Hopes everyone pursues their dreams regardless of race or heritage

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)

Transcripts available in the following languages:

I take pride in it, I think, you know, I am the first American enka singer, I’m the first Black American enka singer—I’m the first African American enka singer—you know, they have so many ways of saying it but, they all, you know, mean the same thing. And, you know, I don’t think of it as a negative thing because, you know, they are telling the truth and, you know, it makes me feel good and…you know I just hope, you know, somebody who, you know, is the same as me, or of a different, you know, race or heritage that, you know, if they want to do something, you know, they don’t give up their dreams, and you know, they continue to, you know, pursue them.

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

culture enka hapa identity music