

Former First Lady of Hawai'i

Funai,Kazuo

Buying violin (Japanese)

(1900-2005) Issei businessman

Kawakami,Barbara

Going back to Hawaii

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

Kawakami,Barbara

1920 labor strike

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

Kawakami,Barbara

Bombing of Pearl Harbor

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

Kawakami,Barbara

Helping soldiers

An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.

Nakamura,Ann K.

Image of Americans

Sansei from Hawaii living in Japan. Teacher and businesswoman.

Tanaka,Seiichi

Soukou Bayashi: Dedicated to the Issei (Japanese)

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

Tanaka,Seiichi

Taiko philosophy (Japanese)

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

Hongo,Etsuo

First taiko performance in the United States (Japanese)

(1949 - 2019) Taiko player. Founded five taiko groups in Southern California

Hongo,Etsuo

Promoting group identity through taiko contests (Japanese)

(1949 - 2019) Taiko player. Founded five taiko groups in Southern California