Interviews
Being on the outside
It was interesting to be in a place where all these Japanese were because all these Japanese names on the stores, sometimes written in English and then…yeah it was very interesting. And then…well, let’s say everybody was about the same height as I was in those days. Now that’s changed. I suppose I didn’t feel out of place. At the same time, I’m not really Japanese. So I’m not going to try to fit into Japanese society as a Japanese. My background is different, my language is different, my culture, my sense of values…so some things are difficult to change. Although I found that this is an interesting country. But there’s a great difference between…I could never really be on the inside track in this kind of society. So I’m always on the outside. Just like I was at the Buddhist Journal. I was never really accepted in as a member. So I was always on the outside. I kind of like it. I’m much freer because I have no real obligations. I don’t have to answer for a lot of things because I am on the outside.
Date: November 13, 2003
Location: Kyoto, Japan
Interviewer: Art Nomura
Contributed by: Art Nomura, Finding Home.
Explore More Videos
Being a Nikkei today (Spanish)
(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant
Histories of immigrants (Spanish)
(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant
The myth of the sacrifice of immigrants (Spanish)
(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant
Paisaje terrestre [Terrestrial landscape] (Spanish)
(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant
Fitting back into American life
(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.
Interpretation of Nikkei
(1919-2020) Member of the 1800th Engineering Battalion. Promoted Japan-U.S. trade while working for Honda's export division.
Identity (Japanese)
(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.
Integrating As First-Generation Japanese-Peruvian (Japanese)
(b. 1962) Japanese restaurant owner and chef in Peru
Peru Representative vs. Japan Representative (Japanese)
(b. 1962) Japanese restaurant owner and chef in Peru
Thoughts on Japan (Japanese)
(b. 1962) Japanese restaurant owner and chef in Peru
Being Nikkei: A Double Responsibility (Spanish)
(1958-2014) Former Bolivian Ambassador to Japan
The Impact of Technology in Japan (Spanish)
(1958-2014) Former Bolivian Ambassador to Japan
The Secret to Youth (Japanese)
(b.1908) Daugther of the first publisher of the Rafu Shimpo