Interviews
Working in cane fields as teenager, and how it helped in his athletic training (Japanese)
(Japanese) When I was in Maui, well, I was about 12 to 14 years old. I worked at a sugar plantation. I didn’t like the job very much. But at that time, we didn’t have very much money, and in whatever way possible, I had to help my father and mother. So I worked very hard. Because of it, when I played baseball and football, it really helped. Doing such hard work, when I played baseball and football, because they were very tough sports, I couldn’t forget about those early hardships. Even now, even though I am 78 years old, and it was almost 60 – 65 years ago, I will never forget.
Well, even when I played baseball in Japan, I also faced hardship, but I could get through it and do it. Well, my life changed a lot because of Japanese baseball.
Date: December 16, 2003
Location: Hawai'i, US
Interviewer: Art Hansen, John Esaki
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum.
Explore More Videos
Support from the Japanese American community
(b.1971) Professional figure skater and Olympic gold medalist.
Heightened awareness of identity as a Japanese American
(b. 1955) Lawyer
Reasons for conformity and competitiveness in Gardena, California
(b. 1946) Lawyer
Advantages of being Nikkei (Spanish)
(b. 1950) Nisei Chilean, Businessman
Childhood shame for being Nikkei in Enumclaw, Washington
Judge, only Japanese American to serve on CWRIC.
On the Impact of the Camp Experience
(b. 1942) The first Asian American woman judge
Thoughts on the term, "Nikkei"
(b. 1949) Musician and arts educator and adminstrator.