Interviews
A story about his mother
But her neighbors, you know, feeling sorry for her, would take her in for a couple of weeks, another neighbor takes her in for a couple of weeks. And after about a month of this a Hawaiian couple came by and inquired, she said, “We heard of this orphaned Japanese, where is she?” And they pointed my mother out, they went up, “Follow us.” and she lived with this Hawaiian family for about a year. And this apparently was the happiest moments of her life.
*I: And she was how old again?
‘Bout four at that time. And she went around barefooted, played with the Hawaiian kids, see from these Japanese plantation camps, she went to live with the Hawaiians, did a lot of swimming and all of that. And she spoke Hawaiian, she loved the Hawaiians, that’s why I am so dedicated to the Hawaiian cause, because my mother always said, “You owe a lot because I owe a lot to the Hawaiians and I can’t do it, but you can.”
*”I” indicates an interviewer.
Date: May 31, 2001
Location: California, US
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
1920 labor strike
An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.
Surviving after father's death
An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.
Washing for Filipino bachelors
An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.
Bombing of Pearl Harbor
An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.
Helping soldiers
An expert researcher and scholar on Japanese immigrant clothing.
Feeling empowered by taiko
Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko
Sense of lineage between Sansei and Issei through Taiko
Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko
Image of Americans
Sansei from Hawaii living in Japan. Teacher and businesswoman.
Japanese influence growing up
(b.1942) Japanese American ceramist, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years.
Diverse membership in San Jose Taiko
Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko
Looking at your country from the outside
(b.1942) Japanese American ceramist, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years.
Wife's family in Japan
(b.1942) Japanese American ceramist, who has lived in Japan for over 30 years.