Discover Nikkei

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1162/

A Possible Path towards Happiness… (Spanish)

(Spanish) Well, I would like to... I would like to... I would like to send a message, or rather express a feeling I have. As I was telling you, one of the things that have impressed me here in Japan is suicide, the amount of suicides. So talking, conversing with people, they told me that this society, Japan, is a bit repressive. In that sense, I would like to use this opportunity to see if we can collaborate. I’ve read somewhere or sometime that Latinos have the highest index of happiness. So happiness is not related to the per capita income or [UI]. In that sense, I would like to invite the Japanese people who desire to do so to visit South America, especially Bolivia, so they can feel firsthand what it’s like to be or feel, as that interview puts it, happy. And I believe we are prepared to receive a great number of people who can make this visit, this trip, to feel the Latino “joie de vivre”


identity

Date: March 24, 2009

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Interviewer: Alberto Matsumoto

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

Interviewee Bio

Born January 11th, 1958 in Santa Cruz city, Bolivia. Graduated from Universidad Técnica de Oruro, Facultad Nacional de Ingeniería (Oruro Technical University, Public School of Engineering) in 1987. From 1989 to 1999, he worked at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT). At around the same time, he also acted as supervisor of Santa Cruz city’s Servicio Geológico de Bolivia (GeoBol - Geological Service of Bolivia). From 1989 to 2000, he was the administration manager at food company, IMBA. Later, from 1998 to 2000, he was the chairman of Ashimine Motors, and from 2000 to 2006, he was the regional manager of Santa Cruz at Christian Auto Motors (Toyota Representative). In March 2007, he was named Resident Japanese Ambassador Extraordinaire by the Evo Morales administration, and moved to Japan in April. After fulfilling his duties, he returned in March 2009. 

He passed away on June 2014 at age 56. (December 2014)

Peter Mizuki
en
ja
es
pt
Mizuki,Peter

Not wanting to stand out as a foreigner

Sansei Japanese American living in Japan and Kendo practioner

en
ja
es
pt
Frank Yamasaki
en
ja
es
pt
Yamasaki,Frank

Have compassion for all of humanity

(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.

en
ja
es
pt
Mónica Kogiso
en
ja
es
pt
Kogiso,Mónica

Identity crisis (Spanish)

(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.

en
ja
es
pt
Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
en
ja
es
pt
(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Never sang Enka outside the family

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

en
ja
es
pt
Fujima Kansuma
en
ja
es
pt
Kansuma,Fujima

Both Japanese and American identities though Japanese dance

(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer

en
ja
es
pt
Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
en
ja
es
pt
(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Coming to Japan

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

en
ja
es
pt
Aiko Yoshinaga Herzig
en
ja
es
pt
Herzig,Aiko Yoshinaga

Results of being more American than Japanese

(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist

en
ja
es
pt
Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
en
ja
es
pt
(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Trying to convey the meaning of the songs

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

en
ja
es
pt
Kenny Endo
en
ja
es
pt
Endo,Kenny

Internship on a Native American reservation in Arizona

(b.1952) Master drummer, artistic director of the Taiko Center of the Pacific

en
ja
es
pt
Vince Ota
en
ja
es
pt
Ota,Vince

Different tension between East Coast and Los Angeles

Japanese American Creative designer living in Japan

en
ja
es
pt
Seiichi Tanaka
en
ja
es
pt
Tanaka,Seiichi

Differences between American and Japanese taiko

(b.1943) Shin-issei grand master of taiko; founded San Francisco Taiko Dojo in 1968.

en
ja
es
pt
Francis Y. Sogi
en
ja
es
pt
Sogi,Francis Y.

Meeting Japanese Americans from the mainland in MIS

(1923-2011) Lawyer, MIS veteran, founder of Francis and Sarah Sogi Foundation

en
ja
es
pt
Jero  (Jerome Charles White Jr.)
en
ja
es
pt
(Jerome Charles White Jr.),Jero

Nikkei Sansei

(b. 1981) Enka Singer

en
ja
es
pt
Enson Inoue
en
ja
es
pt
Inoue,Enson

Sudden acceptance in Japanese society

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

en
ja
es
pt
Enson Inoue
en
ja
es
pt
Inoue,Enson

Ring name: "Yamato Damashi"

(b. 1967) Hawai`i-born professional fighter in Japan

en
ja
es
pt