Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1556/

Oizumi, the Brazilian town in Japan (Portuguese)

(Portuguese)

Here in Oizumi, you ... I think ... You can find everything here, see? People feel like they’re in Brazil here, see? Though there’re, like, other states [sic] where ... you don’t have that many Brazilians. So in those states that don’t have many Brazilians there may be some difficulty among Brazilians [looking for Brazilian products], know what I mean? But ... it’s not like in Oizumi or Hamamatsu, where they’ve become so used to having Brazilians around, ya know?

The city of Oizumi, it's ... We have, thank God, a city that ... It's ... It's worth coming here, to the city of Oizumi, to visit, because nowadays we’ve got stores with Brazilian products. Hairdressers. We even have dentists. Everything, ya know? So, it's worth visiting the city because you’re gonna feel like you’re in Brazil. I mean, here it's ... So, everyone who comes here, is gonna feel – is gonna notice a difference. That, really, you’re gonna be in a Brazilian city here. [laughs] Yeah, you’re gonna feel like you're in Brazil. [laughs]


Gunma Prefecture Japan Japanese Brazilians Japanese Brazilians in Japan Oizumi

Date: October 19, 2016

Location: Gunma, Japan

Interviewer: Shigeru Kojima

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

Interviewee Bio

Antonio Shinkiti Shikota was born on September 12, 1962, in the city of Campinas, São Paulo state, Brazil. His parents were born in Japan. Wanting to start his own business, he followed a friend’s advice and went to Japan. Initially, he worked as a factory worker and ended up liking it so he stayed in the country. Today, he lives in the city of Oizumi and he is the owner of an itinerant Brazilian products store in Japan. The itinerant store is a truck that offers a variety of Brazilian products directed mainly at the Nikkei public. Antonio is very fond of living in Japan and the city of Oizumi. (February 2018) 

Yamano,Jane Aiko

Having patience in Japan, being both

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

Yamano,Jane Aiko

Preserving traditional Japanese culture

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

Yokoyama,Wayne Shigeto

Working at the magazine

(b.1948) Nikkei from Southern California living in Japan.

Yonamine,Wally Kaname

The privations of living in post-war Japan, 1952

(b.1925) Nisei of Okinawan descent. Had a 38-year career in Japan as a baseball player, coach, scout, and manager.

Yamada,Luis

Proud to be a Japanese desecendant (Spanish)

(b. 1929) Nisei Argentinean

Suto,Henry

School life in Japan (Japanese)

(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.

Suto,Henry

Identity (Japanese)

(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.

Amano,Miyoko

Yoshitaro Amano’s Business in Japan (Japanese)

(b. 1929) President of Amano Museum

Taoka,Isao

Views on Japanese Youth (Japanese)

(b. 1943) Paraguayan Ambassador to Japan

Ashimine Oshiro,Masakatsu Jaime

The Image of Japan: Expectations versus Reality (Spanish)

(1958-2014) Former Bolivian Ambassador to Japan

Onchi,Toshiko Elena

The importance of knowing the Japanese language (Spanish)

Japanese Peruvian in Japan

Horikiri,Edward Toru

My image of America as a child (Japanese)

(b. 1929) Kibei Nisei

Horikiri,Edward Toru

Longing to be an imperial soldier as a youth (Japanese)

(b. 1929) Kibei Nisei

Narumi,Margaret

Nomo Press Conference

Producer at NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc.

Narumi,Margaret

Nomo's American Debut

Producer at NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc.