Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1144/

President Fujimori as elected by Peru's general public (Japanese)

(Japanese) The people who chose Mr. Fujimori were not Nikkei. I think this is rather strange. People who chose Mr. Fujimori as President were the Peru’s general public, especially the native people in the outskirts who were central to his election. The people in society who were decidedly not benefiting from the existing political parties, the existing politicians, or the existing class establishment, had declared their protest, and were, to be honest, not dyed with any particular political colors. And then, there was the image of Nikkei as hard workers. During the President’s campaign, Fujimori took full advantage of its image and he emphasized himself as Nikkei. The diligence and honesty of the Japanese people were set forth as the banner of the campaign. He managed to get their vote—of course he got that vote.


Alberto Fujimori communities governments Peru politics

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)

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