Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1573/

On Nikkei Identity

I don’t think I would call anybody who isn’t Japan – citizens of Japan “Nikkei,” it’s only outside of Japan we become Nikkei. And someone who is staying here for temporary is not Nikkei either. So somebody who is here, or outside of Japan, will be Nikkei. Somebody who decide to live outside of the country, permanently. So I feel I am a Nikkei.


Hawaii identity Japanese Americans Nikkei United States

Date: July 12, 2017

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Mitsue Watanabe, Yoko Nishimura, Leighton Okada

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

Interviewee Bio

Sawako Ashizawa Uchimura was born in Davao, Mindanao, Philippines on March 25, 1938 as the first daughter of Katsujiro and Ura “Mie” Ashizawa. She was 7 years old in 1945 when her family had to leave the Philippines after Japan’s defeat in World War II. Her family lived in Shizuoka for the next 10 years. ​Later the family received r​​esidency status in the United States ​and arrived in Los Angeles ​in March 1956. Sawako went to Alhambra High School and later studied at Pasadena City College. She eventually found a generous mentor who helped support her through her education at San Jose State University and became a​​n occupational therapist. Currently she is volunteering at the Sakura Garden (Formerly Keiro Retirement Home). (March 2018)

Murase,Mike
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Murase,Mike

Staff and Struggles

Community activist

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Janzen,Terry
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Janzen,Terry

Postwar school-life

(b. 1930) Half Japanese and grew up in both Japan and the United States.

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Ochi,Rose
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Ochi,Rose

On Challenging Institutions

(1938-2020) Japanese American attorney and civil rights activist

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Ochi,Rose
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Ochi,Rose

Pop and Balls

(1938-2020) Japanese American attorney and civil rights activist

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Wakayama,Tamio
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Wakayama,Tamio

Re-examining Identity

(1941-2018) Japanese Canadian photojournalist and activist

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Schneider,Jean Hamako
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Schneider,Jean Hamako

On international marriages (Japanese)

(b. 1925) War bride

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Schneider,Jean Hamako
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Schneider,Jean Hamako

Masao-san (Japanese)

(b. 1925) War bride

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Schneider,Jean Hamako
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Schneider,Jean Hamako

Conflicted about immigrating to America (Japanese)

(b. 1925) War bride

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Wakayama,Tamio
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Wakayama,Tamio

Defining "Nikkei"

(1941-2018) Japanese Canadian photojournalist and activist

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Fujioka,Robert T.
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Fujioka,Robert T.

Growing up Japanese in Hawaii

(b. 1952) Former banking executive, born in Hawaii

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Bashi,Kishi
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Bashi,Kishi

On being Japanese and American

(b. 1975) Musician, composer, and songwriter

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Bashi,Kishi
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Bashi,Kishi

His Shin-Issei parents

(b. 1975) Musician, composer, and songwriter

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Yamashiro,Michelle
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Yamashiro,Michelle

Parents identification as Peruvian Okinawan

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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Yamashiro,Michelle
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Yamashiro,Michelle

Okinawan cultural appreciation

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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Yamashiro,Michelle
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Yamashiro,Michelle

Prejudice against Okinawans from mainland folks

Okinawan American whose parents are from Peru.

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