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How Yoshitaro Amano got to South America (Japanese)

(Japanese) Was it his dream? Walk around Yokohama even a little and you’ll see a bridge called the Bankoku Bashi (Bridge to the World). From there, you can see the Hikawa-Maru and other ships. Back then, it wasn’t airplanes but ships that people all over the world traveled on, you see. Ships traversed the globe and if you always saw them, you’d probably eventually want to work in a foreign country, too. Well, that’s fate for you, to sell all your worldly possessions, travel the world and find the best place. Amano ended up in South America, in Panama, no less—and he decided that that was the best place for him. If you’re in the business of moving commercial merchandise, Panama’s shipping volume is enormous. Compared to other places in South America, the volume of shipped goods is, of course, the highest there. So Amano set up a residence in Panama before the war, where business was very strong. When business was thriving right before the Second World War, he was working in the the biggest discount shop in Panama, or I should say, the biggest department store in Panama.


business economics management Panama prewar World War II Yoshitaro Amano

Date: May 7, 2007

Location: California, US

Interviewer: Yoko Nishimura

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

Interviewee Bio

Born in 1948, originally from Tokyo. Graduated from Waseda University’s Department of Education. Years later, he moved to Lima, Peru. While learning Spanish, he helped the work of his grandfather, Yoshitaro Amano, who founded and operated Amano Museum. He later married a Nikkei Peruvian Nisei. Currently, as a Peruvian cultural researcher, pottery/textile collection expert, and executive director of the Amano Museum, he conducts excavation work and is responsible for the management of the museum. As a Peruvian citizen diplomat, he attends government officials, businessmen, handles media coverage and programming for television. He visits Japan several times a year, makes speeches and leads panel discussions throughout Japan, and remains active in various fields. (May 2007)

Miyoko Amano
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Miyoko Amano

First Meeting with Yoshitaro Amano (Japanese)

(b. 1929) President of Amano Museum

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Miyoko Amano
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Miyoko Amano

Yoshitaro Amano’s Tuna Fishing Boat (Japanese)

(b. 1929) President of Amano Museum

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Miyoko Amano
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Miyoko Amano

Yoshitaro Amano, who was Fascinated by the Chancay Culture (Japanese)

(b. 1929) President of Amano Museum

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Harunori Oda
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Harunori Oda

Getting started in America

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

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Harunori Oda
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Harunori Oda

Learning the nursery business

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

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Harunori Oda
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Harunori Oda

Gardening to nursery

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

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Harunori Oda
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Harunori Oda

Expanding business

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

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Harunori Oda
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Harunori Oda

Next phase

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

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Harunori Oda
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Harunori Oda

Life Philosophy

(1927-2016) Shin-Issei businessman

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Jean Hamako Schneider
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Jean Hamako Schneider

Attending Kindergarten in Panama (Japanese)

(b. 1925) War bride

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Jean Hamako Schneider
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Jean Hamako Schneider

My father who returned by prisoner of war exchange ship (Japanese)

(b. 1925) War bride

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Jimmy Ko Fukuhara
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Jimmy Ko Fukuhara

Family nursery business

(b. 1921) Nisei veteran who served in the occupation of Japan

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Jimmy Ko Fukuhara
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Jimmy Ko Fukuhara

After being discharged and returning to the nursery business

(b. 1921) Nisei veteran who served in the occupation of Japan

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Hachiro Ohtomo
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Hachiro Ohtomo

Business in Missouri (Japanese)

(b. 1936) Shin-issei welding business owner

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Antonio Shinkiti Shikota
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Antonio Shinkiti Shikota

3.11 Earthquake stopped his business in Sendai and Fukushima (Portuguese)

(b. 1962) Japanese Brazilian owner of a Brazilian products store in Japan.

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