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Why I’m glad I immigrated to America (Japanese)

(Japanese) If I had been in Japan at the time, I wouldn’t have been able to live with an American. Since I’ve come here, all my husband’s relatives have been good to me.  That makes me feel like I really am glad I came to America. Now, in Japan, everyone’s living with foreigners and things...how do you say it…the progress of internationalization is intense in Japan, right? But back then, it was still a little scary. So, I didn’t know whether or not I should be happy without reservations.


Japan postwar World War II

Date: January 26, 2012

Location: California, US

Interviewer: John Esaki, Yoko Nishimura

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

Interviewee Bio

Jean Hamako Schneider (former name: Amano) was born in 1925 in Yokohama.  In 1933, she went with her father, who was to run a business in Latin America, to Panama where she stayed for two years.  Her father remained in Panama after her, but came back to Japan in 1942 on a prisoner of war exchange ship.  While working at a radio station after the war, Hamako met Harry Schneider, who was stationed in Japan with the U.S. Military Intelligence Service (MIS).  In 1948, the two married in Japan, and, in 1950, Hamako left for America as a war bride.  After that, she gave birth to a daughter and quickly acquired American citizenship.  Currently, she lives in Encinitas, California.  (September 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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Edward Toru Horikiri
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Edward Toru Horikiri

My image of America as a child (Japanese)

(b. 1929) Kibei Nisei

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Edward Toru Horikiri
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Edward Toru Horikiri

Longing to be an imperial soldier as a youth (Japanese)

(b. 1929) Kibei Nisei

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Edward Toru Horikiri
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Edward Toru Horikiri

Boarding house life and the Issei (Japanese)

(b. 1929) Kibei Nisei

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Edward Toru Horikiri
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Edward Toru Horikiri

The situation after the war (Japanese)

(b. 1929) Kibei Nisei

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