Interviews
Growing up in two cultures
Oh, you know, both sides. I mean I went to Japanese school when I was little, you know, I still speak a little bit of Japanese. I can understand it when I’m walking by people that speak Japanese, for the most part if they’re speaking slowly enough. And I got…and growing up in Hawaii, I was always around my grandmother. Sometimes my grandfather, although he was really busy. So you know, I got a lot of that culture in Obon dance and pounding mochi. That’s part of my life also.
Every summer and every winter I was back east with my family. With my mom’s family. With my cousins – clambakes, the museum in Boston, Red Sox games. I mean you name it, I think I got…I think all of us – myself, my brother Patrick, and my sister Alana – all enjoyed sort of the best of those two worlds. Because my parents were so generous and able to provide that to us. Those trips back east were important.
Date: June 1, 2006
Location: Hawai'i, US
Interviewer: Akemi Kikumura Yano
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
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