Interviews
Growing up "American"
I mean, well as soon as we started school I was an American. I was... we did the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag and everything was American. Well I mean the Japanese obviously part of it was mainly my father's side. We used to go to the church in San Jose and that was our religion. But we were... even if it were an isolated community and living on a farm on your own...We were Americans, yeah. And I made friends in grammar school. And we, you know, and we never sort of like did anything together because I was always working.
But yeah, it was when I was in Sacramento... The only time I feel I was not American is when I went to Sacramento. And it was very much a, uh, prejudice or a discrimination. You know, and it was really quite, you know, strange I thought then. I felt peculiar because I was born there and so...well I didn't look like the Americans so I knew I was different, you know. But uh but to be... having to mix with that community you would feel you were accepted. Because there were Black communities, and Mexicans, and everything, you know. But uh we were suddenly complete strangers. We were foreigners you know.
Date: June 29, 2012
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Chris Komai, John Esaki
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Japanese in Minot
(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.
Is non-integration due to the distrust because of what happened in the Second World War? (Spanish)
(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant
I’m a Japanese, Peruvian… who am I? (Spanish)
(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant
Being a Nikkei today (Spanish)
(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant
Histories of immigrants (Spanish)
(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant
The myth of the sacrifice of immigrants (Spanish)
(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant
Paisaje terrestre [Terrestrial landscape] (Spanish)
(b. 1962) Peruvian Poet, Okinawan descendant
Fitting back into American life
(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.
Interpretation of Nikkei
(1919-2020) Member of the 1800th Engineering Battalion. Promoted Japan-U.S. trade while working for Honda's export division.
Identity (Japanese)
(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.
Integrating As First-Generation Japanese-Peruvian (Japanese)
(b. 1962) Japanese restaurant owner and chef in Peru
Peru Representative vs. Japan Representative (Japanese)
(b. 1962) Japanese restaurant owner and chef in Peru
Thoughts on Japan (Japanese)
(b. 1962) Japanese restaurant owner and chef in Peru