Discover Nikkei Logo

https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1163/

How I became a volunteer at the International Association of Yamato (Spanish)

(Spanish) Ah, well, when I arrived, I lived in Tokyo where I started ... Well, my husband told me, “We are not going back to Peru.” And then I said, "We must study Nihongo." Because, of course, as a young girl it seemed like I was speaking Japanese. But as an adult when we got here, I knew: Good afternoon, Good morning, words we say here at home. So that is why I went to study Japanese, as I said in Tokyo. Then I was living in Tokyo. So I had the opportunity to go to two Japanese language schools. And from there, when I moved at age seven, I moved to Yokohama, and then there I heard... there, near the Yokohama area, there are many Latinos, mostly Peruvians. So I live in Yokohama, but leaning more towards Yamato. Then I found out that in the city of Yamato there was an international exchange association. So I went and approached the office and said: Well, I do not know how to get by that well, but I know a little Japanese, and if I can help in anyway, well, I would be delighted. And they signed me up as a volunteer interpreter. And there began my participation in the International Association of Yamato. I started as a volunteer, translating documents that were needed for visa renewals. I started with translation. And when they needed interpreters, they gave me interpreting, right? And later, they started… for example a guide... a guide of the daily life of Yamato; they also chose to translate it into multiple languages…I was in charge (of it).


communities Nikkei in Japan

Date: March 24, 2009

Location: Tokyo, Japan

Interviewer: Alberto Matsumoto

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

Interviewee Bio

Born in Peru. Starting in 1980, she managed ELECTRONICA MORUMBI S.R.L., a company specializing in building and repairing electronics, for about ten years. After moving to Japan in September of 1990, she first registered as a volunteer of the Globalization Committee of Yamato city. Later, she remained active as an interpreter and consultant, and also stayed engaged with the AMDA (American Medical Directors Association) Medical Information Center.

From 2001, she worked as an interpreter and consultant for South American Nikkei workers at the Industrial Employment Stabilization Center’s Kanagawa location, and from 2002 to 2005, she worked for TOKIO NIKKEIS (Ueno/Shinjuku area employment stabilization center), a firm operated by the same agency. In addition, she served as a translator for the Administrative Procedures Office’s Futaba branch, for the businesses in the community, and currently for the “Training of Nikkei For Employment Preparation”—a project commissioned by the Overseas Nikkei Association.

In Yamato city, she is a local radio host on FM YAMATO, and she is also a member of the city sponsored “Multicultural Coexistence Convention” and the “Regional Welfare Planning and Implementation Committee”. (July 2010)

George Ariyoshi
en
ja
es
pt
George Ariyoshi

Ethnic diversity

(b.1926) Democratic politician and three-term Governor of Hawai'i

en
ja
es
pt
James Hirabayashi
en
ja
es
pt
James Hirabayashi

Christian gatherings in homes

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

en
ja
es
pt
James Hirabayashi
en
ja
es
pt
James Hirabayashi

Not bringing shame to family

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

en
ja
es
pt
James Hirabayashi
en
ja
es
pt
James Hirabayashi

Role of the Japanese American National Museum

(1926 - 2012) Scholar and professor of anthropology. Leader in the establishment of ethnic studies as an academic discipline

en
ja
es
pt
Peggie Nishimura Bain
en
ja
es
pt
Peggie Nishimura Bain

Learning American cooking

(b.1909) Nisei from Washington. Incarcerated at Tule Lake and Minidoka during WWII. Resettled in Chicago after WWII

en
ja
es
pt
Roger Shimomura
en
ja
es
pt
Roger Shimomura

Japanese American community life

(b. 1939) Japanese American painter, printmaker & professor

en
ja
es
pt
Kimi Wakabayashi
en
ja
es
pt
Kimi Wakabayashi

Her early life in Canada

(b.1912) Japanese Canadian Issei. Immigrated with husband to Canada in 1931

en
ja
es
pt
George Azumano
en
ja
es
pt
George Azumano

Downtown in Portland, Oregon

(b. 1918) Founder Azumano Travel

en
ja
es
pt
Kip Fulbeck
en
ja
es
pt
Kip Fulbeck

Lessons learned from The Hapa Project

(b. 1965) filmmaker and artist

en
ja
es
pt
Alfredo Kato
en
ja
es
pt
Alfredo Kato

Peru Shimpo for the Nikkei community (Spanish)

(b. 1937) Professional journalist

en
ja
es
pt
Bill Hashizume
en
ja
es
pt
Bill Hashizume

Japanese community in Mission

(b. 1922) Canadian Nisei who was unable to return to Canada from Japan until 1952

en
ja
es
pt
PJ Hirabayashi
en
ja
es
pt
PJ Hirabayashi

Taiko as self-expression

Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko

en
ja
es
pt
PJ Hirabayashi
en
ja
es
pt
PJ Hirabayashi

A “principally-based” taiko group in England creating a global taiko community

Co-founder and creative director of San Jose Taiko

en
ja
es
pt
Byron Glaser
en
ja
es
pt
Byron Glaser

Growing up in a Japanese American community

Illustrator and designer

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

The Kona Island community

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

en
ja
es
pt

Discover Nikkei Updates

CALL FOR VIDEOS
Pass the Food!
Be in our video celebrating Nikkei worldwide. Click to learn how to submit! Deadline extended to October 15!
NIKKEI CHRONICLES #13
Nikkei Names 2: Grace, Graça, Graciela, Megumi?
What’s in a name? Share the story of your name with our community. Submissions close on October 31!
NIMA VOICES
Episode 17
November 12
5pm PDT | 7pm PET
Featured Nima:
Graciela Nakachi
Guest Host:
Enrique Higa

Presented in Spanish