Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1742/

Her definition of Nikkei

For me being a Nikkei is a mixture of taking the best of both worlds, and combining them together, and the values honesty, and integrity, and respect, and family. Even though the family portion is very strong, and solid in both sides, the Colombian sides of family is very important. So is in the Japanese side. Family's very important. But I think also, but the culturally, the fun, and the mischief, and gaiety I think comes from the Colombian culture more than the Japanese culture. Even though I can't say Colombians also are very hardworking, very resourceful, they're just like jerry rig anything out of necessity. Third world countries have that spirit of creativity, and ingenuity just fixing problems with however you can. All those things just get combined in being Nikkei you just take from both, but at the same time you're neither. You are a perfect blend of both, but you aren't neither of them.


Colombia Hawaii identity Japanese Americans Japanese Colombians Nikkei United States

Date: September 22, 2019

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Yoko Nishimura

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

Interviewee Bio

Monica Teisher was born in Cali, Colombia in 1974 to an Issei father and Nisei mother. She and her large extended family were active in the Cali Japanese community, the largest in Colombia. She moved to the United States after marrying a U.S. citizen of Eastern European Jewish descent. They and their daughters spend vacation time in Colombia, participating in community events. (May 2020)

Francis Y. Sogi
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Sogi,Francis Y.

Meeting Japanese Americans from the mainland in MIS

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

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

Nikkei Sansei

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Enson Inoue
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Sudden acceptance in Japanese society

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Ring name: "Yamato Damashi"

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Getting on Kohaku (Japanese)

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Enson Inoue
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Citizenship and identity

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Kip Fulbeck
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Fulbeck,Kip

Early consciousness of identity

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William Hohri
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Hohri,William

Importance of self-representation in legislation

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Kip Fulbeck
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Finding parallels through art

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The Hapa Project

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Francis Y. Sogi
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Sogi,Francis Y.

Defining the term Nikkei

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Kip Fulbeck
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Fulbeck,Kip

Perceptions of uniqueness

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Kip Fulbeck
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Identity as a conscious ongoing process

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Lessons learned from The Hapa Project

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Kip Fulbeck
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Fulbeck,Kip

Japanese Americans are more aware of their Hapa identity

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