Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1180/

About her father

Oh my father was a typical Issei I would say. Number 1: he was super strict. And yet - that’s only one facet of his personality. But he did care for us, he was a very hard worker and I would say to the end of his life, he was super ethical. And so he had strength of character and he had a very good sense of humor. I used to go, I mean, he was in…was it Taul Building on First and San Pedro? Well, he had an office on a corner on the third floor and a lot of times I would ask him if he wanted me to clean his office, so I would go and clean his office and then children would come and he would be laughing and gushing over them and all this and that and he was really friendly, etc. and he would give them something later on and I would come home and say, “gee momma, how come papa is so nice to kids and he’s always telling us that hmph!” You know, and his favorite word to me was “baka!


families generations immigrants immigration Issei Japan migration

Date: February 3, 2010

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Eiko Masuyama, Carole Fujita, Yoko Nishimura

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

Interviewee Bio

Margaret Kuroiwa is the third daughter of Dr. Daishiro Kuroiwa from Saga-ken, Japan and Agnes Haruyo Ogawa Kuroiwa. Her father was a prominent Issei physician who worked at the Turner Street Southern California Japanese Hospital, and was one of the five doctors, along with Dr. Tashiro, to file the lawsuit against the State of California. His practice was in Boyle Heights and in the Taul Building in Little Tokyo. He also treated tuberculosis patients at the Monrovia Sanitarium. She and her 4 sisters were born at the new Japanese Hospital on First and Fickett. (April 11, 2010)

Henry Suto
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Suto,Henry

What I wanted to pass down to my children (Japanese)

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

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Miyoko Amano
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Amano,Miyoko

Yoshitaro Amano, Forced to Return to Japan by Prisoner of War Exchange Ship (Japanese)

(b. 1929) President of Amano Museum

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Reiko T. Sakata
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Sakata,Reiko T.

Backstory of Parents

(b. 1939) a businesswoman whose family volunterily moved to Salt Lake City in Utah during the war.

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Toshiro Konishi
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Konishi,Toshiro

Inspirations for Living Abroad (Japanese)

(b. 1962) Japanese restaurant owner and chef in Peru

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Hiroshi Sakane
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Sakane,Hiroshi

Returning to Japan on a prisoner-of-war exchange boat (Japanese)

(b. 1948) Executive Director of Amano Museum

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Hiroshi Sakane
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Sakane,Hiroshi

On being thought of as a Japanese person (Japanese)

(b. 1948) Executive Director of Amano Museum

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Toshihiko Seki
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Seki,Toshihiko

Japanese Culture and the crafting Sushi in the States (Japanese)

(n. 1962) Sushi Chef

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Harunori Oda
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Oda,Harunori

Next phase

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

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Isao Taoka
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Taoka,Isao

The Grand Duty left to the Issei (Japanese)

(b. 1943) Paraguayan Ambassador to Japan

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Paul Terasaki
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Terasaki,Paul

Developing the micro test was the most important accomplishment

(b.1929) Pioneer medical researcher in tissue transfer and organ transplantation.

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Susumu “Sus” Ito
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Ito,Susumu “Sus”

Coming home to his mother after the war

(1919 - 2015) Nisei who served in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team

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Fred Y. Hoshiyama
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Hoshiyama,Fred Y.

Marriage and Family

(1914–2015) Nisei YMCA and Japanese American community leader

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Howard Kakita
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Kakita,Howard

His family Traveled to Japan in 1940

(b. 1938) Japanese American. Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor

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Frances Midori Tashiro Kaji
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Kaji,Frances Midori Tashiro

Typical day for the doctors

(1928–2016) Daughter of an Issei doctor 

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Fred Y. Hoshiyama
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Hoshiyama,Fred Y.

Early Childhood

(1914–2015) Nisei YMCA and Japanese American community leader

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