Interviews
Culture as a child
I grew up on Kapahulu on Oahu which is about half a mile from Waikiki beach. Right down the street from where I lived, maybe about a quarter mile or so, was the old Kapahulu Theater. It’s not there any more, it’s now a fast food place, but every Saturday morning they would show old chanbara movies, the old Toshiro Mifune movies. I remember seeing Satomi Hakkenden, which is my favorite movie of all time. I loved those, so we used to go all the time. And I grew up on those things. And I also grew up going to Japanese festivals. The old obon matsuri, festivals like that in Hawaii. And there is a strong Japanese culture in Hawaii.
Date: September 28, 2010
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Lynn Yamasaki, Maria Kwong
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum
Explore More Videos
Working in cane fields as teenager, and how it helped in his athletic training (Japanese)
(b.1925) Nisei of Okinawan descent. Had a 38-year career in Japan as a baseball player, coach, scout, and manager.
Nickname
(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.
Mixed emotions after declaration of war on Japan
(b.1913) Kibei from California who served in the MIS with Merrill’s Marauders during WWII.
Growing up in Waikiki
(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i
Under suspicion after Pearl Harbor
(b. 1924) Political scientist, educator, and administrator from Hawai`i
The philosophy of playing Taiko
(b.1951) Co-founder and managing director of San Jose Taiko.
Learning Japanese traditions by observing his mother and grandmother
(b. 1981) Enka Singer
Nihongo gakko - Preserving Japanese culture (Spanish)
(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.
Not wanting to stand out as a foreigner
Sansei Japanese American living in Japan and Kendo practioner
Have compassion for all of humanity
(b. 1923) Nisei from Washington. Resisted draft during WWII.
Identity crisis (Spanish)
(b. 1969) Former president of Centro Nikkei Argentino.
Never sang Enka outside the family
(b. 1981) Enka Singer
Both Japanese and American identities though Japanese dance
(1918-2023) Nisei Japanese kabuki dancer
Results of being more American than Japanese
(1924-2018) Researcher, Activist
Discover Nikkei Updates
Be in our video celebrating Nikkei worldwide. Click to learn how to submit! Deadline extended to October 15!
November 12
5pm PDT | 7pm PET
Featured Nima:
Graciela Nakachi
Guest Host:
Enrique Higa
Presented in Spanish