Interviews
On music
[Playing violin]
I’ve been playing violin since I was seven maybe? But I never…I never thought it could be a profession.
I was pretty heavy into classical music in high school, as well as metal, which is what everybody my age was into. After that I went to jazz improvisation and so I really got heavy into improvisation which is a very social art form.
My parents encouraged, I went to engineering school first and I flunked out, but they knew how much I loved music, so they let me go…
I think I use it as a shield to hide behind. Because if I didn’t have my music I feel like I’d be kind of worthless. That might be a part of, maybe my minority identity…that’s hiding behind my skillset.
Date: August 21, 2018
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Sharon Yamato
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Citizenship and identity
(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan
Importance of self-representation in legislation
(1927-2010) Political Activist
Defining the term Nikkei
(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation
Japanese Americans are more aware of their Hapa identity
(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist