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https://www.discovernikkei.org/en/interviews/clips/1399/

My image of America as a child (Japanese)

(Japanese) I didn’t know anything at all about America as a child in Japan.  Really, I was a brat, and my parents let me do whatever I wanted, so, I thought it was to be expected that I could live the kind of lifestyle I was living.  I had no idea that the money to support that lifestyle came from America.

America, to me, was the furniture in my house. Kitchen utensils, tools that my father brought back, carpenter tools, all sorts of tools. My toys, as well, were almost all made in America. So, that was America to me.

One thing I really couldn’t stand, though, was jeans. Like I said, I was a brat, and when I started going to elementary school I used to get my uniform dirty all the time. During the rainy season, though, in Kagoshima it can rain for up to twenty days in a row when it gets really bad, so even if you do laundry it never dries. My mother would end up washing both of my uniforms, and they would never dry. She used to get so frustrated, so one day my father just said, “This kid’s hopeless. Just have him wear jeans.” So, next time when I went to school, I wore jeans, and as soon as I entered the school gates probably the entire student body surrounded me, asking, “What is that? What are you wearing?” And there I was in jeans. There are students in the higher grades who’ll pick on you, too, you know?


generations Japan Japanese Americans Kibei Nisei

Date: January 31, 2012

Location: California, US

Interviewer: John Esaki, Yoko Nishimura

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

Interviewee Bio

Edward Toru Horikiri (b. 1929), Kibei Nisei, was born in Little Tokyo, but moved with his family back to Japan when he was 18 months old. He was raised and educated in Japan during World War II, but decided to return to the U.S. in 1952 in order to re-establish the family business that was disrupted by the War. However, lacking sufficient English language skills, he did a variety of jobs including gardener, houseboy, truck driver, and grocery and supermarket employee. He continued to be involved in cultural activities through Japanese language community organizations and friendships with artists such as Taro Yashima. (June 2014)

Jane Aiko Yamano
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Jane Aiko Yamano

Having patience in Japan, being both

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

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Jane Aiko Yamano
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Jane Aiko Yamano

Preserving traditional Japanese culture

(b.1964) California-born business woman in Japan. A successor of her late grandmother, who started a beauty business in Japan.

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Wayne Shigeto Yokoyama
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Wayne Shigeto Yokoyama

Working at the magazine

(b.1948) Nikkei from Southern California living in Japan.

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Wally Kaname Yonamine
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Wally Kaname Yonamine

The privations of living in post-war Japan, 1952

(b.1925) Nisei of Okinawan descent. Had a 38-year career in Japan as a baseball player, coach, scout, and manager.

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Luis Yamada
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Luis Yamada

Proud to be a Japanese desecendant (Spanish)

(b. 1929) Nisei Argentinean

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Henry Suto
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Henry Suto

School life in Japan (Japanese)

(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.

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Henry Suto
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Henry Suto

Identity (Japanese)

(1928 - 2008) Drafted into both the Japanese Imperial Army and the U.S. Army.

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Miyoko Amano
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Miyoko Amano

Yoshitaro Amano’s Business in Japan (Japanese)

(b. 1929) President of Amano Museum

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Isao Taoka
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Isao Taoka

Views on Japanese Youth (Japanese)

(b. 1943) Paraguayan Ambassador to Japan

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Masakatsu Jaime Ashimine Oshiro
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Masakatsu Jaime Ashimine Oshiro

The Image of Japan: Expectations versus Reality (Spanish)

(1958-2014) Former Bolivian Ambassador to Japan

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Toshiko Elena Onchi
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Toshiko Elena Onchi

The importance of knowing the Japanese language (Spanish)

Japanese Peruvian in Japan

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Margaret Narumi
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Margaret Narumi

Nomo Press Conference

Producer at NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc.

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Margaret Narumi
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Margaret Narumi

Nomo's American Debut

Producer at NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc.

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Margaret Narumi
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Margaret Narumi

Japanese Fans

Producer at NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc.

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Margaret Narumi
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Margaret Narumi

Nomo's Risk

Producer at NHK Cosmomedia America, Inc.

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