Interviews
Nikkei identity (Spanish)
(Spanish) The idiosyncrasies of the Japanese. The Nisei were born here. They came from their parents [culture]. Apart from this, European culture dominates and Asians are a minority. At times, instead of demonstrating their existence, they [the Japanese] withdraw. I believe that we are all the same, including white Argentines. The Japanese came from Japan. I went to the house of my Argentine friend. They all ask me, “Are we showing poor hospitality?” “Why?” “You do not speak, there is no sign that you are either content or displeased”….”No, it is not like that at all. They [the Japanese] are grateful, but it is not that they don’t speak Spanish, nor anything like that, but the Japanese, generally in Japan, to speak often is complicit, there isn’t much to talk about, they have to remain quiet, quite the opposite of you [Argentines].”
Date: February 23, 2007
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Interviewer: Takeshi Nishimura, Ricardo Hokama
Contributed by: Centro Nikkei Argentino
