It’s a part of who I am…you know, a lot of people think, you know, it’s a big gimmick or something, that…you know, you know…the people who are taking care of me, you know, want to do. But it’s a part of who I am…it’s—I don’t want to, you know, go on stage and be someone else because I am an American—I was born and raised here in the U.S. so, you know, I feel more American than I do Japanese. But, you know, this part of my life, being an enka singer, and singing enka music is something that, you know, I always keep close to me. And whenever I go on stage, I want to, you know, embrace enka and keep my identity. And, you know, this is how I dress on a regular basis—when I go outside, you know, when I’m out with my family, this is how I dress everyday.
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
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