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The difference between Nikkei community in Oizumi and Brazil (Japanese)

(Japanese) This might be because of the environment, but there aren’t many opportunities to meet people in the community in Japan. In São Paulo, where I was born and raised, we met almost every week. We got together and went to kaikan (hall). And we did karaoke, had karaoke practice, and sometimes had churrasco or Japanese dishes. Usually Sunday was our day off. Of course, in the morning, we had work at the fish shop, I mean my father did, so he didn’t have a whole day off, but we often spent weekends with friends and other family members. So we went out as a family or with friends and talked a lot together. But in Japan, we don’t do that very often. This is true within my family, too, and I think that the big difference is we don’t have many chances to get together.


Brazil communities Gunma Prefecture Japan Nikkei in Japan Oizumi

Date: October 18, 2016

Location: Gunma, Japan

Interviewer: Shigeru Kojima

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

Interviewee Bio

Paulo Issamu Hirano was born in São Paulo in January, 1979. As a Sansei whose grandparents are from Kumamoto Prefecture, he grew up in the Monte Kemel region near Liberdade. In 1989, he moved to Japan as his father, who had come as a dekasegi, called on him. Ever since, he has lived in Oizumi-machi in Gunma Prefecture. At first he was having a hard time with the language, but he made more friends as he learned Japanese. Currently he supports the Brazilian community as a graphic designer with his Japanese skills. In 2009, he started his own business and runs a design studio now. He publishes free magazines that introduce Oizumi-machi. He dedicates his life to making Oizumi-machi a Brazil town. (August, 2017)

Celia Oi
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Celia Oi

Nikkei community concentrated in São Paulo (Portuguese)

Former Director, Museu Histórico da Imigração Japonesa no Brasil

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Celia Oi
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Celia Oi

Changing life styles of successive generations (Portuguese)

Former Director, Museu Histórico da Imigração Japonesa no Brasil

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Margarida Tomi Watanabe
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Margarida Tomi Watanabe

Relief fund to support Japanese communities (Japanese)

(1900–1996) The mother of Nikkei Brazilian immigration

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Margarida Tomi Watanabe
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Margarida Tomi Watanabe

Role of Assistancia Social dom Jose Gaspar (Japanese)

(1900–1996) The mother of Nikkei Brazilian immigration

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George Abe
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George Abe

Taiko Community

(b. 1944) taiko and flute performer

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Kristi Yamaguchi
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Kristi Yamaguchi

Support from the Japanese American community

(b.1971) Professional figure skater and Olympic gold medalist.

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Clifford Uyeda
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Clifford Uyeda

Japanese Language School

(1917 - 2004) Political activist

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Clifford Uyeda
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Clifford Uyeda

Different races have to live together and interact

(1917 - 2004) Political activist

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Kay Fukumoto
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Kay Fukumoto

The multicultural perspective

(b.1960) Third-generation taiko drummer, leader of Maui Taiko

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Henry Suto
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Henry Suto

Japanese in Minot

(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

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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Toshiro Konishi
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Toshiro Konishi

Integrating As First-Generation Japanese-Peruvian (Japanese)

(b. 1962) Japanese restaurant owner and chef in Peru

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Hiroshi Sakane
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Hiroshi Sakane

The Nikkei community that didn't support Former President Fujimori's election (Japanese)

(b. 1948) Executive Director of Amano Museum

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