Learning Japanese traditions by observing his mother and grandmother

Interest in Japan stemmed from his mother and grandmother’s stories Learning Japanese traditions by observing his mother and grandmother Embraces his Japanese heritage Never sang Enka outside the family Coming to Japan Dreamed of becoming an Enka singer His clothes are part of his identity Hopes everyone pursues their dreams regardless of race or heritage Trying to convey the meaning of the songs Nikkei Sansei Considers Pittsburg his home, but always wanted to live in Japan Singing the way I sing (Japanese) "Harebutai" (Japanese) Getting on Kohaku (Japanese) The first concert in the United States (Japanese)

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Not, you know, formally “this is how you do things”—you know, she would never actually pushed any Japanese culture on me—neither did my grandmother and, you know, it was just watching how, you know, my grandmother lived everyday life and the way my mother did things, you know, those are things that, you know, I…you know received from them or things I learned through them. You know, taking your shoes off at the door…you know, eating with chopsticks, and you know, things like that.

Date: March 30, 2010
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Yoko Nishimura
Contributed by: Interview by Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum. Courtesy of Japanese American Cultural & Community Center

identity Japanese culture