Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/229/

First work in America (Japanese)

(Japanese) I first went to San Pedro and worked in a cannery. Then I got on a boat for Washington to do tuna fishing which I did until I was 29 years old. I made 8000 yen (dollars?) and went home to Japan. When I went home…. My family had a grocery store. I said I was going home, and my mother fell and broke her leg and so was in bed. Ever since I was a child, my family had a store that sold everything.


aquatic sports families fishing migration

Date: October 14 & 17, 2004

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Eriko Yamamoto

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

Interviewee Bio

Kazuo Funai, 104-year-old pioneer Issei from Wakayama Prefecture in Japan, owned and operated a market on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. In 1941, prior to the outbreak of World War II, Mr. Funai had made arrangements to move to Tokyo to set up a business enterprise. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, he was unable to travel to Japan and was financially ruined. In addition, he and his family were incarcerated in an American concentration camp. He survived these obstacles to later start several successful businesses.

Mr. Funai passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2005 at the age of 105. (August 16, 2005)

Nakamura,Grace Aiko
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Nakamura,Grace Aiko

Larry’s fishing skill

Sister of automotive designer Larry Shinoda

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Suto,Henry
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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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Shimomura,Roger
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Shimomura,Roger

Grandfather's arrival in the U.S., experiencing discrimination

(b. 1939) Japanese American painter, printmaker & professor

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Sakata,Reiko T.
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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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Konishi,Toshiro
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Konishi,Toshiro

Inspirations for Living Abroad (Japanese)

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

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Konishi,Toshiro
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Konishi,Toshiro

Difference Between Past Immigrants and Today’s Immigrants (Japanese)

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

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Oda,Harunori
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Oda,Harunori

Voyage to San Pedro

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

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Oda,Harunori
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Oda,Harunori

Early impression of America

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

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Uchimura,Sawako Ashizawa
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Uchimura,Sawako Ashizawa

Life in Davao, Philippines

(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.

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Oda,Harunori
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Oda,Harunori

Gardening to nursery

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

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Taoka,Isao
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Taoka,Isao

Carrying on the Legacy in the Colony of Paraguay (Japanese)

(b. 1943) Paraguayan Ambassador to Japan

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Oda,Harunori
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Oda,Harunori

Next phase

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

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Uchimura,Sawako Ashizawa
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Uchimura,Sawako Ashizawa

First Impressions of the US

(b. 1938) Philipines-born hikiagesha who later migrated to the United States.

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Ninomiya,Masato
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Ninomiya,Masato

Japanese language education for children

Professor of Law, University of Sao Paulo, Lawyer, Translator (b. 1948)

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Fujioka,Robert T.
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Fujioka,Robert T.

Great grandfather working in Hawaii

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

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