Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/925/

Talking with Grandmother

My grandmother used to baby-sit me when I was a little kid and we’d spend the whole day together she’d speak to me in Japanese and I’d speak to her in English and neither one of us had any idea what the other was saying but somehow we talked all day long.


families hapa languages racially mixed people

Date: February 7, 2000

Location: California, US

Interviewer: John Esaki

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

Interviewee Bio

Johnnie James Morton, Jr. was born in Inglewood, CA in 1971, the son of an African American father and Japanese American mother. As a child, he attended Saturday Japanese school in Gardena for three years. Growing up in Torrance, California, he graduated from the University of Southern California after a distinguished career as a student athlete on the Trojan football team.

Morton is a twelve-year veteran in the National Football League and currently plays wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers. He has done some modeling and acting work, including an appearance playing himself in the film Jerry Maguire. (August 10, 2005)

Clifford Uyeda
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Uyeda,Clifford

Japanese Language School

(1917 - 2004) Political activist

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Doris Moromisato
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Moromisato, Doris

I’m a Japanese, Peruvian… who am I? (Spanish)

(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant

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Henry Suto
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Suto,Henry

Fitting back into American life

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

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Henry Suto
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Suto,Henry

Helping youth in the community

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

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Henry Suto
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Suto,Henry

Working tirelessly after the war (Japanese)

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

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BJ Kobayashi
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Kobayashi,BJ

Three important things learned from father

Hawaiian businessman, developer.

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Miyoko Amano
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Amano,Miyoko

A Lifestyle Using Both Japanese and Spanish (Japanese)

(b. 1929) President of Amano Museum

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Jimmy Murakami
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Murakami,Jimmy

Losing his sister in camp

(1933 – 2014) Japanese American animator

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Embraces his Japanese heritage

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

His clothes are part of his identity

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Hopes everyone pursues their dreams regardless of race or heritage

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Considers Pittsburg his home, but always wanted to live in Japan

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
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(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Singing the way I sing (Japanese)

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

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Kathryn Doi Todd
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Todd,Kathryn Doi

On Getting the Call from J. Anthony Kline

(b. 1942) The first Asian American woman judge

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Stan Sakai
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Sakai,Stan

Family’s acceptance

(b. 1953) Cartoonist

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